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Puerto Rico’s Republican governor on Thursday signed a invoice that amends a legislation to acknowledge an unborn child as a human being, which opponents argued may ultimately result in outlawing abortion within the U.S. territory.
Gov. Jenniffer González mentioned in a press release that the measure “goals to take care of consistency between civil and felony provisions by recognizing the unborn baby as a human being.”
The modification, in Senate Invoice 923, altered an article inside Puerto Rico’s Penal Code that defines homicide.
The federal government mentioned that the modification enhances a legislation affirming that it will be first-degree homicide if a suspect deliberately and knowingly kills a pregnant lady, ensuing within the dying of the conceived baby at any stage of gestation.
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Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico’s governor, signed a invoice that amends a legislation to acknowledge an unborn child as a human being. (AP Picture/Alejandro Granadillo)
The laws was named after Keishla Rodríguez, a pregnant lady who was killed in April 2021. Her companion, former Puerto Rican boxer Félix Verdejo, was convicted within the killing and obtained two life sentences.
Supporters of the legislation mentioned it was designed to offer consistency between civil and felony codes and deal with harsher punishments for the homicide of pregnant ladies and that it was unrelated to abortion, however critics argued that it opens the door to ultimately criminalizing the process in Puerto Rico, which stays authorized.
“A zygote was given authorized character,” Rosa Seguí Cordero, an legal professional and spokesperson for the Nationwide Marketing campaign for Free, Protected and Accessible Abortion in Puerto Rico, advised The Related Press. “We ladies had been stripped of our rights.”
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Gov. Jenniffer González mentioned the measure “goals to take care of consistency between civil and felony provisions by recognizing the unborn baby as a human being.” (RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
Dr. Carlos Díaz Vélez, president of Puerto Rico’s Faculty of Medical Surgeons, contends that the brand new legislation would result in “defensive well being care,” during which docs could refuse to deal with sophisticated pregnancies for worry of felony prosecution on homicide fees.
“This can convey advanced medical choices into the realm of felony legislation,” he advised The Related Press, including that it will convey “disastrous penalties.”
Díaz mentioned the amended legislation additionally permits a 3rd individual to intervene between a physician and a pregnant lady, which violates privateness legal guidelines. He additionally mentioned new protocols and laws would have to be applied.
“The system isn’t ready for this,” he mentioned.
Critics of the legislation argued that it opens the door to ultimately criminalizing abortion in Puerto Rico. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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Opponents of the legislation additionally mentioned the modification was accepted with out public hearings.
“There isn’t any doubt that the measure didn’t endure satisfactory evaluation earlier than its approval and leaves an unacceptable area for ambiguity concerning civil rights,” Annette Martínez Orabona, government director for the American Civil Liberties Union in Puerto Rico, advised The Related Press. “The legislative management failed to meet its accountability to the folks, and so did the governor.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
