 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | May 2007 
Mexico Court to Reconsider Abortion Law
 Ioan Grillo - Associated Press
| | Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, of the Democratic Revolution Party, said the court case will not stop doctors from giving abortions. (AP Photos/David Karp) |
Mexico City — Mexico's Supreme Court said Tuesday it will hear a legal challenge to a landmark Mexico City abortion law while the capital's mayor promised hospitals would carry on performing abortions until judges ruled on the case.
Supreme Court Justice Sergio Salvador Aguirre said arguments that abortions violate the constitutional right to life were strong enough to warrant a full review that could lead to the law being thrown out. The court did not announce a date for opening deliberations.
The heated debate over abortion pits Mexico City's leftist government against conservative President Felipe Calderon and the influential Roman Catholic Church. The legal challenges were filed by two federal agencies, the Attorney General's Office and National Human Rights Commission.
The law allowing abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy was approved last month by the leftist-dominated Mexico City assembly.
Elsewhere in Mexico, abortion is allowed only in cases of rape, when the mother's life is in danger or if the fetus has severe deformities. The only other Latin American countries that allow abortion are Cuba and Guyana.
The federal government argues that the Mexico City assembly, which is similar to a state legislature, does not have the authority to make health laws.
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, of the Democratic Revolution Party, said the court case will not stop doctors from giving abortions.
"Our position is fixed. The health department will go on working," he said.
Since abortion became legal in late April, hospitals have received 700 applications for abortions and have carried out 230 operations, according to the Mexico City health department. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us