Florida’s Proposed ‘Heartbeat Bill’ Ignites Emotional Debate

A bill that would make it more difficult to get an abortion in Florida is now closer to becoming law.

The Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee, after emotional and heated debate on March 16, passed the Pregnancy Planning and Support bill, with 13 Republicans voting in favor and five Democrats opposed.

To become law, the bill would still need to pass the state’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Senate, before moving to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The hearing on the bill attracted a large crowd that lasted more than two hours. The bill was opposed by most of the 142 people who signed up to speak at this meeting.

However, not all potential speakers attended. However, dozens of college students came to the podium, including many who were aspiring speakers.

Those who came to support the cause were vastly outnumbered.

Chuck Clemons, chairman of the committee, reminded the crowd that it was important to maintain civility and decorum.

“There was the potential for fireworks,” Clemons spoke later. “The committee was respectful of the viewpoints and offered empathy to those attending and [those who] spoke.”

Clemons thanked all speakers, even those who criticised committee members or spoke disrespectfully to them.

Proposed restrictions on abortion

The proposed bill would ban abortions within six weeks of gestational birth, with some exceptions. DeSantis signed an existing state law in April 2022 which limits abortions to 15 weeks of fetal developmental.

Two months later the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The 1973 Supreme Court decision had established a constitutional rights to abortion.

Dobbs and Jackson Women’s Health Organization v. Jackson Court of Appeals sent the state’s decisions on abortion back to them in June 2022.

The Florida bill proposed to keep existing exceptions which allow abortions later in order to save the mother’s life or when there are fatal abnormalities in the baby’s development.

It would also allow abortions during rape or incest cases up to 15 weeks gestation.

In 2022, the state reported more than 82,000 abortions—the highest number of procedures in a single year since 2008. The state reported more than 82,000 abortions in 2022, the highest number since 2008. Florida is now known for being an abortion state, as other states have increased restrictions on abortion. “abortion destination,” Despite the ban of 15 weeks, procedures are still easier in this area than elsewhere in the Southeast.

The law proposes that two doctors have to agree on the need for an exception to allow later abortions.

Proposed legislation would also require that abortion-inducing medications be prescribed in person by a doctor. Telehealth would be prohibited for abortion-inducing treatment.

It would also ban the use of state funds for travel to other states to obtain an abortion.

‘Fireworks’

The “fireworks” Clemons predicted that the audience would be limited to the words of many speakers as they came to a dais. Both lawmakers and speakers shared deeply personal experiences.

Rep. Allison Tant, a Democrat said that her mother nearly died from preeclampsia after seven months of pregnancy in the late 1940s. She was unable to bear the baby she so desperately wanted.

Tant stated that she went blind as a result of a pregnancy-related complication. She was admitted for one year. Tant was finally born twelve years later.

“My mother never described this as anything but the most grief-stricken, traumatic experience of her life,” Tant said. “But it was a necessary procedure that saved her life, so that I could be here,  and my sister could be here, and so that my children could have a grandmother.”

Tant stated that her mother lived in rural areas with only one doctor and would have been affected by the two-doctor rule. Many rural residents live in areas where hospitals are far away and doctors are often scarce. Others agreed with Tant.

Some women said that the six-week limit is not enough time to recognize they are pregnant, visit a doctor, confirm that their baby is healthy, and determine if it is safe. They may still need to plan, pay for and obtain an abortion.

Christine Hunschofsky (Democrat) said that her irregular menstrual cycles meant that she didn’t realize she was pregnant until she was 8-9 weeks into each child’s gestation.

“A woman’s right to choose and make choices for herself—this really bothers me as a woman,” She said. “We talk about being a free state. And this is literally the antithesis of that.”

Some speakers spoke out about unintended pregnancies that were the result of rape and stated that they are more common than state records or people realize.

Tears of Remembrance

Joel Rudman, a Republican who is also a family physician, stated that he has delivered more than 110 children. He is often the one who informs a woman that she’s pregnant.

“I’d say, nine times out of 10—or more than that, maybe 99 times out of 100—the news is well-received,” He said.

“There’s that occasional one where you get that sense of shock on their face. I’ve seen that look. I’ve seen that look on teenagers, who are in high school. I’ve seen that look in 48-year-old women.”

Rudman recommends that patients who are unsure about their pregnancy go home and think about the implications. Then, they return the next day to talk about it.

He stated that almost all of them would choose to keep their children.

He witnessed a variety of emotions as mothers returned with their babies to check-ups.

“Each time the visit ends with the mother crying, because she remembers just how close she came to ending the life of the most important thing in her life,” He said this, taking a moment to breathe deeply, then he tried to regain his composure.

He explained that he donates to a center for women in crisis just a few doors away from his clinic.

If the bill becomes law these centers will be eligible for more funding. They were also targeted by many of their opponents. One called them “fake medical clinics.”

These centers offer women options to abortion and have been targeted by violence with numerous acts of arson and vandalism.

The Duty to Protect

Democrats on the committee questioned the need to revisit the issue so soon after tightening restrictions on abortion not quite a year ago. The committee listed almost 20 professional medical organizations that oppose the legislation.

They also offered amendments. None passed.

Rep. Jenna Persons Mulicka, a Republican and the bill’s sponsor, did not apologize for her position.

She said that life begins at conception and there is a duty to protect the unborn.

“The bill that is before you is not solely a reflection of my personal beliefs,” She said: “but of listening in an attempt to build consensus—consensus around policy that will promote life and support all of our mothers and children and families in the State of Florida.”