Doctors Warn Voters About ‘Deceptively Worded’ Language In Florida’s Amendment 4

A large group of Florida physicians recently united to oppose the state’s Amendment 4 initiative, warning voters about its potential impacts as it heads to the ballot in November.

Florida’s Amendment 4, also known as the Right to Abortion Initiative, is sponsored by the Sarasota-based group “Floridians Protecting Freedom.” The amendment seeks to end the state’s six-week abortion ban by enshrining abortion rights in Florida’s constitution. While some physicians support the amendment, others have begun to caution voters against it.

State physicians opposing the amendment primarily cite concerns over its “vague” language. Dr. Ana Garcia Iguaran, an OB/GYN and general practitioner at Mater Dei Clinic in Ave Maria, told the Diocese of Venice in Florida that the text is purposely “misleading” and would provide “unlimited, unrestricted access to abortion.”

“The language in the amendment is purposedly misleading as to suggest that it will provide healthcare for pregnant women – anyone can get behind that,” Dr. Iguaran said. “Of course, pregnant women need healthcare! But that is not what this amendment means or would provide.  It would provide unlimited, unrestricted access to abortion, even for young girls, without their parents’ consent. Abortion is not improving anyone’s life, certainly not the baby’s, and not the mother’s.”

The ballot initiative states that, “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Dr. Richard Sandler, who leads the “Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4” group, which includes hundreds of doctors opposing the change, also criticized the amendment as being “very deceptively worded,” according to the Florida Phoenix.