New bill to educate about foetal development

New bill to educate about foetal development

A recently introduced bill in Ohio would add scientific information about the development of the unborn child to the state’s public and charter school curriculum.

HB 90, known as the ‘Humanity of the Unborn Child’ bill, would direct the state board of education and department of health to create educational programming that “provides accurate, scientifically verifiable information concerning the probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the unborn child” throughout a pregnancy.

The legislation would also instruct the department of health to “develop and maintain a pregnancy and child services database containing a list of agencies that offer services available to assist women through pregnancy and childbirth and while their children are dependent”.

Resources

It would direct the health department to distribute educational materials on maternal health, including information about prenatal vitamins and nutrition, avoidance of alcohol and drugs during pregnancy, and resources available for prenatal medical care.

Critics of the bill have blasted it as a political move that will deprive students of information that they need to make informed decisions.