To the editor:
If Issue 1 passes, would a doctor be allowed to kill a viable infant up to the moment of birth? Absolutely not.
As Dr. Anita Somani, an Ohio State Representative, says: “There is no medical procedure where an abortion is performed at or near time of birth. That’s called a delivery.”
Let’s be clear, the word “abortion” means “termination of pregnancy.” It does not mean killing a viable infant. After the point of viability, any medical procedure is decided on by a licensed physician who has pledged to save the patient. Despite the scary claims by opponents, no doctor would risk prison and losing their license in order to compromise the life of a viable child or its mother.
In states that passed extreme abortion restrictions, there are many examples of very ill pregnant women being told to wait in the hospital parking lots until they are near death from sepsis or some other disease before doctors will remove the fetus or even a viable child. This has resulted in severe health problems that affect both the life of the mother and the child.
Out of fear of prosecution and the desire to best serve patients, many doctors and doctors in training are fleeing or intend to leave abortion restrictive states including Ohio. About 40% of doctors at one Ohio medical school recently reported that they planned or are considering leaving the state — which is already short of OBGYNs.
It’s fine for people to vote based on facts. It’s another matter when opponents lie about a proposed amendment, so that people are voting out of fears over language or interpretations that do not exist.
For the health of all women and children, please Vote Yes on Issue 1.
Solveig Spjeldnes
Athens, Ohio
