Lawsuit filed to block “personhood” initiative

Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 | 5:01 p.m.

That's the initiative that would ban abortion and impose restrictions on end-of-life decisions. The legal docs are posted at right.

Plaintiffs include longtime local writer Emmily Bristol, who has been married to her high school sweetheart for 12 years and is 12 weeks pregnant.

“Supporters of the so-called ‘Personhood Initiative’ intend this provision to eliminate a woman’s right to make personal, private health care decisions,” said Bristol. “We need to preserve a woman’s right to make decisions about her reproductive health with her doctor and family without governmental interference.”

“The Initiative is so broad, it could impact literally thousands of laws,” said Maggie McLetchie, one of the attorneys for plaintiffs. “If proponents have their way, it would invite lawyers and the courts to reinterpret every Nevada law and regulation that contains the word “person,” clogging up the court system at the expense of Nevada taxpayers.”