RoL-Oct2009
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Handbook of WMA Policies
World Medical Association ½ R-2009-01-2009
WMA EMERGENCY RESOLUTION
ON
LEGISLATION AGAINST ABORTION IN NICARAGUA
Adopted by the 60th
WMA General Assembly, New Delhi, India, October 2009
WHEREAS,
Legislative changes in Nicaragua (Articles 143, 145, 148 and 149 Law No. 641, revised
Penal Code) criminalise abortion in all circumstances; including any medical treatment of
a pregnant woman which results in the death of or injury to an embryo or fetus; and
This legislation
• may have a negative impact on the health of women in Nicaragua country.
• could result in preventable deaths of women and the embryo or fetus they are
carrying.
• places physicians at risk of imprisonment if they break this law, and at risk of sus-
pension from medical practice if they fail to follow the Nicaraguan Ministry of
Health’s 2006 Obstetric Protocols, which sometimes requires treatment of a preg-
nant woman that is contrary to the legislation.
THEREFORE, the World Medical Association urges the Nicaraguan government to
repeal the above legislation.