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Voices for Life: Colorado medical professionals rally for women and babies, against Amendment 79

We’re less than a week from the 2024 presidential election, and while many have cast their vote, there’s still time to choose life.

On Wednesday, October 30, medical professionals from Colorado’s cohort of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs gathered with pro-life community members in front of the State Capitol to speak out against Amendment 79.

“Today we’re having a rally of healthcare professionals to stand against Amendment 79 and say ‘this goes too far,'” said Brittany Vessely, executive director of the Colorado Catholic Conference. “We’re also having a press conference to explain why abortion is not healthcare.”

The rally was coordinated by several medical professionals, many of whom spoke to the crowd of community members in attendance. The program of speakers included Dr. Catherine Wheeler, Dr. Wendy Smith, Dr. Michelle Stanford, Dr. Elizabeth Thilo and Dr. Tom Perille. Additionally, Right to Know Colorado, the campaign against Amendment 79, co-sponsored the rally, and members attended to support the event.

“We know there are a large number of medical professionals who are against this Amendment, because ultimately it harms women,” Dr. Wheeler said. “We are the medical branch under Right to Know Colorado, so we educate others about the harms of this Amendment.”

According to the medical professionals, Amendment 79 would give women unrestricted access to abortion through the third trimester, even on healthy women and healthy babies. Additionally, this Amendment would remove parental notification requirements, so young women may be pressured or coerced into an abortion without their parents’ knowledge.

“What’s of concern here, is that young girls who have experienced sexual abuse or sex trafficking can be forced into an abortion with out their parents’ knowledge. Then, they’ll be left to deal with the aftermath of that procedure on their own instead of having the support of the parents,” Dr. Wendy Smith explained.

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Additionally, the doctors said, late-term abortions are proven to have a greater risk of complications for the mother.

“Statistically, when an abortion is performed after the first trimester, the risk of dying from complications increases by 38%,” Dr. Perille said. “So, by the time you get to the 20 week range when we’re talking about late abortions, the risk of an abortion far exceeds the risk of natural childbirth.

“As Dr. Wheeler pointed out, second trimester abortions become increasingly more risky, so it’s safe to assume that third trimester abortions, when you forcefully dilate the cervix to extract the fetus, will pose a significant risk,” Dr. Perille continued.

As a former abortionist, Dr. Wheeler has personal experience with late-term abortions. Having seen the harm being done, she can’t help but speak out.

“Unfortunately, I performed second trimester abortions during my early career, and when I learned that in Colorado these are unregulated, that frightened me,” Dr. Wheeler shared. “I know from personal experience how dangerous these procedures can be, and how much the odds of complications for the mother, like hemorrhaging, infection or perforation of the uterus and injury to other organs increase. That was one of the biggest factors that moved me to become more involved in the pro-life movement.”

The danger of abortion procedures in only compounded, Dr. Perille added, by the lack of regulation of abortion clinics. In the United States, medical clinics are heavily inspected to ensure the safety of the patients, but this is not the case for abortions clinics.

“If you look at the risk of dying from complications in an ambulatory surgical center in the US and Canada, the risk is much lower than the risk of dying from complications from an abortion, yet those centers are heavily regulated where clinics that perform second trimester and late-term abortions are not,” Dr. Perille said. “It shows that abortion activists prioritize the access to abortion over the health and safety of women.”

Because of a lack of regulation regarding abortion, it is possible that the data regarding the harm of abortion is being kept in the dark, Dr. Smith said.

“Additionally, there will be no way to track the data of injury or harm to women unless a malpractice suit becomes public, so physicians will not be held accountable for complications after abortions,” she noted.

Dr. Wheeler concluded by reiterating the number one reason for the gathering: to advocate for women and unborn children, who do not have a voice of their own.

“I would like to make it very clear that we’re hear today because we care about both women and babies. We care deeply about both of them, and we are concerned about the harms that this is doing to women,” Dr. Wheeler said. “Especially because many of the abortions performed in Colorado are for women who are out of state. So, after their procedure, they are sent back home, and they don’t have a physician caring for them. It’s very scary and heartbreaking.”

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For more information on the harms of Amendment 79 and to get involved in opposing the dangerous, radical measure, visit RightToKnowCO.com.

Marie O'Neal
Marie O'Neal
Marie O'Neal is the Staff Writer & Reporter for Denver Catholic & El Pueblo Católico.
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