HB 125 - The "Heartbeat" Abortion Ban Bill
How you can help:
Call your local legislator and tell them to reject House Bill 125. about the "heartbeat" abortion ban bill.House Bill 125 Talking Points
Under the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, as reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in 1992 in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a woman has the right to abort a fetus until it is "viable," which the Court defined as "potentially able to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid.” In Casey, the Court confirmed that “viability marks the earliest point at which the State’s interest in fetal life is constitutionally adequate to justify a legislative ban on non-therapeutic abortions.” It added that the “soundness . . . of that constitutional judgment in no sense turns on whether viability occurs at approximately 28 weeks, as was usual at the time of Roe, at 23 to 24 weeks, as it sometimes does today, or at some moment even slightly earlier in pregnancy, as it may . . . in the future.” The bottom line is that: Only at the point of viability can states ban abortion.
What House Bill 125 will do:
- Requires an ultrasound before any abortion - The bill prohibits a doctor from performing an abortion prior to determining if the fetus has a detectable fetal heartbeat, except when there is a medical emergency.
- Bans abortions if heartbeat is detectable - The bill then prohibits a doctor from knowingly performing an abortion after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, punishable as a fifth degree felony.
- Ignores rape, incest, and health considerations - HB 125 is an extreme measure that would preclude abortion even in cases of rape, incest, and many cases in which the woman’s health may be in danger.
- Increases the burdensome reporting requirements - The bill requires the doctor, if a fetal heartbeat is detected, to inform the pregnant woman in writing no later than 24 hours prior to the intended abortion that a heartbeat has been detected as well as the statistical probability of bringing the fetus to term. The woman must sign a form acknowledging receipt of this information.
- Redefines "contraception" to attack emergency contraception (Plan B) - The bill defines “contraceptive” as “a device, drug, or chemical that prevents conception.” This definition conceivably excludes emergency contraception and some forms of hormonal birth control from the definition of “contraceptive.”
Why we must defeat HB 125:
Because a heartbeat can be detected in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, often before the woman even knows she is pregnant, HB 125 is tantamount to a total abortion ban. A heartbeat at such an early stage is no guarantee of a healthy heart or a healthy baby. There are many conditions and disorders that could disrupt and alter a pregnancy.
HB 125 the bill does not allow for an exception for rape, incest, or fetal anomalies.
- Rape and incest victims would have to give birth to their rapist's baby.
- Women who have been informed of a medical condition that harms their fetus would have to carry the pregnancy to natural birth.
HB 125 is unconstitutional and would be litigated for years.
- The Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life acknowledged this in an interview with Fox News when he said, “…the Supreme Court…has ruled on countless occasions that any restrictions on abortion pre-viability are unconstitutional.”
- The state of Ohio would have to spend millions to defend this bill in court battles that could take years.
HB 125 - The "heartbeat" abortion ban bill in the news.
By Catherine Candisky
The Columbus Dispatch | May 4, 2012
By Jackie Borchardt
Dayton Daily News | May 3, 2012
By Catherine Candisky
The Columbus Dispatch | May 3, 2012
May 2, 2012
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch | April 19, 2012
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch | April 19, 2012
By Ann Sanner
Associated Press | January 5, 2012
Editorial
The Akron Beacon Journal | December 15, 2011
The Toledo Blade | December 12, 2011
Editorial
Cincinnati Enquirer | December 8, 2011
By Associated Press | December 7, 2011
By Jo Ingles
Reuters News Service | December 6, 2011
By Erik Eckholm
The New York Times | December 4, 2011
Editorial
The Akron Beacon Journal | November 28, 2011
Editorial
The Akron Beacon Journal | October 13, 2011
Editorial
The Toledo Blade | May 13, 2011
Editorial
The Akron Beacon Journal | April 06, 2011
Guest Column by Marc Spindelman
The Cincinnati Enquirer | April 24, 2011
© 2012 Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio
(614) 224-0761
