New York Times Examines Efforts To Change Spain's Abortion Law

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 15 Apr 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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The New York Times on Saturday examined Spain's efforts to reform its abortion law to make the procedure more widely available. Although abortion technically is a crime in Spain, there are a number of exceptions. A 1985 law permits the procedure during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape. The law also allows abortions in the first 22 weeks of pregnancy if the fetus is diagnosed with a congenital disorder. A woman also is permitted to undergo an abortion at any time only if her mental or physical health is at risk -- a factor cited in about 97% of abortions performed in the country -- according to Empar Pineda, spokesperson for the Spanish Association of Accredited Abortion Clinics.

The new law currently being drafted would allow abortions upon request in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and permit women as young as 16 to obtain the procedure without parental consent. In addition, abortion would be legal in the first 22 weeks of pregnancy in the event of a congenital disorder, while the procedure would be allowed past 22 weeks if a woman's life is at risk or the fetus is not viable. The mental health exception is not included in the legislation, according to the Times. Bibiana Aido, the government's minister for equality, said the new law also would limit physicians' ability to object to performing the procedure for conscience reasons.

The new law has prompted protests from religious groups, antiabortion groups, conservative regional governments and some residents. According to the Times, several churches and clergy over the weekend used Easter celebrations to protest the proposed legislation. Aido said the law is "modern and sensible," adding that Spain's current abortion law is "anachronistic. It is the law we were able to pass 23 years ago, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Our society has advanced enormously since then." In addition, some women and physicians say that it does not resolve issues surrounding later abortions and that allowing the procedure after 22 weeks only if a woman's life is at risk or the fetus is not viable still is too restrictive (Burnett, New York Times, 4/11).

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