Fetuses to 'Testify' in Ohio Abortion Bill Debate

A pair of fetuses—one of them nine weeks old, the other 11 weeks—will “testify” today in a committee debate over an Ohio bill that would ban abortions if the fetus has a heartbeat. Faith2Action, the Christian pro-life group coordinating the "appearance," boasts that they’ll be the youngest witnesses to ever come before the Ohio health committee. Their “testimony” will consist of ultrasounds images of their mothers' bodies projected on a video screen, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports.

“Lawmakers are going to be able to see as well as hear the babies’ heartbeats,” says the head of Faith2Action. “This is going to do a lot to keep other babies' heartbeats going in Ohio.” The committee’s Republican chairman will not, however, allow any pro-choice advocates to testify. “I think it’s a stunt that trivializes women’s health,” said the head of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. “What Ohioans are getting is an absolute circus in the House health committee.” Click for more on Ohio's proposed law. (More Ohio stories.)