Citation

Annu. Rev. Popul. Law 1988; 15: 35-36.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Harvard Law School Library)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12289543

Abstract

Article 320 of the Criminal Code of the Federal District of Mexico defines "abortion" as the death of the conceptus at any time during pregnancy. Articles 320-32 specify penalties for inducing abortion, and Articles 333-34 exempt punishment if the abortion resulted from failure of the woman to take proper care, if the pregnancy was the result of rape, or if the pregnancy endangered the life of the woman. The abortion provisions of the criminal codes of the Mexican states of Baja California, Chiapas, Mexico, Sinoala, Sonora, Tabasco, and Tamaulipas are nearly identical to those of the Federal District Code. Certain states also give immunity from prosecution for abortion 1) if the pregnancy resulted from artificial insemination neither requested or assented to by the woman, provided that the abortion is carried out within the first 90 days of pregnancy; 2) if there is good reason to believe that the unborn child suffers from severe physical or mental disabilities of genetic or congenital origin; 3) if the health of the woman would be seriously jeopardized by the pregnancy, and 4) if the abortion is carried out for serious and substantiated economic reasons in cases where the woman has at least three children. Guanajuato and Queretaro allow abortions only when the pregnancy is the result of rape. Guerrero authorizes abortions only when the pregnancy is the result of rape, when the pregnancy results from an unlawful artificial insemination, or for eugenic reasons. Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, and San Luis Potosi allows abortions only when the pregnancy is the result of rape or when the continuation of the pregnancy would seriously jeopardize the woman's health. In Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Oaxaca, and Veracruz, abortions allowed because the pregnancy resulted from rape must be performed in the first 90 days of pregnancy.

Language: en