By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Latin America Correspondent
MEXICO CITY, June 10, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Hundreds of doctors, nurses, and even whole medical institutions are seeking legal exemption from Official Mexican Norm (NOM) 046, which requires medical practitioners to perform abortions on women who claim they have been raped, within 72 hours of the request.
The administration of President Felipe Calderon approved the new regulation on April 16 after coming under pressure from pro-abortion “human rights” groups such as Amnesty International .
Originally NOM 046 was to say that the abortions “may” be performed, but following the protests, the word was changed to “will,” earning the denunciation of pro-life groups and individuals throughout Mexico.
According to the Center for Analysis and Strategic Proposal in Defense of Human Rights (TAD), medical personnel and institutions in various states, including Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Jalsico, Michoacan, Nuevo Lion, Puebla, Queretaro, Tabasco, and Tamaulipas, are seeking exemption.
The organization told the Mexican news agency Notimex that other states would soon be added to the list.
Previous LifeSiteNews Coverage:
Mexico Succumbs to International Pressure to Provide Abortions in Public Hospitals
Amnesty International Demands that Mexico Force Doctors to Do Abortions