Overview

Abortion is permitted in Argentina only when the life or the health of the woman is in danger, as ruled by the Supreme Court in March 2012. Besides this ruling, abortion in Argentina is illegal according to the Argentina penal code. Many in Argentina are currently fighting for more relaxed abortion laws and many organizations have formed a National Campaign for Abortion Rights in the country. Recently, including in November 2014, bills to legally permit abortion have been introduced and debated by the Congressional Criminal Justice Commission. The widespread influence of the Catholic Church in Argentina, and the widespread gap between the rich and poor, greatly affects assisted reproduction technology regulation, as well as abortion regulation described above. In many Latin American countries, including Argentina, the poor do not have access to ART and it is not provided in many public hospitals. The WHO reports that a feeling of discrimination and resentment exists among the citizens of Argentina because of the lack of access. Nevertheless, embryo and sperm donation is permissible in Argentina, and both single women and same-sex couples have access to ART. In May 2012, the Argentine Senate approved a “dignified death” law, giving terminally ill and their families more input into end-of-life decisions. In other words, patients who are dying or suffering incurable illness can refuse treatment to sustain their lives. Thus, passive euthanasia is legal in Argentina, along with advance directives. However, active euthanasia still remains legally prohibited. Argentina possesses a strong number of researchers engaging in stem-cell research in both public and private institutions. The Transplant Act and Medicines Act in the country provide guidelines for how human embryos should be used for scientific research. In general, the use of human pre-embryos for experimental purposes is an acceptable procedure. FURTHER READINGS: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/14/world/americas/argentina-abortions/ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-18016902
Aabortion

Abortion

55 pts out of 100 / 80,00% complete

55 pts

Abortion and contraception allow women to express their freedom of reproduction by exercising their right of self-determination over their bodies.


Measurement questions

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's life?

Yes

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's physical health?

Yes

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's mental health?

Yes

Is abortion lawful in the event the woman was raped?

Yes

Is abortion lawful in the event of fetal defects?

No

Does the law mandate that an abortion is performed at the mere request of a pregnant woman?

No

Is RU-486 (Mifepristone) approved or registered for use?

Are emergency contraception drugs lawfully available?

Yes, from a pharmacist without requiring a prescription

Are family planning services provided through government-run programs and facilities?

Yes, indirectly

Is spousal notification/permission required?

Assisted reproduction

Assisted Reproduction

82 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

82 pts

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are the methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. Access to assisted reproduction concerns our ability to expand our right to health by offering us access to treatment to overcome infertility.


Measurement questions

Is preimplantation genetic diagnosis permissible?

Yes with no restrictions

Is oocyte cryopreservation permissible?

Yes

Is embryo cryopreservation permissible for reproductive purposes?

Yes

Is sperm donation permissible?

Yes

Is oocyte donation permissible?

Yes

Are IVF surrogacy agreements enforceable?

No

Marital status requirements?

No

Do same-sex couples have access to ART?

Yes

Do single women have access to ART?

Yes

Are there any limits on the number of pre-embryos that can be transferred?

Yes

End Off Life

End of life

60 pts out of 100 / 80,00% complete

60 pts

End of life decisions concern our ability to make choices concerning the end of our lives and take of the form of refusal of life sustaining treatment, being help in committing suicide, choosing euthanasia, and make choices that must be upheld even when the person becomes unconscious. As Young (2010) noted, "People have an interest in making important decisions about their lives in accordance with their own conception of how they want their lives to go."


Measurement questions

Is passive euthanasia lawful?

Yes

Is active euthanasia lawful?

Legally prohibited

Is physician-assisted suicide lawful?

Are advance directives (AD) enforceable?

Yes

Is a physician required to respect a patient's refusal of life-sustaining treatment?

Yes

Research With Embryo

Research with embryos

0 pts out of 100 / 0,00% complete

0 pts

Research with embryos and pre-embryos as well as therapeutic cloning concerns scientists’ freedom to investigate human biology as well as patients’ freedom to access regenerative medicine treatments that may be developed as a result of research with human embryonic stem cells. Since the early 2000s, research with embryos has been at the center of an often-polarized debate about the nature and scope of scientific freedom.


Measurement questions

Is basic research using germline modification in human embryos/gametes permitted?

Is pre-clinical research using germline modification technologies in animals permitted?

Is clinical research using germline modification technologies in humans permitted?

Are clinical applications of research using germline modification technologies (i.e., to initiate a pregnancy with edited embryos or with edited gametes) permitted?

GM Crops

GM Crops

80 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

80 pts

GM crops have contributed significantly to modern agriculture. Plant breeding using genetic modification techniques has led to improving crops in more targeted ways than classical breeding techniques. GM crops acquire desirable characteristics, including pest and herbicide resistance, enhanced robustness against diseases, drought or water tolerance, and healthier profiles that can enhance nutrition.


Measurement questions

Is research on GMOs permitted in the laboratories?

Yes

Is notification to start research on GMOs in laboratories required?

Yes

Is research on GMOs frequent?

Yes

Are GM crop field trials (the limited release into the environment for research purposes) permitted?

Yes

Is authorization to start a GM crop field trial required?

Yes/prohibited

Are GM crop field trials frequent?

Yes

Is cultivation of GM crops (for commercial purposes) in open field permitted?

Yes

Is authorization to start open field cultivation of GM crops required?

Yes/prohibited

Is open field cultivation of GM crops frequent?

Yes

Can GM crop commodities harvested in other countries be imported?

Yes

Is authorization to import GM crop commodities required?

Yes/prohibited

Is the import of GM crop commoties frequent?

Yes

Right To Science Indicators

Right To Science Indicators


Measurement questions

- Access to benefits

What is the total general government expenditure on education?

14.1

What is the expenditure on tertiary as % of government expenditure on education?

20.54

What is the the percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed a doctoral degree or equivalent?

What is the percentage of population that uses the Internet?

70.97

What is the quality of math and science education on a scale from 1 to 7 being "excellent"?

3.1

To what extent is the Internet used in schools for learning purposes?

4

What is the scientific literacy of 15-year-old students as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)(mean score)?

- Opportunities to participate

Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in hiring?

Yes

What is the percentage of females employed with advanced degrees out of total employed?

48.5

- Enabling environment

How many scientific and technical journal articles are published each year in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, clinical medicine, biomedical research, engineering and technology, and earth and space sciences?

8648.2

What is the percentage of GDP allocated to Research and Development?

0.59

How may published articles have received at least H citations in the period 1996–2014?

25.3

What is the quality of scientific research institutions?

4.6

To what extent do business and universities collaborate on research and development (R&D)?

3.3

What is the average university ranking score of countries based on their top 3 universities?

46

To what extent are scientists and engineers available?

3.9

How many professionals are employed as researchers?

2.9

How many professionals are employed by government as researchers?

49.6

- International cooperation

To what extent are talented people attracted from abroad?

2.9

Recent News about Argentina

Cryopreserved embryos in Argentina: more than 12,000

In Argentina, more than 12,000 “abandonded” embryos (created upon request of an infertile couple but never implanted) are stoed and frozen in crypresearvation facilities and there is no plan for them to be used in assisted reproduction treatment or in research. This is the result of two decades of embryo cryopreservation. In some cases, ambryos