Texas Approves Heartbeat Bill, Bans Abortion at 6-Weeks of Gestation

The Texas Legislature voted to ban abortion rights for women once they hit 6 weeks pregnant, at that moment most women don’t even know they are pregnant. 

Senate Bill 8, called The Texas Heartbeat Act, prohibits women to get an abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, this typically happens at five weeks and a half or six weeks of gestation.

The controversial bill does not make an exception for women who were victims of rape or incest. The only exception it allows is for women suffering a medical emergency.

Unsurprisingly, the bill was presented by a man, State Senator Bryan Hughes. The 51-year old lawyer is, according to his Twitter bio,  “honored to stand for life and liberty in the Texas Senate” but clearly not for women’s rights.

The bill also makes it possible for anyone to sue any Texas doctor who performs or has an intent to perform an abortion and recover at least $10,000. The House later amended the bill and excluded rapists and people who commit incest against a woman from being able to sue the doctors. 

Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin), who is also a registered nurse, came forward and questioned the bill, she explained the gynecological timeline of pregnancy and the science behind what is actually heard in an early ultrasound. She stated that what people hear is not a heartbeat but rather the amplified sound of electrical activity. 

“This is the worst day of the session every single session,” Rep. Howard said. “And this stuff keeps coming up. You guys know there have always been abortions and there always will be, despite the obstructions you’re putting in place here.”