PROP 1: Addressing misinformation

There is a lot of misinformation about Proposition One (The Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act} which I would like to address.

1. “Prop 1 would allow a minor to get an abortion without parental consent.”

False: Anyone under the age of 18 needs to have parental consent for any medical procedure.

2. “Prop 1 allows anyone to carry out an abortion.”

False: Idaho has a Scope of Practice Law for all medical providers which includes procedures. No one can provide miscarriage or abortion care without specific training.

3. “Prop 1 provides transgender care.”

False: Prop 1 does not provide transgender care.

4. “Prop 1 would allow late term abortions.”

False: There are no elective late term abortions. In the case of a pregnant woman with pregnancy complications affecting her life or health causing life long medical conditions such as heart disease, kidney failure and infertility, the family in collaboration with the doctor can choose to have an abortion.

5. “OB/GYN doctors are not really leaving the state due to the abortion ban law in 2023.”

False: 43% of Idaho’s OB/GYN doctors have left or retired, which has contributed to many obstetric hospitals closing. The ratio of Idaho women of reproductive age served by obstetricians is now 1.4 doctors per 10,000 women, ranking Idaho in the bottom 5 states in the nation for access to obstetric care.

I worked as a certified nurse-midwife at Kootenai Health for over 30 years and delivered over 2600 babies in our community. In the rare and sad cases where there were fetal abnormalities incompatible with life, the pregnancy could be terminated but only after the hospital’s ethics committee reviewed each case. The ethics committee is made up of medical doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and legal providers.

No matter how you choose to vote on Prop 1, please base your choice on facts, not misinformation.

PAM HOLCOMB, 

CNM, FNP, RN

Coeur d’Alene