Aspectos bioéticos de la legislación del aborto en latinoamérica

Abstract

Introduction: Abortion legality is controversial in Latin America for several bioethical reasons. Although positive results have been observed after the legalization of abortion —reducing maternal mortality due to complications of clandestine abortion— there are still points of debate based on different bioethical and legal positions that have not allowed its legality. Methodology: This study is a comprehensive narrative literature review on the bioethical aspects of abortion legislation in Latin America using scientific databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct as part of the PRISMA strategy. Results: The bioethical approach in favor of the legalization of abortion is gradualist, which gives the embryo a legal character whose importance depends on its developmental stage; on the contrary, the bioethical approach against it is personification, i.e., it recognizes the embryo as a being and therefore it should enjoy the same rights as a person. Despite the positive effects of legalizing abortion in Latin America (in terms of reducing maternal mortality and the cost of healthcare), there are still doubts about the future of free access. Conclusions: The personhood approach recognizes the human being from fertilization; however, there are situations, such as molar pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy in which it cannot be considered the beginning of life. The impact of legal abortion is positive due to the reduction of legal abortions, lower morbidity and mortality, and the promotion of women’s sexual and reproductive rights.