This bill would add a new federal criminal section that makes it illegal for a physician to perform an abortion without first checking, according to standard medical practice, whether the unborn child has a detectable fetal heartbeat. The physician must tell the pregnant person the result and place documentation of the check and result in the medical file. A physician who performs an abortion after determining a detectable fetal heartbeat, or who fails to determine or inform the patient of the result, could be fined or imprisoned for up to 5 years. The measure includes exceptions if, in reasonable medical judgment, the abortion is necessary to save the pregnant person from a life‑endangering physical condition (not including psychological or emotional conditions). It also includes narrow rape and incest exceptions: for adult survivors, the adult must obtain counseling or medical treatment at least 48 hours before the abortion; for minors, the rape or incest must have been reported to a child‑abuse agency or law enforcement prior to the abortion. The bill requires specific documentation to be placed in the patient medical file, references a data retention rule in federal medical privacy regulation, bars certain counseling or medical treatment from facilities that perform abortions (unless a hospital), allows a defendant physician to seek a State Medical Board hearing on life‑saving necessity, and states the pregnant person may not be prosecuted. The bill defines terms such as "abortion," "physician," "perform," and "unborn child," and includes severability and construction provisions.
No publicly available information on budgetary or federal spending effects or official cost estimates is included in the bill text or provided metadata.
The bill text states the purpose as prohibiting abortions in cases where a fetal heartbeat is detectable and requiring physicians to check for, report, and document a fetal heartbeat. Sponsors introduced the measure to create those requirements and penalties while listing limited exceptions and documentation rules.
No publicly available information.