A Bill aimed at banning abortions once a foetal heartbeat is detected has been placed before the US Congress. Introduced by Republican Representative Steve King, the Heartbeat Protection Act of 2017 requires that doctors check for a foetal heartbeat before any move to provide a termination and refuse to proceed should a heartbeat be detected. The only exemption permissible under the act would be where a mother’s life is in danger. Medics breaching the law would face a fine and/up to five years in prison. “America was founded on the concept that our rights come from God,” said King. “All human persons have a right to life. How then could we confer that those rights allow the killing of a baby? I believe our most important responsibility that God has bestowed upon us is to protect innocent human life, and I will continue to dedicate my life to that responsibility.”