IA Medical Board

Iowa Fetal Heartbeat Law Guidance for Healthcare Professionals

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing has issued guidance to clarify physician obligations under Iowa's Fetal Heartbeat Law, signed July 14, 2023, which prohibits abortion after detection of a fetal heartbeat via transabdominal pelvic ultrasound. Physicians must document both informed consent under Iowa Code § 146A.1 and fetal heartbeat testing in the patient's medical record. The guidance clarifies exceptions for rape (must be reported within 45 days), incest (reported within 140 days), medical emergencies, and fetal abnormalities incompatible with life.