Doctors who perform abortions in Oklahoma
would be required to notify women of their right to listen to the
heartbeat of their unborn child under a bill that easily cleared
the state Senate.
The Senate voted 34-8 on Tuesday for the Heartbeat Informed
Consent Act by Tulsa Republican Sen. Dan Newberry.
The bill initially required doctors to make the sounds of a
fetus’ heartbeat available to women before performing an abortion.
But Newberry amended the bill to require doctors to inform women
that they have the option of listening to the heartbeat.
The measure applies to women at least eight weeks into their
pregnancy. It now heads to the House for consideration.
Critics say legislators shouldn’t interfere with a woman’s right
to a legal medical procedure.