In an effort to slow down abortion, Sen. Paul Scott authored Senate Bill 1859, which passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.  The bill would require doctors to recognize life just as they do death through heartbeats and brainwaves or the lack of such activity.

 Beginning at six weeks, SB 1859 would prohibit doctors from performing abortions if a fetal or embryonic heartbeat or brainwaves are audible or detected.  Doctors are now required at eight weeks to tell a mother if a heartbeat can be heard and give her the opportunity to listen to it before moving forward with the procedure.

The licenses of physicians who violate the bill would be immediately revoked and could never be renewed in Oklahoma.