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Red Flags
As we watch the pro-abortion strategy to enshrine abortion into law in Ohio, we can learn what to watch for as we move forward into the 2024 election season. Their overly broad language is intentionally crafted to appear benign; while in reality, its impact will undo decades of work and even the most basic of protections for women and their unborn babies.
Terms such as "health," "individual," "burden," and "miscarriage care" should be red flags to us whenever we see them in upcoming constitutional amendments regarding "reproductive freedom." If we compare the pro-abortion talking points to the pro-life responses on Ohio's Issue 1, we can see where each of these phrases is used to obscure the true intent of allowing abortion up and through all nine months of pregnancy.
Limits on Abortion
- Pro-Abortion – “...abortion may be prohibited after fetal viability. But in no case may such an abortion be prohibited if in the professional judgment of the pregnant patient’s treating physician it is necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.”1
- Pro-Life – “In U.S. law, “health” includes age or physical, emotional, or psychological well-being. This means a woman’s age or emotional health could be cited to justify aborting a full-term baby. An abortion-providing physician would decide when a baby could survive outside the womb, leaving no clear protections for preborn children."2
The amendment states that “abortion may be prohibited after fetal viability” but the treating physician, which would likely be the abortionist, can perform the abortion if it is “necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.” The term “health” has been legally determined to mean not just physical, but also emotional, psychological, financial, and so much more. This gives any abortionist who is being paid for the abortion the freedom to perform the abortion up and through the ninth month of pregnancy as long as they believe it is best for the woman.
Bottom line, this amendment seeks to strike down every limit on abortion in Ohio law and prevent lawmakers from passing any new protections.
Parental Rights
- Pro-Abortion – “Ohio law requires young people to get parental consent before getting an abortion or any medical procedure, and Issue 1 does not change that.”3
- Pro-Life – “The initiative's language uses the legal term "individual," which does not differentiate between adults and minors. An "individual" legally refers to citizens of all ages—nullifying parents' rights to stop their children from making harmful decisions."4
The amendment was written with intentionally broad language. The term “individual” legally refers to people of all ages, and therefore if the amendment were to be passed, parental notification laws in Ohio would be struck down.
Furthermore, the amendment states that the State "shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against…a person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right.” This would protect those who may be coercing a woman into an abortion, or even attempting to cover up sexual assault of a minor.
Health and Safety Standards
- Pro-Abortion – The amendment summary states the State "shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against either an individual’s voluntary exercise of this right or a person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right…”5
- Pro-Life – “Health and safety standards in Ohio could be eliminated. Doctors could no longer need to examine a woman or explain the risks of the abortion procedure ahead of time."6 And current Ohio laws "require abortion providers to explain procedure risks and ensure access to hospital transfer if needed. These health and safety standards could be seen as a “burden” and be eliminated, making it even less safe for women seeking an abortion.”7
Due to the overly broad language that the State "shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against…a person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right,” it is highly likely that current state health and safety standards, like transfer agreements, will be struck down by the courts if this amendment were to pass. In the past, the standard of "undue burden" set by the Supreme Court in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey was often used to limit the protections put in place by states. The courts would weigh if the laws were overly burdensome to women seeking abortions. However, with this amendment, they have removed the word "undue, " meaning that they could strike down any law that hinders a woman from seeking an abortion, even if they are there for her safety.
Miscarriage Care
- Pro-Abortion – Miscarriage care is included in the amendment as one of the protected “reproductive decisions.”8
- Pro-Life – “The passing or failure of Issue 1 will have no effect on the care a pregnant woman receives when her life is in danger, even if the treatment results in the loss of life of her unborn child. There is a fundamental difference between an elective abortion and the care provided after a miscarriage or for ectopic pregnancies. Women can always receive lifesaving treatment, including in Catholic hospitals. No law restricts this care in Ohio or any other state in the country."9
The inclusion of “miscarriage care” in the list of protected “reproductive decisions” in the amendment is intended to further promulgate the lie that abortion bans also restrict women from accessing miscarriage care or treatment for ectopic pregnancies. No law regulating or banning abortion has ever restricted access to miscarriage treatment or lifesaving measures. The pro-abortion activists hope that by insinuating that miscarriage care might be limited, they can scare voters into passing their amendment out of fear.
