The Master of Arts in Medical Humanities & Bioethics program presents
A Montgomery Lecture
with
Michelle Oberman, JD
Katharine and George Alexander Professor of Law
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California
Her Body, Our Laws:
On the Front Lines of the Abortion War from El Salvador to Oklahoma
In 1998, El Salvador passed a law banning abortion under all circumstances. Since then, El Salvador has mounted an intensive effort to identify and prosecute those who violate the law. This talk will discuss the ban’s consequences, namely: (1) abortion remained commonplace and rates did not drop even though it was illegal; (2) doctors become involved in law enforcement; and (3) innocent women were accused and convicted of abortion-related crimes. In addition, this talk will explain why, in spite of the vast differences between El Salvador and the United States, there is good reason to expect that the United States would experience each of these consequences were it to outlaw abortion.