Ron DeSantis signs six-week abortion ban into law

14 April 2023

At around 11:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) quietly signed a bill banning abortions after six weeks in most instances.

After the signing ceremony, DeSantis tweeted that the measure "expands pro-life protections and devotes resources to help young mothers and families."

Known as the Heartbeat Protection Act, The Washington Post noted that the new law "includes exceptions for rape, incest, medical emergencies and 'fatal fetal abnormalities'" while otherwise prohibiting termination "before many people know they're pregnant."

According to the Post, "the bill will take effect 30 days after one of a few scenarios occurs — most likely, 30 days after the state Supreme Court issues a decision on the constitutionality of the 15-week ban that is already in effect. That decision is expected within the coming months."

No heart exists to generate rhythm at six weeks of gestation.

Instead, "the embryo will develop a tube that generates sporadic electrical impulses that eventually coordinate into rhythmic pulses. Six weeks of pregnancy is closer to four weeks of actual development, because pregnancy is measured from the first day of a woman's last period, before she is actually pregnant," NBC News wrote last year citing testimony from medical experts.

The Washington Post's full report is available here (subscription required).

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