By educating ourselves on the actual effects of these constitutional amendments, we can better educate our friends and supporters who are being bombarded with misinformation. Terms like "health," "individual," "burden," and "miscarriage care" should raise red flags for anyone concerned about the protection of the unborn and the wellbeing of women. As we can see, the proposed amendment in Ohio seeks to eliminate every limit on abortion, infringe upon parental rights, compromise health and safety standards, and spread misinformation about the accessibility of miscarriage care. By staying informed and countering misinformation, we can ensure that our democratic processes uphold the values and protections we hold dear as we head into the 2024 election season.
Additional Resources
- Greater Columbus Right to Life Talking Points
- Ohio Catholic Conference – Where Does it Say That?
- Ohio Catholic Conference Issue 1 FAQ
- Ohio Right to Life Issue 1 Talking Points
- Protect Women Ohio Issue 1 – Read it for Yourself
1 https://ohioansunitedforreproductiverights.win/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OURR-Amendment.pdf
2 https://www.ohiocathconf.org/Portals/1/Protect%20Them%20Both/Campaign%20Materials/Where%20Does%20It%20Say%20That_English.pdf
3 https://ohiofamiliesdecide.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7JOpBhCfARIsAL3bobfufIeLFXFzFw8AXYPndBt4krjJOqy5bFdPEPBYUt7wzqtsBZbLJa0aAv-PEALw_wcB
4 https://ohiolife.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ballot-initiative-talking-points-FINAL-8.5-%C3%97-11-in-3-1.pdf
5 https://ohioansunitedforreproductiverights.win/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OURR-Amendment.pdf
6 https://www.ohiocathconf.org/Portals/1/Protect%20Them%20Both/FAQ%20on%20Issue%201_English%20and%20Spanish_9.23.pdf
7 https://www.ohiocathconf.org/Portals/1/Protect%20Them%20Both/Campaign%20Materials/Where%20Does%20It%20Say%20That_English.pdf
8 https://ohioansunitedforreproductiverights.win/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OURR-Amendment.pdf
9 https://www.ohiocathconf.org/Portals/1/Protect%20Them%20Both/FAQ%20on%20Issue%201_English%20and%20Spanish_9.23.pdf
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Help Reach Her Campaigns
Her Problem:
- She feels alone
- She encounters relentless marketing promoting abortion
- She feels forced to make a quick decision
- She knows few options beyond abortion
- She has medical questions and concerns
Her Solution:
The Option Line contact center answers cries for help 24/7/365, provides bilingual service every hour, and connects with 1,100 abortion shoppers each day providing them with immediate care and connecting them to life-affirming pregnancy help. Since 2003, more than 5 Million women have contacted Option Line for help.
You have an opportunity to bring hopeful messages about options, resources, and the value of a child to key influencers.
- The average woman is uninformed about life-affirming pregnancy options when abortion shopping
- Help prepare her influencers with critical language that supports her and encourages life decisions
- We need to combat the increased selling of abortion by Big Media
- Potential Reach = Nearly 100M for each Cable-TV commercial and digital campaign
More...
Abortion Pill Reversal 101
California's Attorney General has sued Heartbeat to prevent us from advertising Abortion Pill Reversal. If you feel so called, you can stand with us as we continue to push back against pro-abortion lies against the good work of pregnancy help. We know this will be a long battle, and we also have faith in the victory!
It is believed that upwards of 80% of all abortions in the U.S. occur through chemical abortion, the abortion pill.
The abortion pill comes in two parts and is approved by the FDA for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. The first chemical, mifepristone (or RU-486), is the first pill used in a chemical abortion and blocks the effects of progesterone, a hormone necessary for a pregnancy to thrive. The second part, misoprostol, expels the baby.
