Heartbeat Informed Consent Act (H.R. 5551)

H.R. 5551 would require abortion providers, if performing an ultrasound to a pregnant person prior to an abortion, to display the ultrasound images so that they may view them and provide a medical description of any present and viewable images of cardiac activity of the fetus.

The bill would require an abortion provider to make the embryonic or fetal heartbeat audible for the pregnant person to hear prior to the patient giving informed consent to an abortion if the pregnancy is at least eight weeks after fertilization.

The patient would not be required to view the ultrasound images or listen to the description or audible heartbeat.

The requirements of this bill would not apply if an abortion is necessary to save the life of the pregnant person whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

An abortion provider who knowingly or recklessly fails to comply with this Act would be subject to civil penalties and notification of the appropriate state medical licensing authority.

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