1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Let's talk about HB 754. Here is a copy and paste from the latest revision: "Sec. 3705.50. (A)(1) A person who determines the presence of a fetal heartbeat during an examination of a pregnant woman shall prepare and file a certificate of life in the registration district in which the examination occurs within ten calendar days of the examination. The certificate of life shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section. (2) In addition to filing a certificate of life, a person who determines the presence of a fetal heartbeat during an examination of a pregnant woman shall immediately give the pregnant woman a printed copy of the information to be included on the certificate of life. (B) Division (A) of this section applies only if the pregnant woman's medical record does not indicate that a certificate of life has already been filed for that pregnancy. (C) The director of health shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section, including rules establishing the following: (1) Information to be included on a certificate of life; (2) A system that enables a certificate of life to later be matched with a fetal death certificate registered pursuant to section 3705.161 of the Revised Code; (3) Protocols to avoid redundant filings; (4) The format in which information shall be printed pursuant to division (A)(2) of this section." Here are some issues right out of the gate: 1. Physicians and medical professionals already spend so much time on paperwork and their time with patients is often squeezed into 20 minutes or less. This unnecessary filing of a fetal heartbeat before life outside the womb is viable, during the weeks where miscarriage is most likely, is adding pointless work to professionals that are already spread too thin. 2. As mentioned above, miscarriage is more likely to happen before 20 weeks, which means a fetal heartbeat on an ultrasound does not mean viable life. A record of life at this point is not accurate. Certificates should be accurate. 3. This violates the privacy of women, who are fully autonomous and have been managing human life on this planet earth since the first human breath. 4. If this passes, more women will wait to seek prenatal care until later in their pregnancy, well past the 20 weeks. This is because of the vague wording that leaves an opening for retaliation against women who have miscarriages or abortions. We know early prenatal care is paramount to the health of Mom and baby, this is established globally with infant and mother mortality statistics. The wording of HB 754 puts lives at risk. 5. State Representative Jean Schmidt, has no medical training, or training in public health. She is the primary sponsor of HB 754, but has no expertise in health, pregnancy, or medical science. The people of the great state of Ohio deserve better than bills pushing a harmful agenda, creating paperwork on proof of live trails that harm women and do nothing to help anyone. Thank you for your attention to this matter.