Prenatal diagnosis and eugenic abortion in Spanish Law 2/2010
Journal Title: Polish Journal of Public Health - Year 2013, Vol 123, Issue 1
Abstract
[b]Introduction. [/b]Since abortion was legalized in Spain in 1985, and official prenatal diagnosis programs implemented, eugenic abortion figures have raised yearly. The increase in use of prenatal diagnosis techniques has led, in turn, to the rise of a new form of discrimination, which is based on age and health conditions, against a vulnerable human group: disabled unborn. [b]Aim.[/b] To promote a new judicial framework for establishing a true regime for protecting human life right from the outset. [b]Material and methods. [/b]To achieve these goals a thorough review of the literature with regard to eugenic abortion and the Spanish Law has been undertaken. [b]Results. [/b]The Spanish Law 2/2010 allows one to abort a fetus that’s physical or psychic differences were compatible with life and did not pose any danger to the mother, which would result in a clear case of legal discrimination, based on incapacity or a form of functional diversity or difference. The fetuses with disabilities (up to 22-week of pregnancy), in Law 2/2010, are not equal to others, since the disabled “nasciturus” receives less protection than the rest. [b]Discussion.[/b] A deep ethical debate regarding prenatal diagnosis is necessary. Nonetheless, the current socio-political framework in Spain makes the therapeutic use of prenatal diagnosis inseparable from its eugenic use, which, in turn, determines the bio sanitary framework when promoting abortion of disabled human beings and after a positive prenatal diagnosis. [b]Conclusions. [/b]The Spanish Law 2/2010 presumes the right to abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy because the “nasciturus” depends exclusively on the mother’s will as if it were part of her. The legalization of eugenic abortion represents an open violation of the constitutional principle of non-discrimination and of equal access to health care independent of disability.
Authors and Affiliations
Roberto Zurriaráin
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP88915
- DOI -
- Views 145
- Downloads 0
Health information literacy as an increasingly important component of health literacy
The paper presents briefly the evolution and meaning of the term “health literacy” and the growing role of information literacy among health competencies. The growing importance of the latter for the level of citizens’...
Bakteryjne choroby przenoszone drogą płciową – zagrożenie XXI wieku
Od wieków bakteryjne choroby przenoszone drogą płciową stanowią istotny problem zdrowotny społeczeństw całego świata. Światowa Organizacja Zdrowia podaje, że co roku notuje się ok 340 mln nowych zachorowań. Chociaż w wie...
Charakterystyka postrzegania zawodu pielęgniarki przez polskich studentów medycyny
[b]Wstęp[/b]. Relacje pomiędzy lekarzami i pielęgniarkami wynikają z pełnionych ról społecznych i norm kulturowych. [b]Cel[/b]. Celem pracy jest przedstawienie opinii studentów medycyny dotyczącej postrzegania pracy pie...
The evaluation of health-related behaviours between the physically active and non-active women
Introduction. In the face of the more and more general threat with civilization diseases the promotion of healthy lifestyle should be one of main activities of educational and medical institutions. Aim. The aim of the...
Evaluation of life quality of epileptic patients depending on selected clinical and demographic factors.
[b]Introduction[/b]. The assessment of quality of life has signifi cance in case of neurological diseases, which often are protracted, causing a reduction of physical and mental functioning, worsening the functioning of...