Abortion in Guatemala
Encyclopedia
Abortion in Guatemala was illegal without exception prior to 1973. Congressional Decree 17-73 altered the penal code to allow abortion
in cases in which the pregnant
woman's life is endangered in September 1973. The procedure must be done by a physician
and approved by a second doctor.
Article 3 of Chapter I in Title II of the Constitution of Guatemala
grants the right to life
from the point of conception
. This article states that the government "guarantee and protects human life since its conception, as same as the integrity and security of the person."
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
in cases in which the pregnant
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
woman's life is endangered in September 1973. The procedure must be done by a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and approved by a second doctor.
Article 3 of Chapter I in Title II of the Constitution of Guatemala
Constitution of Guatemala
The Constitution of Guatemala is the supreme law of the Republic of Guatemala. It sets the bases for the organization of Guatemalan government and it outlines the three main branches of Guatemalan government: executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch.External References=*...
grants the right to life
Right to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
from the point of conception
Fertilisation
Fertilisation is the fusion of gametes to produce a new organism. In animals, the process involves the fusion of an ovum with a sperm, which eventually leads to the development of an embryo...
. This article states that the government "guarantee and protects human life since its conception, as same as the integrity and security of the person."