Ohio newspapers are reporting on a rally planned for today in support of Ohio H.B. 125 , or as it has become known in the press, the “Ohio Heartbeat Bill.” Absent a medical emergency the bill would generally requires a pre-abortion examination to determine if a fetal heartbeat can be detected and prohibit the performance of an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected. There are not exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, or fetal anomaly.
Currently a fetal heartbeat can be detected at approximately 5.5 to 6.5 weeks gestation. The fiscal note accompanying the bill reports that 42.4 % of all abortions performed in Ohio (totally almost 12,000 abortions) in 2009 occurred after 8 weeks gestation.
If enacted, the law would present a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade.