Coburn offers bill for when human life begins

(Washington-AP) -- U-S Representative Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has introduced legislation defining when human life begins. <br><br>Coburn says the purpose of his resolution is to influence the abortion

Friday, April 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Washington-AP) -- U-S Representative Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has introduced legislation defining when human life begins.

Coburn says the purpose of his resolution is to influence the abortion debate before the Supreme Court and the general public.

The Muskogee Republican says his legislation considers human life as beginning when a heartbeat and a brain wave are detected.

States use similar parameters for defining death.

Coburn is a physician who has delivered babies. He says the resolution would not be sent to the president for his signature or have an immediate impact on the judiciary.

But Coburn says it would express the sense of Congress.

He says a heartbeat can be detected as soon as 19 days and a brain wave is detectable in the sixth or seventh week.