Dominated by Catholics for long, the Mexicans finally felt the need to break the shackles by legalizing the abortion. The new law is bound to affect government policies and health practices all over. The proposal to legalize abortion was approved by 46-19 Mexico City lawmakers. As per the existing Mexican law a women, who tires to abort her fetus after 12 weeks of pregnancy, can be awarded prison for as long as three to six months.
Earlier the law allowed abortions in the cases of rape, birth defects or if woman’s life was at satke because of pregnancy. The new law will currently allow the city hospitals for this procedure. However, girls who are below 18 will have to seek their parents consent before they opt for abortion. In some cases like poor and insured residents the government would bear the cost of the abortion. According to Gabriela Cruz, one of the law makers, law is a step forward, as it is the right of a woman to decide in such serious cases.
Though the Roman Catholic Church is protesting against the move. As for now Cuba and Guyana are only the two countries in Latin America, that have legalized abortion. But it is completely banned in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Chile. Those who are opposing the law are of the view that it is immoral and unethical to have an abortion as life begins at conception whereas the supporters say that many lives of women will be saved once the law comes into force.
Surveys have shown that nearly 200,000 women have to get illegal abortions due to one or other reason. Sometimes for abortion some women even resort to herbal remedies, black-market medications and quasi-medical procedures causing their death. At least this news would put end to such dangerous practices.
source: Yahoo
