By Rebecca Weaver
As Virginia considers the proposed “Right to Reproductive Freedom” amendment on this November’s ballot, an important question must be asked:
How would this amendment impact the practice of medicine—and the safety of patients—in the Commonwealth?
A newly launched coalition – Virginia Medical Professionals for Women’s Safety – is raising the alarm that the amendment will have far-reaching, dangerous consequences for women’s health and safety.
The proposed constitutional amendment claims to establish a broad right to reproductive freedom in Virginia law. However, the amendment’s sweeping, vague language will extend far beyond what is stated and what voters expect. When a right is enshrined into a state’s constitution, it supersedes other laws already on the books and severely limits the ability to pass future regulations. Unlike statutory law, constitutional amendments are difficult to revise and often subject to broad judicial interpretation. Once language is embedded in a state constitution, its meaning is no longer shaped solely by medical professionals or even legislators—but by courts.
All this means that current Virginia laws governing safety and performance of induced abortion will be overruled by the new constitutional amendment if passed. Laws currently requiring informed consent, parental consent, and health and safety regulations will all be removed by the amendment. Future laws seeking to protect women and preborn children will be considered by the courts under this constitutional standard, making them highly unlikely to be upheld.
Other states that have passed similar amendments have already seen these fears come to fruition. Now, Virginia faces a choice.
Virginia Medical Professionals for Women’s Safety was formed in response to this moment—to ensure that medical expertise is part of the conversation surrounding a measure that could reshape women’s healthcare for generations.
Virginia is not the first state to face a sweeping ballot measure on reproductive policy. Across the country, physician-led coalitions have played a decisive role in shaping similar debates. The launch of Virginia Medical Professionals for Women’s Safety reflects a growing recognition that physicians cannot remain on the sidelines when policy debates concerning our patients are being considered at the constitutional level.
When it comes to abortion, medical voices are the most trusted on the issue. Other states have shown that when doctors engage, they can bring clarity to complex issues and help ensure that patient care remains at the center of the conversation. That is exactly what Virginia Medical Professionals for Women’s Safety seeks to do.
When physicians speak, voters listen.
If you are in Virginia and are a medical professional, check out the website here. You can read the full Declaration outlining the opposition to the amendment, and you can sign on to show your support for safe medical care for Virginia women. In joining the coalition, your name will not be listed publicly. If you have any questions, contact info@virginiamedicalprofessionals.com. The voices of Virginia medical professionals are crucial for bringing truth to this conversation – join us today in urging the dangers of this amendment and the importance of women’s safety!
Rebecca Weaver is the Director of Advocacy and Policy for AAPLOG and AAPLOG Action.
