1/16/12: TX Abortion Law Goes into Effect

Last Friday, a federal appeals court ordered the immediate enforcement of a new Texas abortion law that asks abortion providers to play pregnant women the sounds of the fetal heartbeat.

The law, enacted in 2011, requires abortion providers to perform an ultrasound on pregnant women, show and describe the image to them, and play sounds of the fetal heartbeat. Though women can decline to view images or hear the heartbeat, they must listen to a description of the exam.

The Texas Department of State Health Services expected to implement its enforcement plan in the coming weeks. The department was finalizing its notification letters that it will send to abortion facilities and inspectors.

Jonathan Saenz of Liberty Institute said “This court order means that the law is to be enforced effective immediately, as it should be.”