Yes on 1 to make Ohio safe place to have children

Letter to the Editor,

I’ve read last week’s Letter to the Editor. I am glad my life is not driven by her phantasms. I feel concern for those in her life who must hide their truth from her hysteria. But gender is not what Issue 1 is about.

Issue 1 would assure the autonomy of a woman to make profoundly crucial decisions about her own life, including on contraception and abortion. Even rape and incest can be hard to prove in the time frame of a pregnancy. And what if a pregnancy occurs because the woman was not brought up with a full education about and awareness of sexuality, so is ill-prepared to deal with men who feel entitled to a woman’s body — who manipulate/coerce or who act out because they are insecure about their own sexuality?

Issue 1’s sensible definition of viable life is really important. “Heartbeat” anti-abortion laws misconstrue detectable electrical activity as “being alive.” This happens long before heart and lungs are functional.

Issue 1’s greatest value may be to assure Ohioans who wish to raise a family of good care. Over one-third of fertilized ova don’t implant — or they abort on their own. This is how nature works, regardless of how you frame it religiously. Pregnancy loss can pose great risk to mom, can require urgent medical judgment and/or timely intervention.

Laws already in Ohio law, if allowed by our courts to go into effect, would put doctors in jeopardy of a zealot prosecutor who could allege that sound medical action is illegal “pregnancy termination.” What conscientious physician would prefer to practice where an action, done in the best interest of their patient, could drag him/her into a courtroom to disrupt and potentially ruin his/her career?

We need Ohio to be a place where pregnant women can be confident of getting good care and where doctors can responsibly practice medicine.

Jay Klemme

Wooster