Florida Physicians Speak Out Against Proposed Abortion Amendment

A coalition of more than 300 Florida physicians and health care professionals is urging voters to reject a ballot initiative to establish a constitutional right to abortion in their state. “Amendment 4 is bad medicine for women, it’s bad for children, bad for families,” said Dr. Richard Sandler, pediatrician and co-chair of Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4, at a Sept. 11 press conference in Orlando. Florida currently restricts abortion after six weeks’ gestation, when a fetal heartbeat is usually detectable. Women can obtain abortions in cases involving rape, incest, and human trafficking up until 15 weeks of pregnancy. The procedure is also available until the third trimester if a fatal fetal abnormality is found and at any point during the pregnancy if the mother’s life is at risk....