Wisconsin GOP looks to block abortions if heartbeat detected

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans have introduced a bill that would prohibit abortions if a fetal heartbeat is detected.

The bill would prohibit anyone from performing or attempting to perform an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is present unless the pregnant woman's life is in danger or she could suffer irreversible physical problems from the pregnancy.

A doctor who violates the prohibition would be subject to investigation by the state Medical Examining Board. Anyone could sue an abortion provider who violates the prohibition. 

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin released a statement in response to the bill. 

“SB 923 is an extreme proposal that is closely modeled after Texas’s abortion ban, which has resulted in lasting harm to thousands of real people who have been either been denied access to abortion care or forced to desperately rearrange their lives to travel a great distance under crushing personal financial cost to access care," said executive director Mike Murray, in part. "It is hard for me to imagine how anyone entrusted with elected office would believe that the tragedy that continues to unfold every day in Texas is the future that women in Wisconsin deserve." 

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers almost certainly will veto the bill if it reaches his desk.