![[PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaking behind the podium]](https://rewirenewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-1297509094-740x525.png)
Culture & Conversation Abortion
This law was last updated on May 18, 2019
This law is Anti–Choice
HB 4467
Failed to Pass
Mar 30, 2017
Primary Sponsors: 34
Total Sponsors: 34
HB 4467 would require that an abortion provider determine whether evidence of a fetal heartbeat can be detected using “standard medical practice” prior to performing an abortion, except when a medical emergency exists. If an abortion is performed without determining whether a fetal heartbeat can be detected, the abortion provider would be required to note in the patient’s medical record the specific nature of the medical emergency that existed. The bill would not require the use of an intravaginal diagnostic procedure.
If a fetal heartbeat is detected, the abortion provider would be required to offer the pregnant individual the option of hearing or seeing the evidence of the fetal heartbeat. If a fetal heartbeat is not detected, the physician would be required to do the following, as applicable:
The bill would not prohibit the performance of an abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Informed Consent
The bill would require the pregnant individual to certify whether or not they were offered to view or decline to view an ultrasound image, as well as to certify whether or not a fetal heartbeat was detected.
The bill would also amend the definition of abortion to exclude “any medical treatment of a woman who is experiencing a miscarriage or has been diagnosed with an extrauterine pregnancy.”
A fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks of pregnancy—two weeks after a woman’s first missed period—and well before many women even realize that they are pregnant.
Related Legislation
Similar to HB 4241, which failed to pass in 2015.
Similar to a trio of failed bills from 2014 (HB 5643, HB 5644, and HB 5645) which would have prohibited abortion if a fetal heartbeat was detected.
Primary Sponsor