Reproductive Freedom

SIX QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Pregnancy, the ability for a woman to carry within her body another human life is the greatest gift women have been given by God. Becoming pregnant under challenging circumstances is not new, however, the all out push to discount the life of the pre-born child and the failure to give mothers informed consent about abortion and its consequences is a harm to everyone in society. Listen to Dr. Irene Mavrakakis discuss informed consent from our October summit.

The preposed Reproductive Freedom amendment to the Virginia Constitution is a radical piece of legislation. Please note this title of the bill is an oxymoron. People are free to reproduce or procreate. This bill is not about procreation. This bill is about abortion, sterilization, hormone blockers and cross-sex hormones. We are told it will protect mothers and provide choice. Every mother in Virginia has the choice to have an abortion and can receive an abortion at every stage of pregnancy. No doctor is prevented from saving the life of mother whose life is in danger. What is not mentioned by pro-abortion advocates is the harm. The harms are grave and we must ask ourselves what actions we are willing to take to protect the lives of pre-born children, mothers, and youth who are confused about their sexuality.

The election on the FOUR proposed Constitutional amendments may be in a few short months. Governor-elect Spanberger and the new General Assembly will determine the election date. But all four amendments will be voted on by the General Assembly within the first week of the 2026 legislative session and then an election will be held to allow the people to vote on adding the amendments to the Virginia Constitution. The General Assembly will open on January 14, 2026. Thus, it is time to know the facts and take a stand. Please see the link to the legislation and six questions you must consider. Share this information with your family, friends, and community.

The Legislation

Here are six questions to consider before voting on the amendment.

1. Do you support dismemberment abortion in the third trimester of pregnancy (24 weeks to birth) when the child is able to live outside the womb?

If you answered NO, then you must vote NO on the Reproductive Freedom Amendment.

Children born alive at 21 weeks can live. They can breathe. Many are alive today. A full-term pregnancy is 36-40 weeks. Current medical technology has determined a baby feels pain at 16 weeks gestation. It is believed they can feel pain prior to this, however, our ability to measure that pain is limited. The brain and spinal cord are functioning, thus, there is no reason to believe a child less than 16 weeks is not feeling pain.

references:

Second-trimester abortion and risk of live birth

Unintended Live Births Following Second Trimester Pregnancy Termination by Labor Induction.

2. Do you support withholding medical care to babies who are born alive during second and third trimester (21 weeks-birth) abortion procedures?

   If you answered NO, then you must Vote NO on the Reproductive Freedom Amendment.

Please note this citation is of children born in 2nd trimester abortions. 50% survived the abortion.

3. Do you support a decrease in emergency care that unrestricted abortion would bring? Abortion clinics do not have the same clinical standards as outpatient surgical centers. This amendment codifies lower standards jeopardizing the lives of women.

If you answered NO, then you must vote NO on the Reproductive Freedom Amendment.

Life threatening emergencies experienced by women having an abortion include: uncontrolled bleeding, perforation of the uterus or intestines, sepsis brought on by baby parts left in the uterus. Abortion clinics do not have to maintain the same standards as outpatient surgical centers. Changing the Virginia Constitution means that current laws on the books designed to protect women’s health from abortion medications and procedures will be automatically overturned in favor of the “constitutional right” to abortion on demand. If abortion on demand through birth is the ultimate goal, it can be assumed that the women would accept all consequences for abortion on demand as part of the risk of abortion, thus, lack of access to emergency services and personnel would be the norm. The qualifications of the staff working at abortion centers does not need to be that of a surgical center. Women are risking their lives when they enter a clinic and falsely believe that it is maintaining the highest level of surgical care.

11% of women receiving the abortion pills require emergency treatment for a potentially life threatening condition.

Virginia Code on Abortion Facilities

Regulation of Abortion Clinics NOTE HIGHLIGHTED TEXT

• Licensing and Classification: Facilities performing abortions are no longer classified as “hospitals” if they conduct five or more first-trimester abortions per month, a designation that previously triggered hospital licensure requirements. This classification was repealed by Chapters 898 and 899 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly (effective July 1, 2020), as part of the Reproductive Health Protection Act (HB 1189/SB 912). Prior to this, Va. Code § 32.1-123 (defining “hospital”) included such facilities, subjecting them to hospital regulations. Now, abortion clinics operate under general medical practice standards without dedicated licensure for abortion services.

• Inspections: There are no routine state-mandated inspections specifically for abortion clinics, as they are exempt from hospital licensure. General health department oversight applies only if complaints arise or for public health reporting (e.g., under Va. Code § 32.1-116.1 for vital records). The former dedicated regulations (12VAC5-412, Regulations for Licensure of Abortion Facilities) were fully repealed effective March 8, 2017 (Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 13), eliminating any abortion-specific inspection regime.

