In Rio, women protest against arrest of two doctors and pregnant patient
“Neither coffin, nor prison! For the women's lives and rights,” read the protest sign 
Candles, flowers, and coffins to symbolize thousands of women who have died due to illegal abortions throughout the country are part of a protest installation mounted Friday (Apr. 8) in front of a police station in Copacabana, in Rio. Last week this police station ordered the arrest of a patient and two doctors at a clinic in the city on charges of abortion, considered a crime in Brazil, incurring in a penalty of up to 3 years in jail.
In the protest, in front of the police station, activists defending the women's rights and against the criminalization of abortion questioned the patient's prison conditions. The activists said that the pregnant woman was waiting in reception, when she was taken to the police station, and prevented from food for hours, which is classified as psychological torture.
Psychological torture
According to activist Daniele Machado, the goal was to obtain the girl's confession to her intention to abort, since she was carrying $1,100 when arrested in the waiting room.
"As the woman was not arrested in flagrante, she was tortured at the police station. She was kept without eating to confess something, they took her money, $1,100, and even forced her to sign a document pledging to testify against the doctors," said an activist, who took part in the protest beside dozens of women outside the police station.
it is estimated that 1,054,242 abortions were performed in 2005, rising from fifth to third in the rank of leading causes of maternal mortality, from 1990 to 2012 .
In the evaluation of “Finadas do Aborto” (Women Killed by Abortion in an unofficial translation) activist group, which organized the protest on Friday, the situation to which the patient was submitted has increased her suffering. "It's already a difficult situation when a woman decides to abort, she needs to resort to illegality, to clandestinity. She is vulnerable, facing the risk of dying. Then the prison, the exposure, the torture, the pressure [of police] and the stigmatized situation, makes it considerably worse. A criminal approach to abortion is not the best way," said Laura Molinari Barreto, member of the “Finadas do Aborto”.
According to the Abortion and Public Health in Brazil document, from 2009, prepared by the Health Ministry, it is estimated that 1,054,242 abortions were performed in 2005, rising from fifth to third in the rank of leading causes of maternal mortality, from 1990 to 2012 . In Rio, the State Committee on Maternal Mortality reported that 8% of maternal deaths are due to abortion.
Weight of the Law
According to a statement from the police advisers issued to Agência Brasil, the doctors' arrest in flagrante—a gynecologist and an anaesthetist—was the result of an investigation, probing allegations about an abortion clinic operating in Copacabana.
Rio de Janeiro Regional Medical Association (CREMERJ) reported that they have opened an inquiry to investigate the doctors' involvement in the clinic. Subsequently, they may initiate ethical and professional proceedings for determining the penalties to be imposed on the professionals, ranging from a warning to revocating their registration certificates, which would suspend them from their duties. There is no deadline for the end of the process, according to the association.
Rio de Janeiro Municipal Health Secretariat confirmed that one of the arrested doctors worked in a unit of the agency, but the medical practice "outside the secretariat is the sole responsibility of each professional." The agency will await the completion of CREMERJ process to decide about the doctor's future.
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Abortion: in Rio, women protest against arrest of two doctors and pregnant patient
