The Central American Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Associations and Societies (FECASOG) yesterday urged the Nicaraguan government to lift its ban on therapeutic abortion.

The group's pronouncement, published in local media, states its solid backing of national efforts to lift the ban, which has been in place since late last year, when the National Assembly voted to lift a century-old law allowing therapeutic abortions to save a woman's life (NT, Nov. 3, 2006).

The law criminalizes abortion and sanctions women and doctors with up to eight years in jail.

In January, Nicaraguan activists presented the Supreme Court with a case against the law (NT, Jan. 5); the court has yet to issue a ruling.

The group maintains that therapeutic abortion is a practice “necessary for our specialty that saves lives and avoids severe medical complications for women.”

The pronouncement was signed by members of obstetrics and gynecology associations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua.