Ohio's heartbeat bill gains momentum nationally as the abortion ban to upend Roe v. Wade. Here's how

Ohio's heartbeat bill gains momentum nationally as the abortion ban to upend Roe v. Wade. Here's how it started.


COLUMBUS – One woman's fight against abortion started at a sleepover in Ohio. It could end with a U.S. Supreme Court challenge to Roe v. Wade.

Ohio lawmakers just passed a bill to ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, part of a nationwide crusade to undo the U.S. Supreme Court's protection of abortion rights. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has promised to sign the abortion ban, which is one of the nation's strictest.

The so-called "heartbeat bill," which prohibits abortions as early as six weeks into a woman's pregnancy, has been endorsed by Vice President Mike Pence and is seen as a credible threat to the landmark case Roe v. Wade.

Opponents of the abortion ban say it penalizes doctors for performing procedures protected by the U.S. Supreme Court. In many cases, women do not realize they are pregnant until weeks after these laws would prohibit abortion.

Read more: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2019/04/10/heartbeat-bill-abortion-ban-ohio-gains-national-momentum/3399625002/