Physicians Leading the Way in Speaking Out Against Radical Abortion Amendment

September 18, 2024

By Nadia Smith

The brave and active members of Florida CMA.

Florida CMA members have been actively involved in educating about the dangers of the upcoming Amendment 4. Specifically, the amendment, if passed, will enshrine abortion through all nine months, not require a doctor to perform the abortion, remove parental consent and compromise medical conscience protection rights if passed. And based on what is happening in Michigan, taxpayers may be required to pay for those abortions.

Dr. John Robert Hamill, Jr. speaking about Amendment 4 at the ecumenical service last month.

These were the issues discussed in an ecumenical prayer service and speaker event that took place at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg, Fla., last month. Dr. John Robert Hamill, Jr., president of CMA’s Tampa Bay Guild of St. Philomena, participated in the service and focused on the issues with Amendment 4 from a medical perspective, noting that “physicians must be bold and speak the truth regarding pregnancy” especially “that a baby’s life starts at conception.”

Leaders from Next Stepp Pregnancy Center, New Creation Family Church, Mary’s Outreach for Women, and New Life Solutions also participated in the event. Bringing awareness to the truth about Amendment 4 has galvanized individuals and groups from the medical, social and church communities to work together.

Dr. Diane Gowski, Florida CMA president, also attended the service and has been at the forefront of organizing physicians to educate on Amendment 4’s deception. “We cannot be silent. We cannot be neutral,” she said. “We have to let our voice be heard and speak up for the unborn who can’t speak for themselves.”

Drs. Ana Verjeda and Carlos Lamoutte, members of the Tampa Bay Guild of St. Philomena, and FL CMA President Dr. Diane Gowski after the FPAA4 press conference.

To that end, Dr. Gowski, as a member of the House of Delegates for the Florida Medical Association, brought forth a resolution to oppose Amendment 4 during the association’s annual meeting. Even though it did not pass, she and her colleagues brought the concerns to AMA. Most recently, she appeared on radio as a guest of Relevant Radio to discuss exactly how Amendment 4 will jeopardize health care conscience rights.

Dr. Mariana Girón, a member of the Tampa Bay Guild, did a Q&A about Amendment 4 explaining the nuanced language that is causing confusion. She also noted that voting “no” to Amendment 4 does not mean abortion becomes illegal in Florida.

“Abortion would still be legal in Florida until a heartbeat is detected. The law currently provides exceptions for fatal fetal diagnosis, to save the life of the patient, or for victims of rape, incest, or human trafficking,” she said.

Dr. Angeli Akey, president of the St. Gianna Guild of the Catholic Medical Association in Gainesville, Fla. and medical director of North Florida Integrative Medicine has also been doing television and publication interviews to get the truth out.

Recently, she appeared on Fox News to discuss why Amendment 4 is bad for women.

“Whether you are pro-life or pro-abortion, it doesn’t matter, we are all pro-women and this Amendment 4 is dangerous for women,” she said, noting that a similar amendment that passed in Michigan has created two standards of care for women, in which the one related to abortion is unregulated and removes the requirement for physician care and instead gives it to other health care providers. Who counts as a health care provider is not defined in Florida’s Amendment 4.

Dr. Angeli Akey, president of the St. Gianna Guild, speaking at the FAA4 Press Conference about the reasons why Amendment 4 is dangerous to women’s health.

She was a speaker at Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4 (FPAA4) press conference last week in downtown Orlando denouncing the deception of Amendment 4. The group, which consists of over 300 Florida physicians, has released a declaration with their grievances against the amendment. They are asking other physicians to join them in standing up for authentic women’s health care in Florida.

Dr. Steve Hannan, the president of the Southwest Florida Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, Dr. Felipe Vizcarrondo, the president of the Miami Guild and Dr. Rebecca Peck, the vice president of the Orlando Guild have also been vocal about opposing Amendment 4 through interviews and local awareness efforts in their towns.

Dr. Hannan summed up the core issue with the amendment in an interview with the Florida Catholic, which featured several local CMA members. He explained, “the language of Amendment 4 is very misleading… I believe the vague language used in the ballot summary was intentional. It is meant to deceive the voters, even Catholic voters. It will provide a glide path to abuse.”

What exactly is wrong with Amendment 4? What this video.