As the chance for Colorado voters to end late-term abortion in the state approaches in November, those both in support and opposition of the measure are beginning to make their voices heard.

Last week, a group of local healthcare professionals and scientists issued letter of endorsement in support of Propostion 115, which has over 130 signees. This comes on the heels of 125 local religious leaders who are part of the Interfaith Alliance issuing a letter Sept. 9 expressing their opposition to Proposition 115.

“The humanity of a 22-week fetus is apparent to each of us,” the letter states on behalf of the signees. “There can be no doubt that the 22-week fetus is fully alive and fully human.”

The full text of the support letter can be read below.

We, the undersigned, as members of the Healthcare and Life Science community in Colorado, wholeheartedly, and unequivocally, endorse Proposition 115 to restrict late term abortions in Colorado after 22 weeks gestation.

As Healthcare professionals we are totally aware of the science of human development. The humanity of a 22-week fetus is apparent to each of us. There can be no doubt that the 22-week fetus is fully alive and fully human.

• She can react to her mother’s voice and touch.

• She can experience pain, likely more intensely than an older infant or child can.

• She can demonstrate sophisticated behaviors, including early social interaction, which has been observed with fetal co-twins in utero as early as 15 weeks.

• Later in fetal development, she can develop food preferences based on exposure to flavors in her mother’s diet.

• She can show a preference for her mother’s voice, and for musical pieces to which she has been previously exposed.

With advances in medical science, it has become obvious that the fetus is much more than “just pregnancy tissue”, as some would claim. There can be no equivocation that the fetus is a living, learning and actively participating human being. Every one of these lives has inherent value and dignity. They deserve to be embraced and protected by the citizens of Colorado, as equal members of our society.

A 22-week prematurely born fetus can now routinely survive when provided appropriate medical care.

• The field of Neonatology serves the needs of these tiny patients.

• In some medical centers in the United States, 70% of 22-week fetuses survive.

• A 22-week fetus can undergo in utero curative surgery, as an independent patient. The fields of fetal anesthesiology and fetal surgery have been developing in response.

When cared for, these fetuses are viewed as separate and distinct patients by medical providers, receiving individualized treatment. Therefore, they should be treated as individuals by Colorado law.

We also recognize that some pregnant women face very difficult and complex pregnancy circumstances. As Healthcare providers, we respond to this with deep compassion. We believe that there must be increased private and public support for pregnant women-in-need living in Colorado. We seek to offer strong and viable alternatives for these women. We actively pursue this goal while acknowledging the good work of many organizations.

• We believe in the value of support that is offered through both public and faith-based alternative pregnancy centers such as the Caring Pregnancy Resource Center of Northeast Colorado, Alternatives Pregnancy Center and Marisol Health.

• We applaud the work of many organizations such as Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado to ensure that unwanted pregnancies don’t necessarily interrupt educational goals.

• We support those organizations who provide housing for pregnant women experiencing financial and housing insecurity such as Little Flower Maternity Home, Let Them Live, and Mary’s Home.

• We encourage greater access to perinatal hospice programs such as String of Pearls which provide a life-affirming and compassionate alternative to late term abortion for families dealing with the tragedy of a life-limiting fetal diagnosis.

• We work to encourage the gift of adoption and recognize the good work of adoption agencies across Colorado.

We stand in solidarity with all those who work privately and publicly to support women during their pregnancies, especially those women who face difficult circumstances or challenges during their pregnancies.

In the uncommon situations in which the pregnancy itself places the mother’s health at risk after 22-weeks, we know that delivery of the baby is safer and quicker than a multi-day abortion procedure. We do not believe that any of the challenges a woman faces after 22 weeks of pregnancy necessitate the senseless destruction of a human life.

As a diverse healthcare community, we acknowledge the 153,204 voters who petitioned to have Proposition 115 placed on this November’s ballot. They represent all political parties, races, ethnicities, and religions. These Colorado constituents have spoken out loudly about their strong belief in the humanity of fetuses at 22-weeks gestation and beyond. We must listen to them.

As a people who say we value life, we must act on our convictions. We ask all Coloradans to vote YES on Prop 115 and go to duedatetoolate.com to learn how to help.

