Therapeutic Abortion

There are only five states in the world where therapeutic abortion is penalized, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Malta, El Vaticano and Chile. At the beginning of this year, a project to legalize thisprocess was rejected in our country, nevertheless it could be considered next year. Therapeutic abortion has to be legalized in Chile, to prioritize well-being, health and rights of women.
According tothe cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz, the therapeutic abortion is “ a new and mortal lawful threat to defenseless children that haven’t been born yet”; expressed in the 2010 Christmas mass.Notwithstanding, it is a fact that therapeutic abortion terminates the life of a child who has not been born, but this process is performed for various justifiable reasons. It is performed when thecontinuation of the pregnancy or the birth means a risk for the mother’s life. To save and keep the mother’s physical or mental health when they are threatened because of the pregnancy or the birth. To avoidthe birth of a child with a congenital or genetic acute disease which is deadly or provokes very serious illnesses or disabilities. To reduce the number of fetuses or embryos in multiple pregnancies,till having an acceptable a non-viable pregnancy. Finally, when the pregnancy or the birth means a serious risk for the baby’s life, because they have a malformation, or a high risk life when theyborn.
Nonetheless, some people prioritize right to life, above all, as the senator Alberto Espina (RN) expressed in the debate about therapeutic abortion and its legislation on April 5, this year. “Ourlegislation establishes its protection in case of the child that will be born, and that right arises in the moment of conception”. The right to life is clearly fundamental for any human being, thoughthere are cases in which a human being who has already been born is in risk life, like Griselle Rojas, a 27-year-mother, who in 2003, requested to the Health Minister, Osvaldo Artaza, at that time,...