Colo. 'Personhood' Ballot Initiative Goes 'Far Beyond' Outlawing Abortions, Editorial Says

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Abortion;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 05 Jun 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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A proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution that would define a "human egg as a 'person' from the moment of fertilization would go far beyond its intended purpose of outlawing" abortions and should be rejected by state voters in November, a Denver Post editorial says.

According to the Post, by specifying that a fertilized egg is a person even before it is implanted in the uterus means that in vitro fertilization and "forms of birth control that prevent such implantation would be classified as homicide." In addition, some eggs "naturally fail to implant in the uterus," and some that are implanted can result in a miscarriage, the Post reports.

"Should a woman who suffers a miscarriage be charged with negligent homicide because she failed to protect a fertilized egg she may not have even known she carried? Should a man who fertilized an egg be entitled to file a civil lawsuit against a woman who miscarries, charging her with the wrongful death of his week-old fertilized egg?" the editorial asks, adding, "Unfortunately, none of these possibilities is far-fetched," and all "would be almost certain results of the mischievous interaction" of the proposed amendment.

According to the editorial, by "pushing the definition of 'personhood' to fertilization," the measure "creates an absurd and unworkable maze" and "goes far beyond banning abortion and many forms of birth control." The proposed amendment is "legal mischief and should be solidly rejected by the voters in November," the Post concludes (Denver Post, 6/2).

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