A PUZZLING DIRECTION IN MEXICO

Mexican females have never allowed government or church to impose laws on their bodies. Not sure why the doctors are now allowing it.

In Mexico, abortion was just legalized in 2007, yet it has been available, and presumably safe, for years. I think it is safe to say that senoritas are aware of this option.

On April 22, the third anniversary of the legalization of abortion, a proposal was introduced, in which Mexican doctors will be under the gun, literally, to inform pregnant ladies about this “new,” now legal option.

Mexico is currently debating this proposed law. Devout Catholics are shocked and dismayed.

I was curious why the government would feel the need to enact such extreme measures. I originally thought it was because of said heavy Catholic influence; that as a result of the influential church opposition to the practice, maybe they were ignorant of the availability of it, or were too ashamed to even think about such a procedure.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. A study shows that during the 16 years before it was legalized, the number of abortions that occurred in Mexico was more than 40% higher than that in the United States, where it is legal.

Though the legislator who introduced the bill, Beatriz Rojas, says the law is needed because “moral or religious concepts intend to influence the decision of the woman, misinforming her or deceiving her, regarding the decision to interrupt the pregnancy.”

The director of the Center for Women’s Studies and Comprehensive Formation in Cancun, Patricia Lopez Mancera says, “This is absurd and stupid. They say doctors should tell the pregnant women about it and recommend abortion — can you imagine?”

So, it seems that Mexico has a pretty even split between pro- and anti- abortion, that does what they want regardless of law.

I’m not entirely sure what this bill will accomplish.

c. 2010