Louisiana has become the sixth state to sign a bill which prohibits abortion. It joins Mississippi, Ohio, Georgia, Kentucky and Missouri in passing a “heartbeat” bill.
According to the bill, abortion is prohibited once a fetal heartbeat is detected during an ultrasound. It also requires doctors who fail to comply with the law to pay a $1,000 fine or serve up to two years in prison.
“Prior to any abortion being performed, there shall first be 9 performed an ultrasound, in accordance with the standards set forth in R.S. 10 40:1061.10(D), in order to determine whether or not a fetal heartbeat is present, 11 and the results of the ultrasound shall be included in the pregnant woman’s 12 medical records. 13 (b) Except as provided in Paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of this Subsection, it 14 shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly perform an abortion with the 15 specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn 16 human being when a fetal heartbeat has been detected.”
The bill however allows for abortion when the pregnancy poses a threat to the body, but doctors are required to document every procedure in such case.
