Abortion

This eBook offers a comprehensive and practical guide to the medico-legal dimensions of abortion under Philippine law and jurisprudence, integrating legal doctrine, ethical principles, medical standards, and forensic considerations. It explores abortion as a criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code, its exceptions in life-threatening pregnancies, and the implications of constitutional protections for the unborn. The work includes in-depth discussions on proof of pregnancy and fetal death, medical certifications, expert testimony, and the admissibility of forensic evidence in court proceedings. It also reviews relevant Supreme Court rulings, provides legal frameworks for distinguishing spontaneous, induced, and therapeutic abortion, and addresses issues of liability among healthcare professionals. This guide serves as an essential reference for legal practitioners, medical professionals, and students seeking to understand the intersecting legal and medical standards that govern reproductive health in the Philippines.