PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives announced plans to introduce a bill that would affect abortion in the Commonwealth.
The bill, which is recognized nationally as the Heartbeat Bill and authored by Representative Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton, Union), intends to shift Pennsylvania’s focus on abortion and law on “protecting the baby.” Pennsylvania Legislature has previously considered changing the limit on abortion to 20 weeks, according to Borowicz.
“The fact is that even at 20 weeks abortion stops a baby’s beating heart,” Borowicz wrote. “With my legislation, a beating heart will stop abortion.”
Currently under Pennsylvania law, an abortion is available through the 23rd week of pregnancy. In certain cases, it is allowed beyond the 23rd week when the pregnancy poses a serious health risk or threatens the life of the pregnant person. Anyone seeking an abortion in the Commonwealth must go through pre-procedure laboratory testing, receipt and acknowledgment of counseling materials and parental consent (in the event of a minor seeking medical care).
Pennsylvania also allows people to travel across state lines in order to receive abortions and health care. This option became more popular after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022 by the United States Supreme Court, which returned the topic of abortion to the states and removed any federal protections.
Borowicz’s proposed legislation would require all physicians to determine whether the fetus/embryo has a heartbeat. If there is a heartbeat detected, then the abortion would not be allowed to be performed.
“This legislation will be another great rallying cry for us to save babies around this state and possibly around the nation,” Borowicz said.
Heartbeat bills have become extremely popular since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, with most citing that a “fetal heartbeat” can be heard at around six weeks of a pregnancy. However, at around 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, the cardiac tissue starts to pulse, which often registers as a heartbeat on an ultrasound. A fetal heart will not fully develop until week nine or ten of a pregnancy.
