A pregnant teenager is needlessly dying of leukemia in the Dominican Republic. The 16-year-old needs aggressive chemotherapy which would probably terminate her pregnancy while giving her a shot at survival. But, because of the nation's complete ban on abortion, doctors are withholding treatment. They are afraid they will be prosecuted under Article 37 of the Dominican Republic constitution which holds all life sacred from conception.
The girl's mother, Rosa Hernandez, is pleading for her child to be an exception. Hernandez has bowed to the law, saying she believes abortion is a sin, but that "my daughter's life is first."
Clearly, Dominican Republic abortion laws put the life of a fetus far above the life of the mother, effectively sending the nation's women the message that they don't matter--except as baby makers. Tell Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez to issue an emergency exception to the law and allow the young woman to have chemotherapy!