Many women regret their abortions—and some choose to reverse the effects of chemical abortion drugs before taking the second drug, often saving their baby’s life. If a woman has regrets after taking the first pill, the pregnancy may be saved by the Abortion Pill Rescue Network.
- There is a window between the first and second chemical abortion drug where the effects can be reversed, and the baby can be saved.
- Chemical abortion is typically done up to 10 weeks gestation, when an unborn baby has a heartbeat, fingers and toes, and his unique fingerprints begin to form.
- Abortion Pill Reversal uses the natural hormone progesterone to counteract the life-ending effects of chemical abortion drugs.
- Data suggests that Abortion Pill Reversal has saved over 4,500 unborn lives and has a 64-68% success rate.
- Women should have the choice to reconsider going through with an abortion.
- Women deserve real healthcare.
How does Abortion Pill Reversal work?
Progesterone is a natural hormone needed to sustain pregnancy and has been used for decades to safely and effectively prevent miscarriage and forestall preterm labor. Abortion pill reversal displaces mifepristone (the first drug in a chemical abortion) from progesterone receptors using the natural progesterone hormone, counteracting the effects of mifepristone and allowing the baby to continue growing. For women who have begun abortion pill reversal, progesterone treatment is continued through the end of the first trimester at a minimum, and beyond that if needed.
What are the side effects of Abortion Pill Reversal?
Progesterone is a natural hormone necessary for sustaining a pregnancy. For some women, progesterone may cause minor side effects including sleepiness, dizziness, and headaches.
Chemical abortion side effects include bleeding, life-threatening infections, and the inability to have future successful pregnancies and may require emergency medical treatment, surgeries, blood transfusions, and hysterectomies. The FDA’s currently approved label for mifepristone also states that between 2.9-4.6% of women will end up in an emergency room. Additionally, women who take the drugs at home face the mental anguish of performing their own abortion. Many women report being surprised by the sheer volume of bleeding and are haunted by the image of the dead child. In fact, some abortionists advise women not to look at all at the aborted baby. Additionally, the FDA and abortion activists are pushing for chemical abortion by mail, only increasing the danger to women, as there is no in-person doctor’s visit and no ultrasound confirming how developed the baby is or if the pregnancy is ectopic.
Why should doctors be able to use abortion pill reversal when it’s not approved by the FDA?
Progesterone is a natural hormone needed to sustain pregnancy and has been used for decades to safely and effectively prevent miscarriage and forestall preterm labor. Doctors may prescribe abortion pill reversal as part of an off-label use of the treatment. Pregnant women shouldn’t be denied treatment to save their unborn child just because they took the first abortion drug but changed their mind.
Healthy Outcomes
The protocol used in the Abortion Pill Reversal process is nothing new. In fact, progesterone has been used routinely and safely with pregnancy since the 1950s.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
A 2018 peer-reviewed study showed positive results
- 64%-68% of the pregnancies were saved through Abortion Pill Reversal
- There was no increase in birth defects
- Lower preterm delivery rate than the general population
1. [Vaux NW and Rakoff AE: Estrogen-progesterone therapy: A new approach in the treatment of habitual abortion. Am J Obst Gynec 50:353, 1945.
2. Jones, GES: Some newer aspects of the management of infertility. JAMA 141:1123, 1949.]↩
3. [Progesterone support in pregnancy has been in use for nearly 60 years, having received its start with publications dating back to the 1940s.] (https://www.naprotechnology.com/progesterone.htm)
4. [Progestin Therapy to Prevent Preterm Birth: History and Effectiveness of Current Strategies and Development of Novel Approaches] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6766339/
5. [The Use of Progesterone for Prevention of Preterm Birth] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5653589_The_Use_of_Progesterone_for_Prevention_of_Preterm_Birth
6. [The history of natural progesterone, the never-ending story] https://tahomaclinic.com/Private/Articles1/BHRT/Piette%202018%20-%20The%20history%20of%20natural%20progesterone,%20the%20never-ending%20story.pdf
Heartbeat International responds to California AG's complaint against serving pregnant women
September 21, 2023
Heartbeat International
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(614) 885-7577
Heartbeat International responds to California AG’s complaint against serving pregnant women
Columbus, OH: Heartbeat International learned through interview requests that the California Attorney General is suing to block us from “advertising Abortion Pill Reversal as safe and effective.” We have not been served at this point.
