As the chance for Colorado voters to end late-term abortion in the state approaches in November, those both in support and opposition of the measure are beginning to make their voices heard.
Last week, a group of local healthcare professionals and scientists issued letter of endorsement in support of Propostion 115, which has over 130 signees. This comes on the heels of 125 local religious leaders who are part of the Interfaith Alliance issuing a letter Sept. 9 expressing their opposition to Proposition 115.
“The humanity of a 22-week fetus is apparent to each of us,” the letter states on behalf of the signees. “There can be no doubt that the 22-week fetus is fully alive and fully human.”
The full text of the support letter can be read below.
We, the undersigned, as members of the Healthcare and Life Science community in Colorado, wholeheartedly, and unequivocally, endorse Proposition 115 to restrict late term abortions in Colorado after 22 weeks gestation.
As Healthcare professionals we are totally aware of the science of human development. The humanity of a 22-week fetus is apparent to each of us. There can be no doubt that the 22-week fetus is fully alive and fully human. • She can react to her mother’s voice and touch. • She can experience pain, likely more intensely than an older infant or child can. • She can demonstrate sophisticated behaviors, including early social interaction, which has been observed with fetal co-twins in utero as early as 15 weeks. • Later in fetal development, she can develop food preferences based on exposure to flavors in her mother’s diet. • She can show a preference for her mother’s voice, and for musical pieces to which she has been previously exposed. With advances in medical science, it has become obvious that the fetus is much more than “just pregnancy tissue”, as some would claim. There can be no equivocation that the fetus is a living, learning and actively participating human being. Every one of these lives has inherent value and dignity. They deserve to be embraced and protected by the citizens of Colorado, as equal members of our society.
A 22-week prematurely born fetus can now routinely survive when provided appropriate medical care. • The field of Neonatology serves the needs of these tiny patients. • In some medical centers in the United States, 70% of 22-week fetuses survive. • A 22-week fetus can undergo in utero curative surgery, as an independent patient. The fields of fetal anesthesiology and fetal surgery have been developing in response. When cared for, these fetuses are viewed as separate and distinct patients by medical providers, receiving individualized treatment. Therefore, they should be treated as individuals by Colorado law.
We also recognize that some pregnant women face very difficult and complex pregnancy circumstances. As Healthcare providers, we respond to this with deep compassion. We believe that there must be increased private and public support for pregnant women-in-need living in Colorado. We seek to offer strong and viable alternatives for these women. We actively pursue this goal while acknowledging the good work of many organizations. • We believe in the value of support that is offered through both public and faith-based alternative pregnancy centers such as the Caring Pregnancy Resource Center of Northeast Colorado, Alternatives Pregnancy Center and Marisol Health. • We applaud the work of many organizations such as Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado to ensure that unwanted pregnancies don’t necessarily interrupt educational goals. • We support those organizations who provide housing for pregnant women experiencing financial and housing insecurity such as Little Flower Maternity Home, Let Them Live, and Mary’s Home. • We encourage greater access to perinatal hospice programs such as String of Pearls which provide a life-affirming and compassionate alternative to late term abortion for families dealing with the tragedy of a life-limiting fetal diagnosis. • We work to encourage the gift of adoption and recognize the good work of adoption agencies across Colorado. We stand in solidarity with all those who work privately and publicly to support women during their pregnancies, especially those women who face difficult circumstances or challenges during their pregnancies.
In the uncommon situations in which the pregnancy itself places the mother’s health at risk after 22-weeks, we know that delivery of the baby is safer and quicker than a multi-day abortion procedure. We do not believe that any of the challenges a woman faces after 22 weeks of pregnancy necessitate the senseless destruction of a human life.
As a diverse healthcare community, we acknowledge the 153,204 voters who petitioned to have Proposition 115 placed on this November’s ballot. They represent all political parties, races, ethnicities, and religions. These Colorado constituents have spoken out loudly about their strong belief in the humanity of fetuses at 22-weeks gestation and beyond. We must listen to them.
As a people who say we value life, we must act on our convictions. We ask all Coloradans to vote YES on Prop 115 and go to duedatetoolate.com to learn how to help.
