According to a report from Amnesty International, a seriously ill and pregnant El Salvadorian woman may face jail time if she goes forward with a life-saving and medically-recommended abortion. Abortion is illegal under all circumstances in El Salvador.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old mother of one, identified only as Beatriz, is four-and-a-half months pregnant, but her doctors have confirmed that the fetus has anencephaly (developing without a brain and certain parts of the skull) and that the pregnancy is non-viable. In addition to the fetal diagnosis, Beatriz is experiencing critical health complications related to her lupus and kidney disease.<\/p>\n
The hospital treating Beatriz requested legal permission to perform the abortion more than a month ago, but authorities have still not agreed to let them proceed. Now, if government policy and religious ideology interfering with a woman\u2019s right to access abortion care or a doctor\u2019s ability to exercise medical judgment and save a woman\u2019s life sounds familiar, it should.<\/p>\n
As reported by Amnesty:<\/p>\n
Doctor say Beatriz could die if she continues with the pregnancy, but have not yet treated her because they fear that if they end the pregnancy they might be prosecuted under the country\u2019s total ban on abortion\u2026<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s Penal Code states that anyone seeking or carrying out an abortion could be given a long prison sentence. This means both doctors and Beatriz would be at risk of imprisonment if a termination is carried out.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeatriz\u2019s situation is desperate and must not wait any longer. Her very chances of survival depend on a decision from the authorities,\u201d Esther Major, Amnesty International\u2019s researcher on Central America, said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Beatriz has taken her request for medical services to El Salvador\u2019s Supreme Court, where it is currently being considered.<\/p>\n