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House Debates Bill Prohibiting Abortions Post Fetal Heartbeat

A bill that would ban abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which comes as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, was heard Tuesday by the House Children and Families Committee. The only exception to the bill would be in the case of a medical emergency.

Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, says he hopes to continue to work with lawmakers to implement abortion regulations.

“The text of this bill is a starting point, not only to save lives but helping curb the mental anguish that many women suffer because of abortions,” Schroer said.

Opponents of the bill say it would ban abortions before many women know they are pregnant.

Currently, St. Louis is the only city in Missouri where people can have an abortion.

Dr. Erin King, an obstetrician in St. Louis, testified saying the bill would put a near-total ban on abortions in the state. 

“This week I saw a patient who presented to me to be evaluated after being assaulted by a family member,” King said. “It had taken her weeks to gather her strength and courage to tell anyone, let alone a complete stranger, her physician, about this event. She learned in my office that she was also pregnant. I can’t imagine looking her in the eye and having to tell her that because she lives in Missouri that she has no option of a safe and legal way to end a pregnancy in her own state, that this decision has already been made for her by her legislature.”

A similar law implemented in Iowa was recently overturned by the state’s Supreme Court, which deemed it unconstitutional.