Abortion in Panama is illegal except in instances that the pregnancy is life-threatening or the health of the woman is at risk, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
A penal code was set in place on September 22, 1982, which penalized illegal abortions. This code is still active today.
In 2005, a poll was conducted with a simple questionnaire. One of the questions asked, "Do you agree or disagree with abortion?" 89.4% of those that answered were against abortions.[1] According to the CIA, based upon the population as a whole, 85% of Panamanians are against abortion.[2] Approximately four-fifths of Panama's population practices Roman Catholicism, which has as its official stance that abortion is murder.
Legalityedit
In Panama, abortion is illegal with the exception of two circumstances: if the mother's life is endangered by the pregnancy, or if she is the victim of rape or incest.
Penalties for abortionedit
The punishment for a woman who has an illegal abortion is one to three years in prison. The punishment for a doctor or other person who provides the procedure with the woman's consent is 3 to 6 years in prison. If the procedure is done without the woman's consent, the punishment is 5 to 10 years in prison. If the woman dies as a result of the abortion, the punishment for the abortion provider is 5 to 10 years in prison. If the woman's husband is found guilty of performing the abortion, the penalties are increased by one sixth.[3]
Access to abortion facilitiesedit
The only abortions allowed to be performed are done by doctors in government-run hospitals.[4]
However, NGOs like Women on Waves offer abortions to women in Panama in international ocean waters, where they are no longer under the jurisdiction of the republic of Panama government.[9]
Alternatives to abortionedit
Contraceptivesedit
Condoms, tubal ligation, and some intrauterine devices (IUDs) are available at no cost to a woman. Other forms of contraception that require a fee, such as other IUDs and chemical drugs (like the Depo shot), are available, but the woman does not need to get a prescription to obtain them.[4]
Family planningedit
In 1965, the Asociación Panameña para el Planeamiento de la Familia (APLAFA) was founded to help women control the size of their families. A private family planning group, APLAFA has gone to great lengths not just to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy, but also to aid pregnant women with pre- and post-natal care for their unwanted pregnancies.[5] The Panamanian government has also played a constructive role in the family planning movement. It offers services which teach couples about natural birth control methods (such as the ovulation method, the symptothermal method, and the rhythm method),[6] as well as modern methods, which many know as "the pill", shots, patches, sterilization, and others.[7]
^. www.un.org. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016.
^. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
^. Archived from the original on 2009-11-15. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
External linksedit
April 20, 2024
abortion, panama, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, 2010, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, i. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Abortion in Panama is illegal except in instances that the pregnancy is life threatening or the health of the woman is at risk or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest Contents 1 History 2 Legality 3 Penalties for abortion 4 Access to abortion facilities 5 Alternatives to abortion 5 1 Contraceptives 5 2 Family planning 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editA penal code was set in place on September 22 1982 which penalized illegal abortions This code is still active today In 2005 a poll was conducted with a simple questionnaire One of the questions asked Do you agree or disagree with abortion 89 4 of those that answered were against abortions 1 According to the CIA based upon the population as a whole 85 of Panamanians are against abortion 2 Approximately four fifths of Panama s population practices Roman Catholicism which has as its official stance that abortion is murder Legality editIn Panama abortion is illegal with the exception of two circumstances if the mother s life is endangered by the pregnancy or if she is the victim of rape or incest Penalties for abortion editThe punishment for a woman who has an illegal abortion is one to three years in prison The punishment for a doctor or other person who provides the procedure with the woman s consent is 3 to 6 years in prison If the procedure is done without the woman s consent the punishment is 5 to 10 years in prison If the woman dies as a result of the abortion the punishment for the abortion provider is 5 to 10 years in prison If the woman s husband is found guilty of performing the abortion the penalties are increased by one sixth 3 Access to abortion facilities editThe only abortions allowed to be performed are done by doctors in government run hospitals 4 However NGOs like Women on Waves offer abortions to women in Panama in international ocean waters where they are no longer under the jurisdiction of the republic of Panama government 9 Alternatives to abortion editContraceptives edit Condoms tubal ligation and some intrauterine devices IUDs are available at no cost to a woman Other forms of contraception that require a fee such as other IUDs and chemical drugs like the Depo shot are available but the woman does not need to get a prescription to obtain them 4 Family planning edit In 1965 the Asociacion Panamena para el Planeamiento de la Familia APLAFA was founded to help women control the size of their families A private family planning group APLAFA has gone to great lengths not just to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy but also to aid pregnant women with pre and post natal care for their unwanted pregnancies 5 The Panamanian government has also played a constructive role in the family planning movement It offers services which teach couples about natural birth control methods such as the ovulation method the symptothermal method and the rhythm method 6 as well as modern methods which many know as the pill shots patches sterilization and others 7 See also editAbortion by country Abortion law Reproductive rights in Latin AmericaReferences edit The Epidemiology of Abortion in Pro Life Panama PRI 2006 03 01 Retrieved 2021 11 05 The World Factbook cia gov 4 April 2023 Abortion Policy United Nations Population Division Archived from the original on 2006 02 20 Retrieved 2010 04 09 a b http www pop org 00000000147 the epidemiology of abortion in pro life panama permanent dead link Abortion Policy www un org Archived from the original on April 1 2016 Natural Family Planning familydoctor org Archived from the original on 2010 06 15 Retrieved 2010 04 13 Use of Modern Family Planning Methods up in Rural Areas Archived from the original on 2009 11 15 Retrieved 2010 04 13 External links editabpanama com Historical abortion statistics Panama Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abortion in Panama amp oldid 1180981998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
