An Overview on the No on 48 Campaign

Help Defeat the So-Called “Definition of Person” Amendment

This fall, Colorado voters will be asked to amend our constitution to define “person” and grant constitutional rights from the “moment of fertilization.” Amendment 48 is intrusive, dangerous and simply goes too far.

Amendment 48 would eliminate a woman’s right to make personal private decisions about her own body and her health. It has far-reaching consequences on important life decisions, including the following:

* This measure would ban all abortion—even for victims of rape and incest, or when a woman’s life is at risk.

* Establishing rights from the moment of fertilization would ban some stem cell research being used to find cures for chronic disease and disabilities. In vitro fertilization could be banned since fertilized eggs used in these processes would have full legal rights.

* Giving legal rights to fertilized eggs could trigger government investigations anytime a woman has a miscarriage. This is a clear and extreme violation of privacy at an already difficult time.

* By giving legal rights to fertilized eggs, this amendment could ban birth control options like the Pill and IUD's. Emergency contraception for rape and incest victims would be banned. (These methods can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.)

* A woman with cancer could be denied access to life saving medical treatment because it could endanger a fertilized egg.

Amendment 48 Puts the Government, Lawyers, and the Courts Into Our Personal Lives

* Amendment 48 affects important life decisions that should be made by individuals, their doctors, and families--not extremists rewriting the state constitution.

* Colorado needs to protect the sanctity and privacy of the doctor-patient relationship by defeating Amendment 48.

* Establishing rights for fertilized eggs eliminates a woman’s right to make personal, private decisions about her own body and her health. A woman should have the right to make decisions about her reproductive health with her doctor and family without governmental interference.

Amendment 48 Would Impact Literally Thousands of Laws

* Amendment 48 would be a legal nightmare established in our Constitution.

* Amendment 48 would allow lawyers and the courts would reinterpret every Colorado law and regulation that contains the word “person.” It would impact literally thousands of laws—from when property rights are granted, to inheritance rights, to access to the courts.

* Because of its broad implications, this Amendment will clog our courts, tie up our judges, and allow for lawsuits against anyone associated with women's health.

Amendment 48 Simply Goes Too Far

* The true goal of Amendment 48 is to make all abortions illegal. If we give fertilized eggs legal rights, having an abortion could be considered murder. This would make criminals out of doctors and women, subjecting them to prosecution and even jail time.

* This measure would ban all abortion—even in the cases of rape or incest victims, or when the life of the mother is at risk.

* The extremists behind this amendment admit that they want to make Colorado “ground zero" in the abortion debate. Colorado has important issues to deal with such as education, health care, the economy, and transportation. We don’t need a constitutional amendment criminalizing abortion.

Vote NO on Amendment 48. It simply goes too far.

Join Us. Oppose the So-Called “Definition of Person” Amendment.

Protect Families Protect Choices is a broad-based, bi-partisan coalition of nurses, doctors, religious leaders, community groups, and health advocacy organizations. To learn more, contact Press Secretary Crystal Clinkenbeard at 720-989-7693 or visit www.ProtectFamiliesProtectChoices.org.