Cora Aguilar MD Jaimie Alvarez RDMS Carlos Arguelles MD George Athey MD PhD Laura Beasley RN BSN G. Scott Bowen MD FAAOS Kathleen Brennan RN BSN Flora Brewington MD Cara Brown MD FAAFP J. Mathew Brown MD FAAFP Michael H. Bryant MD Kelsey Buckingham RN Maura Burton NP-C Christa Calderon RN MS OCN Janet Campbell RN Kathryn Carpenter RN Kory Carpenter DDS Candidate 2022 Kristen Case MS RN CNRN SCRN Michele Chetham MD FAAP Paul M. Chetham MD Cathy J. Chess RN MSN CPNP BC, Lt Col USA Denise (Dede) Chism NP Maria G. Cuevas Mathew S. Davis DDS Nancy DeCook FNP-BC Scott Deeney MD Josephine “Joyce” Dennison MS PA-C Kenneth Dernovsek MD Kim K. Dernovsek MD Robert Domaleski MD Herman Doyle MD Daniel Dyer MD Charles Dygert MD Michelle Earl BSN RN CEN Bethany Engblom DO Kevin Felix DO Ryan M. Fisher MD Ardis Fowler RN Dana Gamblin DMD MSD Elizabeth Garcia MD Zachary Gastelum MD Bruce T. Gilmore MD FACS Michael Glugla MS ANP Mary Jo Glugla MN FNP Darragh Gott FNP Thomas Greany DDS Katherine Greene CNM Joseph Gregory MD Monica Hall PharmD Patricia Hamrick RN R. Scott Haskins MD Carol Hatch RN Roxann Headley MD Renee’ Herman RN BSN MHSA CCCTM Alexandra Hill MD Janessa C. Holliday BSN, RN, CPN Kathleen Houston MLS(ASCP)SBB Thomas C. Hoyle III MD Laura Huene BSN RN CPLC Marcie M. James, RN, BSN Randolph L. James, MD Thomas S. Jennings DDS MAGD Thomas Jensen MD Gary Jewell MD FAAFP Mary E. Jewell MD FAAFP Sarah Kathleen Johannes BSN CRNA Luke Johnson MD Karen Landmeier MD Mark Landmeier MD Rachel Langley DO Walt L. Larimore MD Francisco G. La Rosa MD Laura Lazechko LMT CNA Patricia Lipinski FNP Erin Luna DO Wendy S. Madigosky MD MSPH Jessika Martin DDS David P. Martinez MD Mathew Martinez MD Samuel J. Mast MD Edward R. Mastro MD Brenda McKinney BSN RN Thomas Melcher DDS MS Michael Moubarek MD Candidate 2022 Jennifer Munger RN Joann Napierkowski MD John Napierkowski MD Robin Nichols, MSN RN FNP-C Helen Nowak PA-C MSPAS Trinh Nguyen MD Sarah Page LCSW Thomas J. Perille MD FACP FHM Lirio Polintan MD Marcia Pritchard LPC Alan Rastrelli MD Monique Robles MD Natalie Rodden MD Lisa Rust RN BSN Sharon Sables-Baus PhD RN MPA PCNS-BC CPPS FAAN Eric Sawyer PT DPT OCS STC Theresa A. Scholz MD Monica Serrano-Toy MD David C. Simon MD James G. Smith Jr. MD Kathryn E. Smith RN Erik Sorbo DC Patricia Sorbo DC, DiCCP Maureen Estevez Stabio PhD John C. Stallworth MD Michelle Stanford MD Michael Starkey MD Helenka Stone MD Kenneth A. Stone MD Laura Straley RN BSN CCRN Brian Stromer PA-C MS-PAS Paula Suhr RN David Theis DO Kevin J. Tool MD Elizabeth Tovado RN BSN Julia Trevino-Emerson MD Michael Uebbing OT Carlos Vera MD Deacon John Volk MD Sarah R. Warren MD Kevin Weber MD FACEP Walter C. West Jr. MD Catherine J. Wheeler MD Deanne Wikler BSN RNC-OB Patricia Wikler BSN RN C-AE Hannah Wilson – MMS PA-C Christopher Wojdak LPC, MT-BC Mark Young MD AAFP Annie Zeiler PA Peter Zimmer MD
The views expressed here are our own and not those of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus or any other institution with which we are affiliated.