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2020 Ohio Revised Code
Title 29 | Crimes-Procedure
Chapter 2919 | Offenses Against the Family
Section 2919.193 | Determination of Detectable Fetal Heartbeat; Penalties.

Universal Citation: Ohio Rev Code § 2919.193 (2020)
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Effective: July 11, 2019

Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 23 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall knowingly and purposefully perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman before determining in accordance with division (A) of section 2919.192 of the Revised Code whether the unborn human individual the pregnant woman is carrying has a detectable heartbeat.

Whoever violates this division is guilty of performing or inducing an abortion before determining whether there is a detectable fetal heartbeat, a felony of the fifth degree. A violation of this division may also be the basis of either of the following:

(1) A civil action for compensatory and exemplary damages;

(2) Disciplinary action under section 4731.22 of the Revised Code.

(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to a physician who performs or induces the abortion if the physician believes that a medical emergency, as defined in section 2919.16 of the Revised Code, exists that prevents compliance with that division.

(C) A physician who performs or induces an abortion on a pregnant woman based on the exception in division (B) of this section shall make written notations in the pregnant woman's medical records of both of the following:

(1) The physician's belief that a medical emergency necessitating the abortion existed;

(2) The medical condition of the pregnant woman that assertedly prevented compliance with division (A) of this section.

For at least seven years from the date the notations are made, the physician shall maintain in the physician's own records a copy of the notations.

(D) A person is not in violation of division (A) of this section if the person acts in accordance with division (A) of section 2919.192 of the Revised Code and the method used to determine the presence of a fetal heartbeat does not reveal a fetal heartbeat.

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