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What does voting yes on Amendment 4 do?

IT’S SIMPLE: IT STOPS FLORIDA’S EXTREME ABORTION BAN.

What does Amendment 4 say? 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. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion. Ends Florida’s extreme abortion ban, saving the lives of patients, by getting politicians out of our exam rooms. Gives patients and doctors the freedom to make healthcare decisions. Maintains existing parental rights protections in Florida's constitution.

VOTE YES ON 4

Keep Government Out of Our Healthcare Decisions

Does this initiative take away parental consent?

What this Amendment WILL do is end Florida’s extreme abortion ban.

We agree strongly that parents should have the right to advocate for their child’s health, safety, and well-being. And the voters have already spoken on that subject. As it says in the Amendment itself, it does not change.

A Black woman wearing a black shirt with white sleeves holds up 4 fingers for Amendment 4 and a sign that reads "Bans off our bodies"
Photo by Matt Keller Lehman, Orlando Weekly
A Black man in a "Men 4 Choice" shirt stands at a podium which has a sign that says "Doctors not politicians". With him is a crowd of supporters to vote yes on Amendment 4 and end Florida's abortion ban.
Photo by Matt Keller Lehman, Orlando Weekly

Does this initiative provide taxpayer funding for abortion?

No. It ends Florida’s extreme abortion ban.  

Does this initiative allow people who aren’t doctors to provide an abortion?

No. It ends Florida’s extreme abortion ban. 

Healthcare Providers must be licensed to provide healthcare: ‘Healthcare provider’ is used throughout Florida law. They are regulated by the state and must follow medical ethics and the standards of practice or risk losing their licenses. Healthcare providers must be licensed and qualified to provide the particular healthcare at issue. Nothing in Amendment 4 changes that.

 

You don’t go to your dentist for heart surgery, and no one would go to a massage therapist for an abortion. Healthcare providers are all bound by their scope of practice, standards of care, and ethics. Many doctors, like ophthalmologists for example, are not qualified to administer abortion care. These ridiculous, false claims are only meant to scare and confuse voters.

Does this initiative allow elective abortion up until nine months, or abortion after birth?

No. Abortions this far into a pregnancy are extremely rare and are the result of a fetal abnormality or serious risk to the health of the patient. Deborah Dobert’s story is a tragic example of what happens when this care is banned. Abortion after birth is not abortion. It’s murder, which is a felony. Amendment 4 does not change that.

What does viability mean?

Viability is defined in Florida law as “the stage of fetal development when the life of a fetus is sustainable outside the womb through standard medical measures.” 390.011(15) Every pregnancy is different and so is the exact determination of viability. A hard cutoff is politicians making a decision that should be made by a doctor, and is harmful to patients.

What does healthcare provider mean?

A healthcare provider is defined by law in Florida’s Patient Bill of Rights as “a physician licensed under chapter 458, an osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 459, a podiatric physician licensed under chapter 461, or an advanced practice registered nurse registered under s. 464.0123.” 381.026

 

HOW CAN I HELP PASS AMENDMENT 4?

 

It’s going to take all of us to pass Amendment 4 and end Florida’s near-total abortion ban. Visit yes4fl.com to donate, find volunteer events near you, pledge to vote, and more. 

 

Talk to your friends, coworkers, and neighbors about the urgent need to pass Amendment 4 and get politicians out of our personal medical decisions.

A volunteer knocks on a neighbor's door who is in support and gives a thumbs up for Amendment 4. Her dog is vocally in support as well.
Two student volunteers wear purple shirts and smiles, advocating to end Florida's near-total abortion ban by inspiring voters to vote YES on Amendment 4
Paid political advertisement provided in-kind by Progress Florida, 200 2nd Ave S, Ste 808, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
 
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