Almost two weeks after José Hiran da Silva Gallo, president of the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), reinforced his position against the abortion procedure known as fetal asystole in a visit to the Federal Supreme Court (STF), the CFM backed away from the discussion .
In a note published on Monday (1st), the document signed by the president states that the issue should be discussed within the scope of the National Congress and should be heard by all segments involved. The CFM also says that it has no interference in the functioning of the abortion service in the country.
The council also states that bill 1,904/2024, which is being processed in the Chamber of Deputies, did not have the participation or contribution of the body in its preparation.
On the 19th of last month, the president of the CFM met with Minister Alexandre de Moraes and, on leaving, spoke to journalists. “The fetal asystole procedure is cruel to the fetus. We came to explain it to him.” [Moraes] what this technique is. This technique is feticide,” said José. Gallo had already expressed his position during a hearing in the Senate.
The document also laments “the distortions to which these issues have been subjected” and suggests that this is an attempt to “politicize discussions and confuse the population, managers, decision-makers and even medical professionals”.
The medical procedure involves injecting substances into the fetus, which cause the heart to stop beating, before termination of pregnancy .
The procedure is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for abortions in women whose gestational age exceeds 22 weeks. It was the minister’s decision that led the evangelical bloc to seek approval of Bill 1904/24, which has been called the Anti-Abortion Law.
O The project aims to make the penalty for those who commit an abortion after 22 weeks the same as that for the crime of homicide which would include cases of rape.
The CFM states that it has no influence over the functioning of Legal Abortion and that it is up to the Ministry of Health and managers of the Unified Health System to create conditions to meet existing demands.
“As provided for in current legislation, doctors are prohibited from failing to guarantee all patients the right to freely decide about their person or well-being, which is limited to the conditions defined by law,” the note states.
See the new CFM note
CLARIFICATIONS TO THE
POPULATION AND DOCTORS
CFM reiterates its positions on Abortion
Legal, PL 1.904/2024 and women’s autonomy
With the intention of clarifying the population and doctors regarding unfounded narratives that have been circulating in the media and on social media, the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) has expressed its views on the following topics:
LEGAL ABORTION
* The Legal Abortion service is a program incorporated by the Brazilian State that must be made available according to criteria defined by law and ethical dictates.
* The CFM has no influence over the operation of the Legal Abortion service in the country. It is up to the Ministry of Health (MS) and managers of the Unified Health System (SUS) to create conditions to meet existing demands. In Brazil, there are currently 92 services of this type, distributed across 20 states. Of these, 32 are referenced by the MS, the vast majority of these establishments are in the South and Southeast.
* Improving the Legal Abortion network would reduce the suffering of women who are victims of rape who, without access to this type of care, are doubly penalized: first by the aggressor, and then by the State’s inaction.
Bill 1.904/2024
* Bill 1,904/2024, which equates abortion after 22 weeks to the crime of homicide, including in cases of rape, did not have the participation or contribution of the CFM in its preparation.
* For this agency, the topic must be discussed within the scope of the National Congress, which needs to listen to all segments involved, promoting a broad debate with society on the topic.
WOMEN’S AUTONOMY
* As provided for by the 1988 Constitution and the Code of Medical Ethics
(CEM), in force, the doctor is prohibited from failing to guarantee all patients the exercise of the right to freely decide about their person or their well-being, which is limited to the assumptions defined by law.
* The CFM is an ally of the female population, without any intention of limiting or excluding rights. Much less of penalizing individuals or population segments, already historically deprived of achievements and even of their citizenship.
Finally, the CFM regrets the distortions to which these issues have been subjected, in an attempt to politicize discussions and confuse the population, managers, decision-makers and even medical professionals. In fact, in this process, individuals who act in defense of private interests interfere, disregarding the current rules.
Brasilia, July 1, 2024.
Jose Hiran da Silva Gallo
*With information from Gabriel Garcia and Daniel Trevor
Source: CNN Brasil
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