Women seeking an abortion may be forced to listen to the heartbeat of the fetus before the procedure is performed if a bill in the Louisiana legislature is made into law.
The state Senate recently passed legislation introduced by Senator Sharon Weston Broome, D-Baton Rouge, to require that the heartbeat be heard. The new legislation is an addition to a 2010 law Broome introduced, which required the woman to receive an ultrasound to see the fetus. If the new bill is passed by the House, women will also hear the fetus’ heartbeat before receiving an abortion.
Belinda Davis, political science professor, said the proposed bill will likely also pass in the House.
“Studies show that women who see an ultrasound or hear a heartbeat are less likely to go through with the abortion,” Davis said. “The Supreme Court allows states to regulate those things.”
Last year, a similar law was passed in Texas, which required women to see the sonograms before the abortion procedure. But the bill was not well- received by all.
In February, Judge Sam Sparks of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas wrote an opinion on the law stating, “There can be little doubt that [the law] is an attempt by the Texas Legislature to discourage women from exercising their constitutional rights by making it more difficult for caring and competent physicians to perform abortions,” according to Reuters.com.
Sparks ruled that the law was a violation of doctors’ First Amendment rights, but following his ruling, the bill was later upheld by the 5th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals.
Davis said political and religious views in Louisiana may have influenced the bill’s success so far.
“It could be the result of religious groups in the state against abortion or the state’s conservative political ideology,” she said. But English senior Christine Jeansonne said the proposed legislation is an invasion of privacy.
“It’s a personal decision,” Jeansonne said. “I feel like one person’s opinion on abortion shouldn’t affect others.” Gabby Weyer, biology senior, had mixed opinions on the issue.
“My religious views are OK with the law, but if she wants to get the abortion, she shouldn’t be forced to listen to the heartbeat,” Weyer said. “I have really conflicting views on it.”
 
____ Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]