Arizona physicians hold virtual roundtable in support for Prop 139

PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY) - Three Arizona physicans held a virtual media roundtable Tuesday morning.

In a press release obtained by KYMA, the roundtable was in support of Proposition 139, also known as Prop 139, "to end Arizona's abortion ban and keep Arizonans — not politicians — in charge of personal medical decisions about pregnancy and abortion."

The press release said the roundtable comes after over 500 medical professionals in Arizona signed a letter endorsing Prop 139.

"There are just three physicians on this call today representing the medical community, so I want to start by emphasizing that more than 550 medical professionals in Arizona support Proposition 139, and here's why...Prop 139 guarantees the right to abortion and puts health care decisions where they belong: with patients, their families, and their health care providers who are highly, highly trained to provide reproductive health care. It does NOT remove any evidence-based medical safeguards or safety precautions for obstetrics or abortion care, nor does it change the requirement that abortion be provided by licensed, qualified health care professionals. Physicians and health care professionals like each of us always put the safety and well-being of our patients first."

Dr. Laura Mercer, an OB/GYN in Phoenix

In addition to Dr. Mercer, the press release also mentioned the other physicians who hosted Monday's virtual media roundtable:

• Dr. Paul Isaacson, an OB/GYN and abortion provider in Phoenix
• Dr. Patricia Lebensohn, a family physician in Tucson, with Lebensohn speaking in both English and Spanish as well as answering questions in Spanish

According to the press release, the physicians shared "how Arizona's abortion ban is harming their patients and why they and their colleagues support Prop. 139 to end the ban."

"Arizona's abortion ban is having dangerous consequences — right now...Arizona's abortion ban fails to protect victims of rape or incest, who could be forced to have their attacker's child. These are personal and private decisions that should be left to women, not the government. But politicians have taken away women's freedom to do so. I understand there are differing views on abortion. But we can all agree that no one should be forced to carry their attacker's child. Nobody needs to abandon their faith or deeply-held beliefs about the sanctity of life to agree that this abortion ban is dangerous.  Here in Arizona, we can all agree that women along with their families deserve the freedom to make deeply personal decisions about pregnancy without judgment or political interference."

Dr. Patricia Lebensohn, a family physician in Tucson

"Patients and doctors are being put in unacceptable, dangerous situations. For example, if a patient is 16 weeks pregnant when her water breaks, she loses amniotic fluid, and the fetus will not survive. Meanwhile, she’s at risk of a life-threatening infection that antibiotics can do nothing to help. Yet Arizona's ban threatens me with prison if I help. Doctors have years of medical training and experience that politicians don't. Prop 139 is based on the very-Arizona idea that people have the freedom to make their own health care decisions, without government interference. It will put an end to Arizona's dangerous and devastating abortion ban to ensure a patient's needs — not politics — drive important medical decisions."

Dr. Paul Isaacson, an OB/GYN and abortion provider in Phoenix

For more information on Prop 139, click here.