This November, Ohioans are voting “yes” on Issue 1 to keep government out of our family’s personal decisions. Ohioans agree abortion is a personal, private decision that should be up to women and their families, not the government.

Ohioans are voting yes, because that is the only way to ensure we stop the government ban on abortion here in Ohio. Extreme politicians here in Ohio already passed one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country, which we know puts women’s lives at risk. Voting yes ensures people can make the decisions that are best for them and their families when it comes to contraception and abortion. Voting yes on Issue 1 protects patients and families from extreme abortion bans.

If this amendment fails, abortion could be banned even in cases of rape, incest or when a woman’s life is at risk. For more than 80 days last year, we saw the consequences of Ohio’s abortion ban. We saw patients have miscarriage care delayed, forcing them to endure extreme and traumatic health conditions, even losing liters of blood before receiving care. We saw rape victims further traumatized as they were forced to carry their rapist’s baby or flee their home to get abortion care.

Recently, Beth and Kyle Long, an Ohio couple, shared their story of why they are voting “yes” on Issue 1. After 10 years of trying to have a baby, Beth finally got pregnant. Tragically, at 18 weeks they learned from a routine ultrasound their baby girl had a rare and fatal condition that has never resulted in a live birth. Beth and Kyle would have done anything for their baby. In that moment, their only humane option was an abortion. But the government of Ohio wants to take that decision away from couples like Beth and Kyle, forcing them to leave the state to get the care they need. Beth and Kyle are voting yes on Issue 1 to ensure that no family ever has to face the challenges they did.

Any doctor can tell you every pregnancy is different. Health care providers should be able to give the highest standard of care. Personal health care decisions should be left up to patients and their families, not government.

Issue 1 would “establish an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including, but not limited to, decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care and abortion.”

There are many extreme anti-abortion groups spreading misinformation about these simple facts. Anti-abortion government officials are trying to put their thumb on the scale and mislead Ohio voters. See the truth for yourself and read the amendment language at readtheamendment.com

Issue 1 strengthens parents’ rights by protecting their ability to access a doctor for their family in times of need. Issue 1 does not change the current law requiring minors seeking abortion to have parental consent.

Issue 1 clearly states abortion can be limited after viability, except in cases where the pregnant patient’s life or health is at risk.

This November’s vote is about who makes personal decisions for yourself and your family — you or the government. Voting yes on Issue 1 prevents government from jailing patients who seek abortion or miscarriage care, and doctors who provide that care. Voting yes on Issue 1 puts Ohioans back in charge of their families’ personal medical decisions and stops government from making these decisions for us.

This is not a partisan issue; it is a personal issue. Ohioans deserve the right to make their own decisions, without government meddling in their business. People from across the state, including Republicans, Democrats and independents, and more than 4,000 doctors, nurses and faith leaders back this amendment. Ohioans know that no matter how you feel about abortion personally, government should not have the power to make these personal medical decisions for the people you love.

This November, vote yes to keep government out of our family’s personal decisions. Ohioans deserve the freedom to make personal, medical decisions about pregnancy and abortion free from government interference.

Dr. Marcela Azevedo is an ICU physician in northeast Ohio and a founding member of Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights.