Chile Bill Would Require Women Hear Fetal Heartbeat Before Abortion

A group of six right‑wing Chilean deputies has introduced a bill called “Escucha su corazón” to amend the Health Code. The proposal would obligate doctors to inform a patient of any detectable fetal cardiac activity and to offer the chance to listen to the heartbeat before a legal abortion. If the woman refuses to listen, the doctor would be barred from performing the procedure. The requirement would apply to the two existing grounds of fetal inviability and pregnancy resulting from rape, with an explicit exemption for cases where the woman's life is at risk.

Chile has allowed abortion since 2017 only under three circumstances: risk to the woman's life, lethal fetal anomalies, or rape. The bill, presented on 25 June, cites similar laws in several U.S. states and earlier measures in Hungary and Spain. It has drawn sharp criticism from feminist groups, the left‑wing Frente Amplio, former minister Antonia Orellana and other legislators, who label it “cruel,” “inhuman” and a revictimising step that undermines women’s autonomy. The measure is now in its first constitutional review stage in Congress.