2023-09-24 19:41:14
The Supreme Court of Brazil has taken an important step by opening the debate on the decriminalization of abortion in the country. However, the session was disrupted when one of the ministers requested that the vote be held in person instead of via video conference. A new date has not yet been established for the continuation of this momentous process.
To date, Brazilian legislation allows abortion only in three specific situations: in cases of rape, when the woman’s life is in danger, and in the presence of anencephaly, a condition that occurs when the fetus has severe underdevelopment of the brain. .
If the Supreme Court approves decriminalization, abortion would be allowed up to 12 weeks of gestation, which would mark a milestone in the history of the country in terms of reproductive rights.
What is already known is that the Minister of the Supreme Court, Rosa Weber, voted yes for the decriminalization of abortion, and it remains to wait what each magistrate of the entire Chamber will decide.
The impact of personal decision: right over one’s own body
The story of Paloma, a 26-year-old girl, sheds light on the real consequences of current legislation. Paloma found out about her pregnancy when she went to the doctor to get a contraceptive implant. With three children already in her care, the pregnancy was not planned, but she accepted the idea of expanding her family.
She even went so far as to perform a private ultrasound at 15 weeks of gestation with the intention of finding out the sex of the baby and beginning to prepare for its arrival. However, that medical consultation changed her life completely. The fetus was found to have a body stem anomaly, a rare condition in which the organs are located outside the abdominal wall, which meant the baby would not survive long after birth.
When Paloma asked her doctor about the situation, she received evasive and unclear answers. No one seemed willing to give her the information she needed. Desperate, she went to another private clinic to confirm her diagnosis.
The abortion law in Brazil, which dates back to 1940, does not include body stem anomaly as one of the cases in which abortion is permitted.. However, the private doctor explained to Paloma that if she could get the support of two medical professionals who recommended terminating the pregnancy, a judge could grant her approval.
Convinced of her decision, Paloma sought the necessary support: lawyers, psychologists, medical specialists and even her husband’s permission to carry out the termination of the pregnancy. However, the road was long and full of obstacles. A doctor refused to support her choice, even after listening to the fetus’s heartbeat, and warned her that she would regret it.
Finally, after weeks of fighting, Paloma was able to gather the support necessary to take control of her own body and make the decision she believed was right. Her experience exemplifies the challenges that many women face under current Brazilian legislation.
The future of abortion in Brazil
Brazil thus joins other Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, which have made progress in modifying their laws to guarantee broader access to abortion. This represents a significant change in a region that has traditionally been known for its conservative stance on this issue.
“Unfortunately, in Brazil, it is not just a question of abortion or family planning, or the morning after pill. It is the imposition of religious fundamentalists who have greatly damaged public health and have put lives at risk,” says Dr. Cristião Fernando, quoted by BBC.
“The solution is simple: those who do not want to accept abortion simply do not use that right granted by the constitution,” he concluded.
#Brazil #heading #decriminalizing #abortion #Voting #begins #Supreme #Court