A pregnant Nicaraguan woman being called "Amalia" is in the worst kind of catch-22: she was denied cancer therapy because of her pregnancy, but she cannot end her pregnancy because of Nicarauga's no-exceptions ban on abortion.
Nicaragua has been condemned by human rights, medical, and civil society organizations, as well as UN expert committees, for failure to protect fundamental human rights for women and girls; like in the case of this Nicaraguan woman. These issues must be immediately implemented into Nicaraguan law and policy:
* The state should not keep doctors from having open, medically accurate discussions with their patients.
* Women, including this woman, should have access to good medical information and be able to choose their own form of treatment.
*All medical decisions should consider the woman's health first.
* This woman's cancer treatment must be authorized immediately. She has indicated that she does want the treatment.
This woman is a symbol of Nicaragua's outdated, exclusive laws. Women should always have the ability to protect their own health through access to safe, fair medical treatment. Tell Luz Patricia Mejia, Chair of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that this woman deserves immediate cancer treatment and that the aforementioned issues must be worked into Nicaraguan policy.
Dear Chairperson Mejia,
Nicaragua has been condemned by human rights, medical, and civil society organizations, as well as UN expert committees, for failure to protect fundamental human rights for women and girls; like in the case of the Nicaraguan woman, "Amalia", who was denied cancer treatment because of her pregnancy, but cannot end her pregnancy because of Nicaragua's ban on abortion.
I believe these issues need to be immediately addressed and implemented into Nicaragua's laws and medical policy:
* The state should not keep doctors from having open, medically accurate discussions with their patients.
* Women, including this woman, should have access to good medical information and be able to choose their own form of treatment.
*All decisions should consider the woman's health first.
* This woman's cancer treatment must be authorized immediately. She has indicated that she does want the treatment.
[your comments]
Women should always have the ability to protect their own health through access to safe, fair medical treatment. Please give this woman immediate cancer treatment and address and implement the aforementioned issues into Nicaraguan policy.
