AdvertisementThe Texas abortion ban hinges on 'fetal heartbeat.' Doctors call that misleadingUpdated May 03, 2022Selena Simmons-DuffinCarrie FeibelfacebookEmailThe term "fetal heartbeat," as used in the anti-abortion law in Texas, is misleading and not based on science, say physicians who specialize in reproductive health. What the ultrasound machine detects in an embryo at six weeks of pregnancy is actually just electrical activity from cells that aren't yet a heart. And the sound that you "hear" is actually manufactured by the ultrasound machine. (Getty Images)This article was originally published on September 02, 2021.