Doctors rally for Amendment 4 as the abortion rights fight is down to the wire

Doctors are knocking on doors and rallying for Amendment 4 in St. Petersburg and Tampa during the last weekend before Tuesday’s election.

Floridians Protecting Freedom also reported about $450,000 in campaign donations through Oct. 30, which brings the Amendment 4 political committee’s final count to $110 million since April 2023.

It’s the final push for Amendment 4, which is expected to be decided by a razor-thin margin on Tuesday. While abortion rights initiatives have passed across the country, Florida’s measure needs at least 60% of the vote to succeed.

Recent polls show a major of Florida voters support abortion rights, but it’s unclear whether the necessary supermajority will do so.

The proposed constitutional amendment would limit government interference on abortion before viability — which is considered about 24 weeks — or to save the mother’s life.

Florida passed an abortion ban on most pregnancies starting at six weeks that went into effect in May.

Some doctors are taking a more political role speaking out on the abortion rights issues and are expected to play an important role in FPF’s mobilizing efforts this weekend.

“Physicians in Florida have given resounding support towards Amendment 4, with over 850 doctors officially endorsing the campaign and calling on Floridians to return private healthcare decisions to women and their doctors and away from politicians,” according to a FPF press release.

Meanwhile, Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4 has said more than 700 physicians and medical professionals signed a petition against abortion rights initiative. The group, which has joined Gov. Ron DeSantis at anti-abortion rallies across the state, declined to release a list of the names for privacy reasons but said the petition signers were from 100 cities across Florida and nearly every county.

DeSantis attacked doctors who voiced their concerns that Florida’s exemptions create fear and murky rules for physicians treating pregnant women who develop complications. 

“Honestly, they should be sued to high heaven for medical malpractice,” DeSantis said at an Oct. 29 rally.