• Building Standards and Staffing: No structural requirements (e.g., hallway widths, procedure room sizes) apply specifically to abortion clinics. Staffing follows general physician licensure under Va. Code Title 54.1 (Professions and Occupations), allowing physicians, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse-midwives to perform first-trimester abortions (expanded in 2020 via the same Act). Second- and third-trimester procedures must occur in licensed hospitals if post-viability, but viability is defined flexibly (Va. Code § 18.2-71.1, prohibiting post-viability abortions except to protect life/health).

• Other Requirements: Reporting of abortions is required quarterly to the Virginia Department of Health (Va. Code § 32.1-116.1), but without the detailed facility audits of surgical hospitals. No mandatory transfer agreements with hospitals or admitting privileges are enforced.

4. Do you presume minors traveling within the state and/or across state lines without parental consent or notification are not trafficked?

If you answered NO, then you must vote NO on the Reproductive Freedom Amendment.

Access to abortion is currently being abused by traffickers of women and girls to abort babies conceived in rape. Any laws currently on the books concerning mandatory reporting of suspected trafficking victims at abortion clinics will be superseded by the “constitutional right” to abortion on demand.

5. Is the right to abortion on demand of such value that you would relinquish the prosecution of child predators or human traffickers?

If you answered NO, then you must vote NO on the Reproductive Freedom Amendment.

This constitutional amendment protects a person for the act of bringing a minor to “reproductive health” services. This creates a presumption that the person bringing the minor to the services is doing this in the interest of the minor. That presumption reduces the likelihood that legitimate questions about whether the minor is being abused or trafficked are asked.

6. Mifepristone, one of the drugs used in chemical abortions, has a Black Box and REMS warning. Black Box warnings indicate significant risk from the medication and those risks includes death. Do you support the expansion of access, including mail order and remote appointments, to obtain this medication?

If you answered NO, then you must vote NO on the Reproductive Freedom Amendment.

Of the thousands of drugs on the market, approximately 300 have the dual warning of a black box and REMS warning. Women should received documented informed consent on these medications. They must understand the risks, benefits and alternatives for prior to taking them.

Should a minor make this decision? Should a minor make this decision without parental knowledge?

MORE INFORMATION

1. In all 50 states, it is legal to provide any lifesaving measure to save the life of a pregnant woman. Yes, even in states in which abortion is limited.

2. In all 50 states, it is legal to provide medical treatment for a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

3. A spontaneous abortion, commonly known as a miscarriage, is not an elective or induced abortion in which an action is being taken to end the life of the pre-born baby. In a spontaneous abortion, the pre-born baby has already died because of natural biologic processes that are beyond our control.

4. Media reports of women dying from lack of access to abortion are FALSE.

The evidence that supports that these reports are false are lengthy and complicated, but the evidence supports that the women did not die because the were denied treatment or had a lack of access to abortion services.

Candi Miller, 41, mother of 3 with Lupus, diabetes and high blood pressure, living in Georgia. She was pregnant with her 4th child. She ordered the abortion pills online. She took the pills. The abortion pills resulted in the death of her unborn child but failed to expel the deceased baby from the uterus. This is a know complication of the abortion pills. Her husband reported she was having abdominal pain. She died at home in bed. She never saw a doctor. She died of a fatal dose of fentanyl. She did not die of sepsis.

This tragic journey resulting in the death of Candi Miller began when she sought and received abortion services. Candi took the medications and several days later died in her own home. This is why receiving medications in the mail or through an online appointment is dangerous. This is why people advocate for an in person appointment to assess the stage of pregnancy, number of babies in the uterus and the location of the placenta. In-person appointments should include follow-up to ensure that all the fetal remains have been expelled from the uterus.

Amber Thurman, Georgia. She was able to obtain abortion pills. She was pregnant will twins. The first round of pills successfully killed her unborn twins. However, the second pill misoprostol failed to expel the fetal remains from the uterus. She went to the hospital seeking help. She was diagnosed with sepsis. A life threatening emergency with a death rate of 50%. The emergency room was unable to stabilize vital signs and she died.

Amber obtained the abortion medication she sought. Amber was not prohibited from taking those medications. Amber died after she became septic after her body failed to expel all of the fetal remains. PLEASE NOTE THE BLACK BOX WARNING INFORMATION BELOW. If Amber had been seen in person, an ultrasound would have determined that she was pregnant with twins. This would alert the doctor of the necessity to follow up to ensure all fetal remains were expelled.