Through our Abortion Pill Rescue Network hotline, we know that some women almost immediately regret their chemical abortion choice. These women deserve the right to try and save their pregnancies. No woman should ever be forced to complete an abortion she no longer wants.
All major studies show that using progesterone to counteract a chemical abortion (Abortion Pill Reversal) can be effective since it’s the very same hormone a woman’s body produces to sustain her pregnancy. One study even shows an effective rate of 80 percent. Progesterone has been safely used with pregnant women and their babies since the 1950s. To date, statistics show more than 4,500 women have had successful abortion pill reversals and that number grows higher each day.
To view some of the stories, go to https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/aprn-lives-saved
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If you feel so called, you can stand with us as we continue to push back against pro-abortion lies against the good work of pregnancy help. We know this will be a long battle, and we also have faith in the victory!
About Abortion Pill Rescue Network: Abortion pill reversal is a cutting-edge application of a time-tested, FDA-approved treatment used for decades to prevent miscarriage and preterm birth. It involves emergency, ongoing doses of progesterone to counteract the effects of the first abortion pill. From the moment a woman takes the abortion pill, she has about 72 hours to change her mind and save her baby. Statistics show that more than 4,500 lives have been saved (and counting) through the abortion pill reversal protocol.
If you or someone you know took the abortion pill and regret it, there may still be time. The Abortion Pill Reversal hotline provides free and confidential care 24/7. Call 877.558.0333 or go to www.AbortionPillReversal.com now. There may still be time to save your pregnancy.
About Heartbeat International: Heartbeat International is the largest network of pro-life pregnancy help in the world, with more than 3,400 affiliated locations in more than 90 countries. Heartbeat's mission is to Reach and Rescue as many lives as possible, around the world, through an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy help, to Renew communities for LIFE in order to achieve their vision of making abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations.
New Option Line Campaign - Help Reach Her
We understand the challenges of marketing pro-life pregnancy help in today's world.
When facing an unexpected pregnancy, abortion is marketed as a quick and easy solution that allows women to stay in complete control of their lives. It is found in magazines, television shows, and music. The reality is that many women often feel rushed or coerced into making a quick decision that often leads to a lifetime of regret.
We know that every woman deserves time and support when facing an unexpected pregnancy so that no woman feels abortion is her only option.
That's why we developed a new Option Line campaign to meet these women where they are and help combat Big Abortion's monopoly on the issue. Our goal is to reach her and connect her to pregnancy help!
To do this, Heartbeat International has developed a Gen Y & Z-focused TV and Media campaign to connect with women so that when a woman faces an unexpected pregnancy, we can connect her to her local pregnancy help organization where she will receive the life-affirming care and resources she needs.
You'll notice in the videos below that we developed three different personas to connect with a variety of women who call Option Line seeking pregnancy help. This allows us to provide an empowering message to women no matter where they are in their journey. We will follow the analytics and adapt the marketing efforts accordingly based on the results we see.
We have three commercials running in select cities—Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta. Our hope is to expand markets and mediums over the coming months and connect more and more women to pregnancy centers throughout the nation.
We wanted to extend an opportunity for you to join in this effort to bring hopeful messages about options, resources, and the value of a child to key influencers. Our hope is to expand into new markets and new mediums, because we know:
- The average woman is uninformed about life-affirming pregnancy options when abortion shopping
- We can help prepare her influencers with critical language that supports her and encourages life decisions
- We need to combat the increased selling of abortion by Big Media
- Potential Reach = Nearly 100M for each Cable-TV commercial and digital campaign