IT GOES TOO FAR
The proposed abortion amendment takes the doctor out of the doctor-patient relationship by removing the required medical doctor and makes safety precautions unenforceable , even when they would protect girls and women from complications such as a perforated uterus or bowel, sepsis, infertility, and hemorrhaging.
90%
Of Arizona voters support limits on abortion at 15 weeks or earlier
60%
Oppose taxpayer funding for abortion
77%
Oppose forcing healthcare professionals to participate in abortion
THE PROPOSED ABORTION AMENDMENT:
MAKES SAFETY PRECAUTIONS UNENFORCEABLE
The law in Arizona has been settled. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks, and beyond that for medical emergencies. And we have commonsense safety precautions to protect girls and women from complications such as a perforated uterus or bowel, sepsis, infertility, and hemorrhaging. The abortion amendment makes those critical safeguards impossible to enforce. Read it and you will see it states no regulation can “infringe on an individual’s [abortion] decision.” Not even safety standards.
TAKES THE DOCTOR OUT OF THE DOCTOR-
PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP...
...by removing the required medical doctor. If you read the amendment for yourself, you won’t even find the term “doctor” or “physician.” So, it removes the doctor, while also removing critical safety precautions. It’s reckless, and voters deserve to know this so they can decide for themselves.
THE LANGUAGE LEGALIZES LATE-TERM ABORTION BEYOND VIABILITY...
...under a broad exemption known for decades to rubber stamp late-term abortion for virtually any reason. If you look up the U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Doe v Bolton, you’ll see for yourself how broad the health exemption is. A new poll shows 90% of Arizona voters want abortion limited to 15 weeks or earlier. That is where Arizona law is now. Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks and beyond for medical emergencies.
STATES THAT “NO LAW CAN PENALIZE ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO AIDS OR ASSISTS” SOMEONE GETTING AN ABORTION
This means sex abusers who force their victims to get abortions to hide their crimes cannot be held accountable for the cover up – making it easier to get away with his sex crime. And the girl’s parents would never know because it also removes the parental consent requirement.
SHUTS OUT
MOMS AND
DADS WHEN THEIR MINOR DAUGHTER NEEDS THEM MOST...
...removing the parental consent requirement. This leaves their daughter to go through the abortion or take the abortion pill alone, cramping and bleeding for hours and without doctor oversight - even though 1 in every 25 women who take the abortion pill end up in the emergency room. Voters deserve to know this before deciding.
OUT OF STEP WITH
ARIZONA VOTERS
Arizonans have different opinions on abortion, but we can all agree this amendment goes too far. In fact, a new poll shows 90% of voters DO agree that abortion should be limited to 15 weeks or earlier. Abortion is legal now in Arizona up to 15 weeks and beyond in certain circumstances like medical emergencies.
VOTERS DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES
Don’t take our word for it, look into it yourself. Michigan passed a similar measure and lost several basic safety precautions, including a doctor's visit to rule out an ectopic pregnancy before taking the abortion pill, which could be deadly. Michigan clinics no longer have to report abortion complications, even if they result in the death of the woman. And they no longer have to inform women of the risks of an abortion. These are facts voters deserve to know before making their decision. In June, the ACLU, which helps draft these amendments, filed a lawsuit in Michigan, claiming the abortion amendment also requires taxpayers to pay for abortions.
IT GOES TOO FAR FOR ARIZONANS:
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The amendment language legalizes late-term abortion beyond viability, but 90% of Arizonans support limits on abortion at 15 weeks or earlier.
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It prevents Arizonans from requesting that safety standards be passed or enforced – even if those safety standards protect girls and women from complications such as perforated uterus or bowel, sepsis, infertility, and hemorrhaging.
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It opens the door to force taxpayers to fund abortions, even non-residents.
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It endangers current law allowing healthcare professionals to opt out of performing or participating in abortions due to their consciences.
MYTHS AND TRUTHS
MYTH
“The abortion amendment legalizes abortion only up to viability.”
MYTH
“Late-term abortions don’t really happen.”
MYTH
“Without the abortion amendment, women won’t be able to get miscarriage care, ectopic pregnancy care, or contraception.”
MYTH
“Women who experience complications after 15-weeks pregnancy won’t be able to get an abortion until her life is in danger.”
MYTH
“Abortion is a decision between a woman and her doctor.”
MYTH
“Qualified health care professionals will provide abortions”
MYTH
“The amendment doesn’t say a minor can get an abortion.”
