Key Macri ally faces murder charges after forcing 12 year-old rape victim to give birth; baby dead

Gerardo Morales, governor of Argentina's remote Jujuy Province and a close ally of President Mauricio Macri, faces potential murder charges for having used his office to force a 12 year-old rape victim to give birth - a decision leading to the infant's death days later.

The decision has been condemned by both pro-choice and pro-life activists, who announced they intend to file murder charges against Morales and Health Minister Gustavo Bouhid today.

The young mother, who had sought an abortion at the provincial maternity hospital, became a rallying cry for pro-life groups and Argentina's influential Catholic Church.

But despite support from her parents and the hospital's decision to carry out the abortion, Governor Morales reportedly ordered hospital staff to effect the birth against the mother's wishes.

Accordingly, a cesarean section was carried out on January 18. Born severely premature (23 weeks) as a result, the 703 gram (24.7 oz) baby died just four days later.

The obstetrician who carried out the cesarean birth, Dr. Gustavo Briones, resigned his post in protest on January 30, noting that Morales and Bouhid ignored all medical recommendations and forced her to give birth.

Morales claimed on January 21 that "a prominent Jujuy family was interested in adopting the baby." The infant died the next day.

Legal but illegal

Numerous leading Argentine pro-life groups - traditional allies of the right-wing Morales - have declared their intent to pursue the governor's impeachment.

Morales' interference, activists note, was unjustified even under current law: Abortion in Argentina, while still illegal in most cases, has been legal in cases of rape or to save the mother's life since 1921.

According to the Ministry of Health, around 370,000 abortions are performed in the country annually - up to 50,000 of which result in complications, and, in 2017, in 30 deaths.

A bill legalizing abortion on demand up to the 14th week passed the lower house of Congress last June but was defeated on August 8 in the Senate.

Two-thirds of Macri's "Let's Change" coalition - to which Morales belongs - voted against the bill.

At: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&tab=wT&sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiempoar.com.ar%2Fnota%2Fimpulsan-denuncia-penal-y-juicio-politico-contra-el-gobernador-gerardo-morales

Jujuy Province Governor Gerardo Morales (left) and his Health Minister, Gustavo Bouhid.

Both face murder charges for forcing a 12 year-old rape victim to gave birth - and without her or her family's consent.

The baby, still premature at 23 weeks, died four days later.

The right-wing Morales has likewise been condemned by human rights groups for his use of arbitrary detention against political prisoners.