Submitted by Dr. Nita Schwartz
As a physician living and working in Carson City, I have the privilege of serving a diverse community that includes both urban and rural patients. This unique position gives me a firsthand view of the health care challenges Nevadans face across the state. One of the most pressing issues today is the need to protect and expand reproductive rights, including access to safe, legal abortion. That’s why I’m urging everyone to vote “Yes” on Question 6 this November.
Nevada has a proud history of protecting the right to abortion. In 1990, a voter referendum wisely codified the protections for abortion as outlined by Roe v. Wade into state law. While I am grateful for the forward-thinking efforts of those who fought for that referendum, the legal landscape has changed dramatically. Our current laws are no longer sufficient in a post-Roe world. As we have seen in recent years, laws can change, and rights can be stripped away. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has shown us just how fragile our reproductive freedoms are. It’s not enough to rely on outdated laws that were put in place over 30 years ago. A constitutional amendment provides permanent protections that can’t be undone by politicians.
The need for this constitutional amendment is more urgent than ever. We’ve witnessed the harm that abortion bans have caused in states across the country, including in our neighboring states like Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. For example, in Arizona, a woman named Ashley Ortiz was a newlywed looking forward to having a baby boy. At 20 weeks though, she learned her pregnancy wasn’t viable. Unfortunately, because of Arizona’s abortion ban, doctors said they couldn’t give her the medicine needed to induce labor. She had to wait to get the care doctors knew she needed. At that point, she had developed serious complications and needed emergency surgery that took three times longer than it should have.
We cannot afford to let this happen here in Nevada.
By voting “Yes” on Question 6, we are not only safeguarding the rights we currently have but also ensuring that future generations of Nevadans will have the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures–without political interference. Every pregnancy is different, and every person must be able to decide what is best for their unique circumstances. This is a deeply personal decision that should remain between a patient and their doctor, not dictated by politicians.
Polling consistently shows that a strong majority of Nevadans support the right to abortion and a constitutional amendment to protect reproductive freedom. This reflects a broad consensus across political lines that the government should stay out of our personal, private decisions. But with the overturning of Roe, anti-abortion activists are more emboldened than ever. They are not just targeting abortion rights, but also other aspects of reproductive health care, including IVF and birth control. We must act now to protect our rights before it’s too late.
As a physician, I have dedicated my life to caring for others, and I believe in a Nevada where every person has the freedom to make their own health care decisions without fear of government intrusion. We have the opportunity now to secure our reproductive freedoms for the future. Voting “Yes” on Question 6 is not just a vote for today–it’s a vote for the generations to come, to ensure they have the same, if not greater, rights than we do now.
Let’s make sure Nevada remains a state where freedom, privacy, and individual rights are respected. I ask that you join me this November and vote “Yes” on Question 6.
Dr. Nita Schwartz is a primary care physician with over 30 years of experience practicing emergency medicine, as well as palliative and hospice care in Carson Valley.
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