Missouri Heartbeat Abortion Ban (HB 870)

HB 870 would prohibit a person from knowingly performing or inducing an abortion upon a pregnant person if a fetal heartbeat has been detected, except in the case of a medical emergency.

The bill would require a physician to first determine whether there is a detectable fetal heartbeat prior to performing or inducing an abortion. The method of determining the presence of a fetal heartbeat must be consistent with the physician’s “good faith understanding of standard medical practice.”

If a fetal heartbeat is detected, the physician would be required to inform the pregnant patient, in writing, that a fetal heartbeat has been detected and that an abortion may not be performed under state law except in the cases of medical emergency.

---

A fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks of pregnancy—two weeks after a person’s first missed period—and well before many people even realize that they are pregnant.

---

Reporting Requirements

The physician would be required to record the estimated gestational age of the fetus, as well as the time, date, method, and results of the fetal heartbeat detection test in the pregnant person’s medical record and in the abortion report.

---

Related Legislation

Similar to HB 126, HB 964, and SB 139.

Similar to SB 714 (2018) and SB 408 (2017); both of which failed to pass.

---

Latest Action

2/7/19 – Introduced.

---

People