(ZENIT News / Santiago, 08.20.2026).- Regarding the «Listen to Its Heart» bill, which proposes that pregnant women listen to the baby’s heartbeat before undergoing an abortion, Chilean President José Antonio Kast stated in an interview with T13 Radio that, although it is a legitimate parliamentary motion, «we are not going to move forward on that matter.»
The text of the proposal stipulates that «as part of the truthful, complete, and objective information referred to in the preceding clause, and prior to the woman expressing her intent to terminate the pregnancy, the physician-surgeon must inform her whether, based on gestational age, cardiac activity in the embryo or fetus is detectable. When such activity is detectable, the physician must offer her, verbally and directly, the opportunity to hear the heartbeat using available technical means, along with an objective description of it.»
The bill proposes that the woman may «freely decline» the offer to hear the baby’s heartbeat, with the proviso that «the physician must refuse to perform the pregnancy termination if that situation arises.» The current wording of the bill, therefore, allows the woman to refuse to listen, but legally prevents the physician from performing the abortion if she does not hear it.
It is noteworthy that the «Listen to Its Heart» bill was an initiative of the party to which President Kast belongs. However, in an interview on August 10, he stated that, while it is a legitimate parliamentary motion, he had pledged during his campaign to focus his administration on security and the economy, rather than pushing for measures that generate «tension in certain aspects of social life.»
He also asserted that «in other countries, [the proposal to listen to] the heartbeat is voluntary. The difference with the parliamentary motion in Chile is that it was made mandatory.»
The bill’s sponsor, Deputy Urruticoechea, maintained that the President «is fully within his rights to proceed with whatever measures he deems appropriate to partially rebuild what the administration of former President Boric destroyed.» He also warned that the National Liberal Party would maintain its own priorities.
Regarding Kast’s refusal, Deputy Urruticoechea commented: «In human terms, we believe a nation grows and is born free when, most importantly, it can live in peace; and that applies to the human being who deserves to live, from conception to natural death, without anyone attempting to cut short that unique right.»
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