Oppose Constitutional Amendment Intended to Ban Abortion and Certain Forms of Contraception!

House Resolution 536 (HR 536) is a proposed constitutional amendment to establish the "personhood" of each citizen from fertilization until natural death.  HR 536’s implications are so broad that HR 536 could potentially ban abortion in Georgia, as well as ban certain forms of contraception and prevent women from utilizing assisted reproductive technology.  Bottom line, this bill puts politics above the health and safety of women.

 

Please sign the below petition and join people all across Georgia who believe that a woman’s personal medical decisions should be made by her, in consultation with her doctor.   If politicians in Georgia truly cared about preventing unintended pregnancies, they would work with Planned Parenthood to increase access to prevention initiatives like birth control and sex education. This amendment does nothing to prevent unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion.

 

Stand Up for Reproductive Justice and sign the petition TODAY!  Women and men deserve access to safe, affordable, quality reproductive health care.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: OPPOSE HR 536

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

By signing this petition I am joining people all across Georgia who believe that a woman's personal medical decisions should be made by her, in consultation with her doctor. I am opposed to House Resolution 536 and I am deeply offended and outraged by politicians acting to take these intensely private decisions out of women's hands. I stand with the vast majority of Georgians who favor proactive measures that will reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and improve the health of Georgia families.

Signed by:

Campaign Launched:
October 18, 2007


Background Information

 §         This amendment is intended to ban abortion and certain forms of birth control in Georgia and become the legal vehicle to challenge and overturn Roe v. Wade.

§         This amendment could have random implications and broad, legal and medical ramifications. Will it lead to a ban on certain forms of contraception like birth control pills and the IUD? Will it prevent women from utilizing assisted reproductive technology like In Vitro Fertilization? 

§         There is a potential for serious conflicts over health care decision making if the needs of the fetus and pregnant woman diverge.  Treating a fetus or embryo as a person may subject a woman or her doctor to potential criminal sanctions for measures taken as a course of treatment, such as radiation treatment for cancer or antibiotics for infection.

 

§         Legislators and medical practitioners should keep maternal health as their primary focus when addressing issues involving pregnant women.

 

§         The General Assembly should seek ways to expand access to family planning services, NOT create new barriers to women’s health care.