This is the BLACK BOX WARNING FOR MIFEPRISTONE. Please note: “Atypical Presentation of Infection. Patients with serious bacterial infections and sepsis can present without fever, bacteremia or significant findings on pelvic examination. A high index of suspicion is needed to rule out serious infection and sepsis.” Translation, the patient is seriously ill but the typically hallmarks of a serious bacterial infection are not present. This increases the likelihood of death because the symptoms are silent. Compare this to an electrical fire within the walls of house. The fire burns slowly staying within the walls until a flash point occurs and the house burst into flames. In this case, the infection is rapidly spreading throughout the blood stream but the patient has no fever and soon their blood pressure and heart rate destabilize and the person dies. Sadly, @drjeanuis, a supposed ObGyn advocates that women presenting to the emergency room post abortion pill, not reveal this information to the provider. This advice will cost women their lives. Know the facts. The black box warning in REAL. It is critical need to know information if a woman present to the ER and has taken the mifepristone.

Naveah Crain, Texas. Naveah did not want an abortion. She was 6 months pregnant. She became ill and went to the emergency room. She was diagnosed with strep throat and given antibiotics and sent home. She then reported having abdominal pain. She went to a second emergency room. An ultrasound of the mother revealed the baby was still alive. They were concerned about sepsis, but mother was stable and sent her home. She continued to remain ill and went to a 3rd emergency room. She was diagnosed with sepsis. She was admitted to the hospital. At NO time was she denied treatment.

This mother was not trying to take the life of her unborn child. All doctors involved provided treatment. The mother’s decision to seek treatment from three different emergency rooms may have delayed the necessary treatment to save her life.

At no point was this mother ever denied treatment based on Texas law or fear of Texas law.

Josseli Barnica, Texas. She was not seeking an abortion. She had a miscarriage at 17 weeks. She received appropriate miscarriage care. Her uterus was exposed to bacteria and she became septic and died. No Law prevented her from having treatment.

Porsha Ngumez, Texas. She had a miscarriage. She was given misoprostol (this is the second abortion pill) to expel the fetal remains from the uterus. This is a known treatment for miscarriage. Sadly, she began to hemorrhage and died. Hemorrhage is a known complication following the administration of misoprostol.

Mifepristone and misoprostol are the combination of drugs used to complete a chemical abortion. Mifepristone has a black block warning as well as a REMS, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy. A REMS protocol is a list of actions, tests, lab work or data the doctor should use in order to decrease the risk of the death or severe harm when using these medications. Of the thousands of drugs on the market, approximately 300 drugs have both a black box warning and a REMS protocol. Why is this being ignored?

HELP US CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH EVERYONE IN VIRGINIA

We have begun our efforts to raise $60,000 to match a generous donation. Anyone donating $100 or more will receive a free gift: VAX FACTS by Dr. Paul Thomas and DeeDee Hoover.

We must continue to protect the lives of the families of Virginia. There is no turning back. It is full speed ahead.

The website with all necessary information on the four constitutional amendments is near completion. We will let you know when the site is live.

We have organized a team of dedicated professionals who will come to your church, synagogue or civic organization to provide education on the Abortion Amendment (Reproductive Health). This presentation can be as short as 20 minutes. The group can meet in person, via zoom or other platforms your group may use. To register your church, synagogue or organization for a presentation, please submit information through Contact. https://vamfa.org/contact

Additionally, we must get people to register to vote. 50% of people attending church on a regular basis, DO NOT VOTE!!! This is a travesty. Let’s turn Virginia around. Let’s save Virginia and the lives of our CHILDREN. This is our REVOLUTION! We must protect the sacredness and dignity of every human life.

We are monitoring the legislation for the 2026 Legislative Session. We have submitted legislation and as soon as the bill numbers are available, we will update you. This is a massive effort. We need your support. So many of you have been immensely generous and we are so grateful.

Please take a moment today to remember all of our loved ones who died because of medical neglect during covid and those who continue to suffer from the harms of the covid shots or all the children who are suffering the chronic harms of the childhood mandated vaccine schedule. Everyday we are building an army of parents who are saying NO to the childhood schedule. They are so grateful for the educational material we have provided. They are sharing in their networks.

I am so grateful to each of you. I am grateful for your prayers and the generosity of your time and resources. Multiple times a week, I am receiving phone calls from parents seeking religious or medical exemptions, adults seeking to avoid mandated flu shots, and families needing assistance in navigating the medical system when a member has a complex illness. This takes time and resources and we could not do it without you.

SUMMIT VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE ON RUMBLE Please FOLLOW and share the tremendous talks given at our October Summit.

VAMFA is a 501c4 organization. Donations are not tax deductible. This does not mean your donation is not valued. Every dollar is spent prudently.

We have created a 501c3 organization for educational purposes, Medical Freedom For Life. Donations to Medical Freedom for Life are tax deductible! Donations to Medical Freedom For Life can be made by check payable to:

Medical Freedom for Life

Send the check:

c/o Virginia Medical Freedom Alliance, VAMFA, PO Box 36120, N. Chesterfield, VA 23835

The Check is made out to Medical Freedom for Life. If your employer has matching donations, please ask that your donation be matched.

Donations to VAMFA and Medical Freedom for Life will go toward matching the generous donation.

Sheila M. Furey, MD