Chilean Court Declares "Morning-After" Pill Illegal

SANTIAGO, Aug 31, 01 (CWNews.com) - The Chilean Supreme Court announced on August 30 that the "morning-after pill," which had been approved for use by the Ministry of Health, is illegal and must be barred from use in the country.

In its 3-2 decision, which was hailed as a victory by Chilean pro-life organizations, the Supreme Court explained that "under the light of Constitutional and conventional norms," the use of the pill "is equal to abortion." Abortion, the justices observed, is prohibited by law in Chile, and also barred by the country's medical norms.

Immediately after the announcement, Jeanette Vega, director of the Institute of Public Health (ISP) tried to minimize the consequences of the Court's decision by saying that it was only applicable "to the pill Postinal from the Silesia Laboratory."

Nevertheless, Jorge Reyes, a lawyer of the pro-life organization Frente por la Vida, points out that it "is evident that the Court's decision is extensible to all products" that have the same abortifacient effects.

Reyes also announced that the Frente por la Vida will take the offensive in the Chilean judiciary, asking the Supreme Court for a full explanation of this decision. The implications, he reasoned, could apply to other abortifacients. "We believe we can stop other abortive methods such as the IUDs," he said.

The Supreme Court decision was reportedly viewed with concern at the presidential palace. But Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz of Santiago said that "this decision confirms the position not only of the Supreme Court, but of all Chile, because our people do not want any form of abortion."

Pro-Life Infonet
31. august 2001