Cora Aguilar MD

Jaimie Alvarez RDMS

Carlos Arguelles MD

George Athey MD PhD

Laura Beasley RN BSN

G. Scott Bowen MD FAAOS

Kathleen Brennan RN BSN

Flora Brewington MD

Cara Brown MD FAAFP

J. Mathew Brown MD FAAFP

Michael H. Bryant MD

Kelsey Buckingham RN

Maura Burton NP-C

Christa Calderon RN MS OCN

Janet Campbell RN

Kathryn Carpenter RN

Kory Carpenter DDS Candidate 2022

Kristen Case MS RN CNRN SCRN

Michele Chetham MD FAAP

Paul M. Chetham MD

Cathy J. Chess RN MSN CPNP BC, Lt Col USA

Denise (Dede) Chism NP

Maria G. Cuevas

Mathew S. Davis DDS

Nancy DeCook FNP-BC

Scott Deeney MD

Josephine “Joyce” Dennison MS PA-C

Kenneth Dernovsek MD

Kim K. Dernovsek MD

Robert Domaleski MD

Herman Doyle MD

Daniel Dyer MD

Charles Dygert MD

Michelle Earl BSN RN CEN

Bethany Engblom DO

Kevin Felix DO

Ryan M. Fisher MD

Ardis Fowler RN

Dana Gamblin DMD MSD

Elizabeth Garcia MD

Zachary Gastelum MD

Bruce T. Gilmore MD FACS

Michael Glugla MS ANP

Mary Jo Glugla MN FNP

Darragh Gott FNP

Thomas Greany DDS

Katherine Greene CNM

Joseph Gregory MD

Monica Hall PharmD

Patricia Hamrick RN

R. Scott Haskins MD

Carol Hatch RN

Roxann Headley MD

Renee’ Herman RN BSN MHSA CCCTM

Alexandra Hill MD

Janessa C. Holliday BSN, RN, CPN

Kathleen Houston MLS(ASCP)SBB

Thomas C. Hoyle III MD

Laura Huene BSN RN CPLC

Marcie M. James, RN, BSN

Randolph L. James, MD

Thomas S. Jennings DDS MAGD

Thomas Jensen MD

Gary Jewell MD FAAFP

Mary E. Jewell MD FAAFP

Sarah Kathleen Johannes BSN CRNA

Luke Johnson MD

Karen Landmeier MD

Mark Landmeier MD

Rachel Langley DO

Walt L. Larimore MD

Francisco G. La Rosa MD

Laura Lazechko LMT CNA

Patricia Lipinski FNP

Erin Luna DO

Wendy S. Madigosky MD MSPH

Jessika Martin DDS

David P. Martinez MD

Mathew Martinez MD

Samuel J. Mast MD

Edward R. Mastro MD

Brenda McKinney BSN RN

Thomas Melcher DDS MS

Michael Moubarek MD Candidate 2022

Jennifer Munger RN

Joann Napierkowski MD

John Napierkowski MD

Robin Nichols, MSN RN FNP-C

Helen Nowak PA-C MSPAS

Trinh Nguyen MD

Sarah Page LCSW

Thomas J. Perille MD FACP FHM

Lirio Polintan MD

Marcia Pritchard LPC

Alan Rastrelli MD

Monique Robles MD

Natalie Rodden MD

Lisa Rust RN BSN

Sharon Sables-Baus PhD RN MPA PCNS-BC CPPS FAAN

Eric Sawyer PT DPT OCS STC

Theresa A. Scholz MD

Monica Serrano-Toy MD

David C. Simon MD

James G. Smith Jr. MD

Kathryn E. Smith RN

Erik Sorbo DC

Patricia Sorbo DC, DiCCP

Maureen Estevez Stabio PhD

John C. Stallworth MD

Michelle Stanford MD

Michael Starkey MD

Helenka Stone MD

Kenneth A. Stone MD

Laura Straley RN BSN CCRN

Brian Stromer PA-C MS-PAS

Paula Suhr RN

David Theis DO

Kevin J. Tool MD

Elizabeth Tovado RN BSN

Julia Trevino-Emerson MD

Michael Uebbing OT

Carlos Vera MD

Deacon John Volk MD

Sarah R. Warren MD

Kevin Weber MD FACEP

Walter C. West Jr. MD

Catherine J. Wheeler MD

Deanne Wikler BSN RNC-OB

Patricia Wikler BSN RN C-AE

Hannah Wilson – MMS PA-C

Christopher Wojdak LPC, MT-BC

Mark Young MD AAFP

Annie Zeiler PA

Peter Zimmer MD

The views expressed here are our own and not those of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus or any other institution with which we are affiliated.