Heartbeat Bill Would Provide Pennsylvania Better Protections for Human Life

Oct 21, 2019 | 3 comments

The heartbeat is a universal sign of life and an objective minimal standard for determining when life should be protected.

(HARRISBURG, PA – October 21, 2019) Pennsylvania Family Institute stands with many in the PA General Assembly and throughout the Commonwealth in supporting today’s introduction of the Heartbeat Bill, Senate Bill 912 and House Bill 1977, that would update Pennsylvania’s current outdated abortion limits and would protect unborn children after their heartbeat is detected.

“We support the Heartbeat Bill because it recognizes a simple truth: when a heartbeat is detected, the baby should be protected,” says Tom Shaheen, Vice President for Pennsylvania Family Institute. “The heartbeat is a universal sign of life. We want to protect these children from the moment their heartbeat is detected.”

According to the American Pregnancy Association, 6 and a half to 7 weeks is “the time when a heartbeat can be detected and viability can be assessed.”

“We all agree that an indicator of life ending is when a heartbeat stops,” adds Shaheen. “We should all agree than an indicator of life existing is when a heartbeat exists.”

Thousands of unborn babies are aborted every year in Pennsylvania after their heart beats. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Abortion Statistics report, over 12,000 abortions happen every year in Pennsylvania at nine weeks or later, a conservative estimate since the heartbeat can possibly be detected as early as the 6th week in pregnancy.

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Pennsylvania Family Institute is the Commonwealth’s largest pro-life, pro-family statewide organization. For more information, visit pafamily.org.

Take Action: Contact your State Senator and State Representative to support the Heartbeat Bill.