The Mexico Supreme Court indicated today it will uphold a Mexico City law allowing abortion that has divided the country, The Associated Press reported.
Four of the 11 Supreme Court justices said during deliberations that they would vote against declaring the law unconstitutional; eight votes would be needed to strike it down. A formal vote is expected this week.
Mexico City legalized abortion in 2007, but 85 percent of gynecologists in the city's public hospitals have refused to perform abortions over issues of conscience.
The federal Attorney General's Office and National Human Rights Commission appealed the law to the Supreme Court.
"It's no surprise that so many Mexico City doctors refuse to perform abortions," said Dawn Vargo, bioethics analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "We've seen that in the U.S. for years. It would be a tragedy if Mexico attempts to force physicians to do abortions, as we've seen subtle pressure to do in the U.S."
