REQUEST FOR SOLIDARITY
El Salvador: woman denied life saving medical intervention
From: Amnesty International, 15 April 2013
http://www.refworld.org/docid/5177d9574.html
Beatriz is a 22-year-old woman with a high risk pregnancy who is being denied access to
life saving medical treatment that she urgently needs in El Salvador. Her life is at risk and
she is suffering cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
Beatriz suffers from health problems that put her life at risk while she is pregnant. She has a history of lupus, a
autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the person’s own tissue. She also has other
medical conditions, including kidney disease related to the lupus, and she suffered serious complications during
her previous pregnancy. Beatriz has been diagnosed as being at high risk of pregnancy-related death if she
continues with the pregnancy. Three scans have confirmed that the foetus is anencephalic (lacking a large part of
the brain and skull). Almost all babies with anencephaly die before birth or within a few hours or days after birth.
Beatriz has been requesting the recommended medical intervention for over a month. Beatriz wants to live and has
requested an abortion. She is now 4 and a half months pregnant. The medical professionals have not acted in
accordance with her wishes as yet because they feel unable to terminate her pregnancy without the express
assurance from the Salvadoran government that they will not be prosecuted for administering the life saving
treatment she needs. Abortion is criminalised in all circumstances in El Salvador. Under Article No. 133 of the
Penal Code, anyone who provides, or tries to access, abortion services can face lengthy prison sentences.
The health professionals responsible for Beatriz’s care have requested permission from the authorities to proceed
with the treatment. As yet no response has been given. Anxiety and suffering increase for Beatriz and her family
every day as concerns for her survival grow. Beatriz has a one year old son. The physical and mental anguish she
is experiencing is contributing to her health condition.
Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:
· Calling on the authorities to prevent any further denial of treatment and ill-treatment and order the immediate
unfettered access by Beatriz to the life saving treatment she needs, in accordance with her wishes and the
recommendations of medical staff;
· Urging them to immediately ensure that the health professionals are enabled to provide the treatment necessary
to save Beatriz’s life without the threat, risk or fear of criminal prosecution for doing so in accordance with Beatriz’s
wishes.
· Urging them to decriminalise abortion in all circumstances and ensure safe and legal access by women and
girls to abortion services necessary to preserve their life or health, or if they are pregnant as a result of rape.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 27 MAY 2013 TO:
Minister of Health
Dra. María Isabel Rodríguez
Ministerio de Salud
Dirección postal: Calle Arce No.827,
San Salvador, El Salvador
Fax: +503 2221 0991
Email: mrodriguez@salud.gob.sv
Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimada
Ministra
President
Mauricio Funes
Presidente de la República de El
Salvador
Dirección postal: Alameda Dr. Manuel
Enrique Araujo, No. 5500,
San Salvador, El Salvador
Fax +503 2243 6860
Salutation: Dear Mr/ Estimado Sr
And copies to:
The Citizens Group for the
Decriminalisation of Therapeutic,
Ethical and Eugenic Abortion
Fax: +503 2226 0356 (say “tono de fax”)
Email: agrupacionporladespenalizacion@gmail.com
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
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