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Nicaragua Medical Association President Reports Maternal Deaths Declined After Abortion Made Illegal

Corrects AP on "misleading and grossly inaccurate" statements about abortion ban

By John-Henry Westen

WASHINGTON, DC, December 20, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-abortion groups have worked furiously for over a year to force Nicaragua to reverse its total ban on abortion enacted in November 2006.  The relentless attacks from the West and Europe have led to several legal initiatives to reverse the decision which have all been overwhelmingly rebuffed by the country's legislature.

The lastest tactic has been an attempt to vilify the nation, and blame its pro-life law for endangering the lives of women.  An Associated Press article published November 27 in the Washington Times blamed the death of a 22-year-old newlywed with an ectopic pregnancy on the "no-exceptions ban on abortion."

The President of the Nicaraguan Medical Association, Dr. Walter Mendieta charged that the AP article written by Traci Carl was "misleading and grossly inaccurate."  Dr. Mendieta said that in Nicaragua, just as before the pro-life law "women with complications from pregnancy must be offered necessary treatment, even if such treatment may indirectly cause the death of their unborn babies."  His letter added: "The law allows such medical procedures, and physicians failing to provide such care are liable."

The letter to the editor published in the Washington Times, was co-signed by Lucia Bohemer President of the Nicaraguan Association of Women and Dr. Rafael J. Cabrera a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and the director of the University of Medical Sciences in Nicaragua.

The letter notes that in the year since the pro-life legislative change went into effect maternal deaths declined. Moreover the letter says that "No woman has died in Nicaragua for not having a "therapeutic" abortion since the practice was banned in November 2006."

See the letter to the editor online here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/EDITORIAL/257...
 
To contact AP with concerns:

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