Spain's Choice..Pro-Choice that is... - PhillyBlog

Mixiboi · #1 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 08:55 AM

Because this topic is always entertaining around here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/wo...html?ref=world

Quote:

Spain has taken a first step toward amending its restrictive law on abortion, a government minister said Thursday, moving to address one of the major elements in a drive for sweeping social change in this traditional, Roman Catholic country.

A panel made up of 13 lawyers, doctors and other specialists has been appointed to recommend to the Socialist government how to amend the abortion law, the equality minister, Bibiana Aido, told reporters.

She said she expected a bill to be presented to Parliament before July 2009. She did not say if it would provide for legalizing abortion in the first 12 to 14 weeks of a pregnancy, as abortion rights supporters have demanded

Quote:

The current law, approved in 1985, allows abortion under three circumstances: in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in the case of rape, in the first 22 weeks in case of a fetal malformation and at any time if a psychiatrist certifies that the mother’s physical or mental health is endangered.

Now that sounds like a law that many of us wouldn't have a problem with.

Quote:

A vast majority of the 100,000 abortions in Spain each year occur under the third case, the Association of Accredited Abortion Clinics said. Opponents of abortion say it has been grossly abused.

Quote:

Ms. Aido said the current law should be changed because Spain’s 17 semiautonomous regions, which administer their own health care systems, applied it unevenly. Women in some areas have trouble getting permission for the procedure or obtaining government financing to which they are entitled.

“This cannot be,” she said.

passyunk square · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 04:32 PM

I love Spain but I can only imagine their newspaper headlines right now. Political debate there is so hyperbolic. Maybe it's because it's another country but I think the debate there is worse than our political discourse. The media doesn't pretend to be fair & balanced . . . oh, wait. No, really, it's way worse than here.

They also have a much more recent history of putting down the pen and picking up the sword.

Mixiboi · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

In July Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government, in power since 2004, announced that it would soon require that women who have abortions be automatically granted anonymity unless a court orders otherwise.

The move came after a recent investigation into alleged irregularities at a private abortion clinic led police to question women in their homes.

And we want this here?

Quote:

Zapatero's Socialist Party also announced that month that it would relax the country's abortion law.

The move is likely to anger the Roman Catholic Church which has already fiercely opposed other liberal social reforms introduced by Zapatero since he took office, such as fast-track divorce and gay marriage and adoption.