MYTH
“The amendment doesn’t say it removes parental consent.”
MYTH
“The amendment allows safety precautions to be enforced.”
MYTH
“Providers will have to maintain standards of care.”
MYTH
“The amendment doesn’t say taxpayers will have to pay for abortions.”
MYTH
“The amendment doesn’t protect sex abusers.”
TRUTH
The abortion amendment legalizes abortion beyond viability, without limit for virtually any reason under a broad physical and mental health exemption. The U.S. Supreme Court has stated a physician has broad discretion in making that determination and can include the woman’s concerns about age, finances, stress, or just about anything. In addition, Sec. 3 B-2 states that determining fetal viability can be, in part, “based on the particular facts of the case,” effectively leaving it completely undefined and impossible to regulate.
TRUTH
More than 10,000 late-term abortions are done every year in the United States. Peer-reviewed research shows “most late-term abortions are elective, done on healthy women with healthy fetuses.”
TRUTH
Miscarriage & ectopic pregnancy care, and contraception are all available now and will be in the future with or without this amendment. Arizona law specifically declares that miscarriage & ectopic pregnancy care, and contraception are NOT abortions. A.R.S. 36-2151 (1) states “Abortion does not include…contraception…the use of any means…to terminate an ectopic pregnancy or to remove a dead fetus.”
TRUTH
Arizona law allows abortions after the 15-week limit in medical emergencies, not just when her life is in danger. A medical emergency is defined as a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.
TRUTH
The abortion amendment takes the doctor out of the doctor-patient relationship by removing the current doctor requirement. The words "doctor" or "physician" are not found in the amendment.
TRUTH
Section 3-A-2 of the amendment uses the term “treating health care professional,” not “doctor” or “physician” when addressing abortion providers and who can sign off on late-term abortions. Under Arizona law (32-3201) a “health care professional” includes podiatrists, chiropractors, dentists, pharmacists, etc. This vague language opens the door to a minor girl getting the abortion pill from the school nurse without parents knowing.
TRUTH
By using the term “every individual” in Section 3-A, instead of “adult,” the amendment pertains to anyone of any age. A constitutional amendment supersedes the current state law that requires a minor’s parent to consent or for a court order authorizing the abortion.
TRUTH
The amendment uses the term “every individual” in Section 3-A, instead of “adult.” With no distinction between minor or adult, a court could not infer a distinction.
TRUTH
No law that interferes with an abortion can stand, regardless of the health and safety applications. Section 3-B(1) a & b requires any health or safety regulation to also ensure a girl or woman can get the abortion. If it restricts an abortion, even to protect the girl or woman, it would be struck down. Section 3 B(1) b states no law or policy can stand if it “infringe[s] on that individual’s autonomous decision making.”
TRUTH
Not if they “deny, restrict, or interfere” (Section 3-A(1)) with a girl or woman getting an abortion. Nothing can get in the way of an abortion under the amendment language. If clinics claim the required supervised post-procedure recovery rooms, ultrasounds to detect complications, emergency equipment and protocols, or any other health precaution is limiting their ability to provide abortions, it could be struck down, according to Section 3- B 1 (b) as “infringe[ing] on that individual’s autonomous decision making.”
TRUTH
Because the amendment creates a fundamental right to abortion, any restriction on a government health care insurance plan would be seen as interfering with a woman or girl’s fundamental right. Government health care coverage of other maternal services would then require coverage for abortion as well. A law that restricts such coverage would be accused of violating A(1) and B(1) a & b of the amendment. The ACLU filed suit in Michigan to force taxpayer funded abortions after that state passed a similar amendment.
TRUTH
Yes it does. The amendment prohibits “penalize[ing] anyone for aiding or assisting” someone getting an abortion. A sex trafficker or abuser could take his victim to get an abortion so he can cover his sex crime. He could not be penalized for the cover up, and the girl’s parents would not be notified.
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY AND MISCARRIAGE CARE ARE NOT ABORTIONS
THE DEFINITION OF ABORTION UNDER ARIZONA LAW:
A.R.S. 36-2151(1) Abortion does not include birth control devices , oral contraceptives used to inhibit or prevent ovulation, conception or the implantation of a fertilized ovum in the uterus or the use of any means to save the life or preserve the health of the unborn child, to preserve the life or health of the child after a live birth, to terminate an ectopic pregnancy or to remove a dead fetus .