Some candidates for the hospital board wish to force PeaceHealth to start providing abortions. (Even though before Catholics came on the scene the hospital district medical center never offered abortions, with no apparent issue.)

But is this a wise position? PeaceHealth will never offer abortions. Period. So if the issue is pressed, what might happen?

Since under state law PeaceHealth would only have to provide abortions if they provide maternity services, the easy answer is for them is simply to refuse care to any pregnant or postpartum woman. How is this going to benefit the community?

If the hospital board argues that PeaceHealth is violating their contract with the district, rather than violate a core belief in the value of human life, PeaceHealth may simply withdraw from the contract and the island, leaving the building which they own empty and the district with no hospital or medical services at all.   How is this going to benefit the community?

However noble their intentions may be, voters must ask whether these candidates are truly representing the best interests of all the community, or whether their devotion to a particular issue may wind up causing serious harm to the community they claim they wish to serve.

Christopher Hodgkin

Friday Harbor