President of Costa Rica tightens abortion restrictions to only saving the life of the mother

Image credit: Aboodi Vesakaran via Unsplash / Ezequiel Becerra/AFP via Tico Times

Costa Rica now has a near total ban on abortion, after the country’s President made a rule change that only allows for abortion when there is a threat to the mother’s life, in order to address loopholes that could have allowed for wider abortion access.

President of Costa Rice, Rodrigo Chaves, as reported in the Tico Times, has repealed a therapeutic abortion protocol that was established in 2019, that allowed for abortions if the life of the mother or the health of the mother was put at risk. Medical experts, as we discuss below, have spelled out the important distinction between a medical intervention (including delivery of the baby) which may be needed to save the mother’s life and performing an abortion which seeks to end the baby’s life. 

Costa Rica has had a ban on abortion, which could be punishable by prison time, except when the life or health of the mother is in serious danger since 1971. However, with the lack of guidance, doctors were hesitant to perform abortions for this reason, thus the 2019 protocol was put in place to guide doctors on when they could perform abortions under the law.

President Chaves has now said that this allowed for potential loopholes to allow for wider abortion access, and thus sought to close that gap and clarify when a doctor could perform an abortion without facing penalty, with stricter regulations. He signed the updated protocol last week. 

“I am proud to have repealed the existing regulation, which had loopholes,” President Chaves said. “Today, the only reason an abortion can be performed without criminal penalty is to protect the life of the mother.”

He also expressed that this aligns with the stance of his administration on protecting both the unborn child and the life of the mother when her life is at risk. 

Deputy Minister of Health, Mariela Marín, has reiterated this saying “It is our duty to care for the most vulnerable, including mothers and unborn children.” 

President Chaves has said he promised the Evangelical Alliance he would repeal the 2019 protocol by 15th October this year, however he had faced delays over potential concerns. “Some experts warned of pending cases that could lead to orders changing our society’s values and allowing free abortion,” he said. “We were patient and prudent. Once we clarified the doubts, I kept my word.” 

“This is an opportunity to unite around a universal principle: the value of all human life,” said Evangelical Alliance President, Pastor Ronald Vargas, as the organisation celebrated this victory for life.

It is however important to note that the deliberate killing of the unborn baby is never necessary in order to save the mother when her life is in serious danger, as has been reiterated by medical experts.  

Dr Anthony Levatino, former abortionist turned pro-life, has shared in his testimony that he never had to perform an abortion in order to save the mother’s life and has said that the abortion procedure could be more dangerous, advising that a mother undergo a c-section as soon as possible. It is also important to differentiate that if such a medical intervention were to take place, and the baby died as a result of the premature birth, this is not the same as an abortion, which involves poisoning, starving, or tearing off the limbs of the unborn child in the process.

 Sandra Parda of the Life Institute commented, saying: “Such good news from Costa Rica. It is inspiring to see the president of the country stand up and voicing that both mother and baby need to be protected throughout the pregnancy.”

 “As has been said several times before by the pro-life community, abortion is not necessary when a mother’s life is in danger and doctors should provide all resources available in order to save both mother and child. All lives are valuable and laws should reflect this and endeavour to ensure that everyone, born or unborn, are protected.”