Idaho’s current pro-life laws stand as a firm defense for the unborn, aligning closely with traditional moral principles and biblical values. However, Idaho Proposition 1 introduces significant changes that will dismantle these essential protections. Examining the definitions within the proposal, it becomes clear that this ballot measure shifts the ethical boundaries of medical practice, requires doctors to play god and rolls back protections for the most vulnerable.
How Proposition 1 Changes the Definition of Fetal Viability
The anti-life components of Proposition one become immediately apparent the moment we look at their definition of Fetal viability. “Fetal viability means the point in a pregnancy when, on the basis of a physician’s good faith medical judgement, based on the facts known at the time, and determined on a case-by-case basis, the fetus has a significant likelihood of sustained survival outside of the uterus without extraordinary medical measures.” This is a complete violation of the modern Hippocratic Oath, which clearly states: “Above all, I must not play at God.”
Doctors should be focused on saving the life of the baby, not determining if the baby can survive without extraordinary medical measures. As human knowledge increases, doctors are able to provide lifesaving care for babies at earlier and earlier stages of development. Doctors are even able to perform surgeries on the baby in the womb.
"Reproductive Health Care" and Broad Definitions
Reproductive heath care is defined as including but not limited to abortion, contraception, childbirth, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum care. Including but not limited to is a way to sneak in additional anti-life and pro-trans provisions.
Notice that postpartum care is included in this definition of reproductive health care.
We are already seeing the anti-life beliefs of those defending Lindsey Clancy and how mental heath issues, specifically postpartum psychosis, are being used as excuses for murdering children. How many doctors playing at god will decide that abortion is an acceptable treatment to prevent postpartum psychosis?
The Loophole in Medical Emergency Exceptions
Again, requesting doctors play at god, the definition of medical emergency doesn’t just attempt to protect the “pregnant patient’s” life, it also allows for abortion if the doctor believes that the baby would cause serious impairment to a bodily function or cause serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part of a “pregnant patient’s” body.
This goes beyond the Biblical view of accidental killing being protected. Idaho’s current abortion laws protect women in the event of a serious threat to the woman’s life. Proposition one allows the doctor to play god and determine life and death based on bodily functions. Taking this to the obvious logical conclusion a doctor could determine that an abortion would be warranted for a sprained ankle in the “pregnant patient.” A doctor could also conclude that the mental health of a “pregnant patient” would cause serious dysfunction to the brain if they were to carry the baby to term.
The authors of Proposition One do not know what a Woman is
Interesting to note that the bill never refers to a woman. The term that they use is pregnant patient. Only women can get pregnant. The average adult woman has about 28 trillion cells in her body. 99% of them specifically identify her as a woman. No amount of medical intervention can change that, yet the authors of the bill seem to have no issue continuously requesting that doctors play god.
The Biblical Foundation of Pro-Life Values
In the Ten Commandments, God tells us “You shall not Murder,” Exodus 20:13. The word for Murder in Hebrew is rāṣaḥ. Rāṣaḥ means to dash to pieces (Strongs Concordance). In case there is any confusion about what God is commanding, He expounds on this in Exodus chapter 21. “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die, “Exodus 21:12 – 14. God also creates cities of refuge where someone who accidentally kills another may seek refuge from anyone who may seek revenge, Joshua 20:2 – 5.
Putting this all together, God clearly opposes premeditated murder. In fact, He opposes it so much that with testimony of two witnesses the murderer is to be put to death. At the same time, he protects the person who accidentally kills another.
Biblical Prohibition on Murder and How it fits Idaho’s Abortion Laws
How does this apply to Idaho’s abortion laws? Clearly abortion is murder. Abortion is the premeditated murder of a baby and most abortions are planned in advance. Because of this, Idaho is correct to treat abortion as murder.
Idaho’s abortion laws also protect doctors who in the process of trying to save the mother accidentally kill the child. These laws match up to a Biblical worldview which protects life.
Conclusion: Vote NO on Idaho Proposition 1 This November
This is a proposition that would gut Idaho’s pro-life protections. It uses loose definitions to allow for the murder of babies. Proposition one places doctors in the position of playing god, something that their very own Hippocratic oath prohibits.
Vote No on Proposition One this November.
