Major Healthcare Challenges in Florida

The state of Florida, fourth largest in the nation, has several major healthcare challenges which were described in a meeting of the Democratic Women’s Club of Marco (DWCMarco) on October 21, 2025, at the Mackle Park Community Center. Dr. Patricia Poling, who practices as a board-certified internist and pediatrician on Marco Island, was the speaker. 

Challenge 1: Failure to Pass Florida Amendment 4  

Florida Amendment 4was a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution, which failed on November 5, 2024. Through a statewide referendum, the amendment achieved 57% support among voters in the U.S. state of Florida, short of the 60% supermajority required by law. 

The amendment would have guaranteed the right to abortion in the Florida Constitution before fetal viability (generally considered to be between 23 and 24 weeks gestational age). It would have also permitted abortion after viability (23 weeks to birth) for any reason a healthcare provider determined to be related to health.  

As a result, with a few arduous exceptions, abortion in Florida is now illegal more than six weeks from a woman’s last period, a time when many women do not yet realize that they are pregnant.  

Dr. Poling outlined for the group some of the consequences of the failure of this Amendment: 

What are the solutions? 

Where does this leave us? 

Dr. Poling and many of her colleagues feel constrained in their ability to care for patients by these laws and one of her doctor friends said, “When we have to consult the legal books before the medical textbooks to practice medicine, something is wrong.” The 57% of Floridians who voted for Amendment 4 would probably agree with her.  

Challenge 2 – Withdrawal of Vaccine Mandate 

Florida is in the process of becoming the first state to remove the mandate for many common vaccines, meaning that if successful, vaccines would be optional and parents may decide whether their children receive any, all, or no vaccines. 

This proposal, according to many physicians and scientists, has not been supported by studies, data, or other scientific evidence. 

Dr. Poling worries that if vaccination rates decrease, “herd immunity” (resistance to the spread of an infectious disease within a population that is based on pre-existing immunity of a high proportion of individuals as a result of previous infection or vaccination) is not reached and as a result, more people will become sick, putting strain on an already overloaded medical system. The level of vaccination needed to achieve herd immunity varies by disease but ranges from 83 to 94 percent.  

Credible data shows that the global infant mortality rate without vaccines has surpassed that of the mortality rate with vaccines by up to over 2% according to data from 1974 through 2024. 

Conflicting and confusing information emanating from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal agency once regarded as a highly reliable authority on infectious disease, hasseverely compromised its value to healthcare providers under the current government administration, according to Dr. Poling. 

 Now that the CDC has been compromised by its dubious and confusing stances on vaccines, where can we, the lay public, go for credible, scientifically based information on vaccines and other healthcare issues? 

Resources Recommended by Dr. Poling for Staying Informed 

Science is what got us vaccines that prevented life-threatening diseases as early as the 19th century, and ignoring science can and has led us to unfounded, ineffective, and often harmful “cures”. 

Get to know and Join Us! 

Prior to Dr. Poling’s talk, Jane Schlechtweg, the Executive Chair of Collier County Democrats, summarized next steps for the group. 

The Democratic Women’s Club of Marco Island, which partners with Collier County Democrats, is a force for good, proving that when neighbors unite with a shared purpose, lasting change is possible. Whether through advocacy, volunteerism, or simply showing up, every effort contributes to a stronger, more just community. We welcome women and men from Marco Island, Naples, and the surrounding areas.  

In addition to other social efforts, each month our meeting attendees donate a variety of foods requested by Our Daily Bread Food Pantry.  At the October meeting, our members and guests donated 237 lbs. of much needed and requested food products to help fight food insecurity across the community.