Puerto Rico governor indicators invoice recognizing unborn infants as human beings

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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 might finally result in outlawing abortion within the U.S. territory.

Gov. Jenniffer González stated in an announcement that the measure "goals to keep up consistency between civil and felony provisions by recognizing the unborn youngster 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 stated that the modification enhances a legislation affirming that it might be first-degree homicide if a suspect deliberately and knowingly kills a pregnant lady, ensuing within the loss of life of the conceived youngster 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 Photograph/Alejandro Granadillo)

The laws was named after Keishla Rodríguez, a pregnant lady who was killed in April 2021. Her accomplice, former Puerto Rican boxer Félix Verdejo, was convicted within the killing and obtained two life sentences.

Supporters of the legislation stated it was designed to offer consistency between civil and felony codes and give attention to harsher punishments for the homicide of pregnant girls and that it was unrelated to abortion, however critics argued that it opens the door to finally criminalizing the process in Puerto Rico, which stays authorized.

"A zygote was given authorized persona," Rosa Seguí Cordero, an legal professional and spokesperson for the Nationwide Marketing campaign for Free, Secure and Accessible Abortion in Puerto Rico, instructed The Related Press. "We ladies had been stripped of our rights."

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Gov. Jenniffer González stated the measure "goals to keep up consistency between civil and felony provisions by recognizing the unborn youngster as a human being." (RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP through Getty Pictures)

Dr. Carlos Díaz Vélez, president of Puerto Rico's School of Medical Surgeons, contends that the brand new legislation would result in "defensive well being care," by which docs could refuse to deal with sophisticated pregnancies for concern of felony prosecution on homicide prices.

"This can convey complicated scientific choices into the realm of felony legislation," he instructed The Related Press, including that it might convey "disastrous penalties."

Díaz stated the amended law additionally permits a 3rd particular person to intervene between a physician and a pregnant lady, which violates privateness legal guidelines. He additionally stated new protocols and rules would should be carried out.

"The system just isn't ready for this," he stated.

Critics of the legislation argued that it opens the door to finally criminalizing abortion in Puerto Rico. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP through Getty Pictures)

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Opponents of the legislation additionally stated the modification was accepted with out public hearings.

"There is no such thing as a doubt that the measure didn't bear ample evaluation earlier than its approval and leaves an unacceptable house for ambiguity concerning civil rights," Annette Martínez Orabona, government director for the American Civil Liberties Union in Puerto Rico, instructed The Related Press. "The legislative management failed to meet its accountability to the individuals, and so did the governor."