BAG Blog
Amendment 4 is not a “yes” to murder or a denial of religious values
By Nathalie Setoute | October 30, 2024
This election season, one of the most important amendments on the Florida ballot is Amendment 4, which proposes removing government interference in the healthcare decisions between patients and their providers regarding abortion beyond six weeks.
If passed, this amendment would ensure that healthcare providers can give patients the necessary care without being limited by restrictive laws. It’s essential to understand that this amendment is not a “yes” on killing babies, nor is it an affront to biblical values or Christian morals. Instead, it seeks to allow healthcare professionals and patients the freedom to make crucial, often life-saving decisions, especially in cases involving violence, human trafficking, and incest.
Florida’s current six-week abortion ban
The reality is that most patients do not even know they are pregnant by six weeks, and that time frame is impossibly short for those facing complex circumstances. Research from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has shown that restrictions like these disproportionately impact marginalized communities, including low-income women and women of color, who often face systemic barriers to healthcare access. For these women, the six-week window feels less like a protection and more like a punishment.
Furthermore, abortion laws with restrictive cutoffs, like Florida’s six-week ban, prevent healthcare providers from offering necessary care in cases of medical emergencies. According to a report by the Guttmacher Institute, restrictions on abortion access often tie the hands of doctors, preventing them from making life-saving decisions when complications arise during pregnancy. Amendment 4 would remove this interference, allowing healthcare providers to fully exercise their medical expertise to protect and save the lives of their patients.
Survivors
Vote Yes on 4 This November
As we approach this election, we must consider the real lives these policies affect. Patients facing life-threatening complications during pregnancy, survivors of assault, and those trapped in violent circumstances need our support—not laws that punish them. Amendment 4 allows us to take a stand for them. We are not voting for or against life. We are voting to give women the choice to live, survive, and make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
This November, let’s vote with compassion and understanding. Let’s stand up for Amendment 4 and ensure that healthcare decisions are made between patients and doctors, not the government. We have the power to save lives, protect women, and ensure that Florida’s healthcare system values human dignity.
By Nathalie Setoute
Citations:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Restrictions and Bans on Abortion Affect Women of Color,” 2022, https://www.acog.org/advocacy/abortion-is-essential/come-prepared/abortion-access-fact-sheet.
Guttmacher Institute, “Abortion Policy in the United States,” 2023, https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states.
Center for Reproductive Rights, “Access to Safe Abortion: The Human Rights Issue,” 2022, https://reproductiverights.org/our-issues/abortion/.
Library of Congress, “Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists,” 1802, https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html.
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