2020 Ohio Revised Code
Title 29 | Crimes-Procedure
Chapter 2919 | Offenses Against the Family
Section 2919.192 | Determination of Presence of Fetal Heartbeat.

Effective: July 11, 2019

Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) A person who intends to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman shall determine whether there is a detectable fetal heartbeat of the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying. The method of determining the presence of a fetal heartbeat shall be consistent with the person's good faith understanding of standard medical practice, provided that if rules have been adopted under division (B) of this section, the method chosen shall be one that is consistent with the rules. The person who determines the presence or absence of a fetal heartbeat shall record in the pregnant woman's medical record the estimated gestational age of the unborn human individual, the method used to test for a fetal heartbeat, the date and time of the test, and the results of the test.

The person who performs the examination for the presence of a fetal heartbeat shall give the pregnant woman the option to view or hear the fetal heartbeat.

(B) Not later than one hundred twenty days of the effective date of S.B. 23 of the 133rd general assembly, the director of health shall adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code specifying the appropriate methods of performing an examination for the purpose of determining the presence of a fetal heartbeat of an unborn individual based on standard medical practice.

(C) A person is not in violation of division (A) of this section if that person has performed an examination for the purpose of determining the presence of a fetal heartbeat of an unborn human individual utilizing standard medical practice in accordance with rules adopted under division (B) of this section, that examination does not reveal a fetal heartbeat or the person has been informed by a physician who has performed the examination for a fetal heartbeat that the examination did not reveal a fetal heartbeat, and the person notes in the pregnant woman's medical records the procedure utilized to detect the presence of a fetal heartbeat.