Mental health of women key issue in abortion cases

The controversial reform of the abortion law being proposed by Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón will leave the ultimate "responsibility" for deciding whether to terminate a pregnancy on the woman, in consultation with a doctor, government sources said Saturday.

The overriding factor in determining whether an abortion should proceed will be based on the level of "psychological harm" the mother would incur if she were to give birth.

Gallardón wants to replace the current abortion system introduced in 2010 by the previous Socialist administration to eliminate abortion on demand until week 14, and return to something closer to the previous system, which only allowed pregnancies to be terminated in cases of rape, or physical and mental risk to the mother.

According to the latest Metroscopia poll published Sunday, Gallardón's plans to amend the abortion law to remove fetus malformation as a reason for terminating a pregnancy has angered traditional Popular Party supporters. Of those polled, 81 percent said they were against the move, with only 14 percent in favor. Among practicing Catholics, 64 percent rejected Gallardón's initiative, while 85 percent of non-practicing Catholics were against it.