Chile Parliament Pushes Bill Requiring Women to Hear Fetal Heartbeat Before Legal Abortion

Chile's lower house is debating a bill titled “Escucha tu corazón” that would obligate doctors to offer women the chance to listen to a fetal heartbeat before performing an abortion permitted under the 2017 law. If a heartbeat is detectable and the woman declines to hear it, the physician must refuse the procedure, even in cases of maternal risk, fetal inviability or pregnancy resulting from rape.

The proposal was introduced by six right‑wing deputies – Cristóbal Urruticoechea, Álvaro Jofré, Chiara Barchiesi, Catalina del Real, Claudia Reyes and Ximena Ossandón – and is being considered under President José Antonio Kast’s government. Critics, including former women’s minister Antonia Orellana, have denounced the measure as “legislative cruelty” that would add psychological trauma for victims of sexual violence and other vulnerable women. Several deputies have since withdrawn their support after learning that the bill would compel doctors to suspend care for women who refuse to listen to the heartbeat.

The bill modifies article 119 of the Health Code and would require the offer and the woman's decision to be recorded in the medical record. Chile currently permits abortion only in three narrow circumstances, a framework established during former President Michelle Bachelet’s second term.