Revised Penal Code

ARTICLE 253. Giving Assistance to Suicide. — Any person who shall assist another to
commit suicide shall suffer the penalty of prisión mayor; if such person lends his assistance
to another to the extent of doing the killing himself, he shall suffer the penalty of reclusión
temporal. However, if the suicide is not consummated, the penalty of arresto mayor in its
medium and maximum periods shall be imposed.

ARTICLE 256. Intentional Abortion. — Any person who shall intentionally cause an
abortion shall suffer:
1. The penalty of reclusión temporal, if he shall use any violence upon the person of the
pregnant woman.
2. The penalty of prisión mayor if, without using violence, he shall act without the consent of
the woman.
3. The penalty of prisión correccional in its medium and maximum periods, if the woman
shall have consented.

ARTICLE 257. Unintentional Abortion. — The penalty of prisión correccional in its

minimum and medium period shall be imposed upon any person who shall cause an
abortion by violence, but unintentionally.

ARTICLE 258. Abortion Practiced by the Woman Herself or by Her Parents. — The
penalty of prisión correccional in its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed upon a
woman who shall practice an abortion upon herself or shall consent that any other person
should do so.

Any woman who shall commit this offense to conceal her dishonor, shall suffer the penalty
of prisión correccional in its minimum and medium periods.
If this crime be committed by the parents of the pregnant woman or either of them, and they
act with the consent of said woman for the purpose of concealing her dishonor, the
offenders shall suffer the penalty of prisión correccional in its medium and maximum
periods.

ARTICLE 259. Abortion Practiced by a Physician or Midwife and Dispensing of

Abortives. — The penalties provided in article 256 shall be imposed in its maximum period,
respectively, upon any physician or midwife who, taking advantage of their scientific
knowledge or skill, shall cause an abortion or assist in causing the same.

Any pharmacist who, without the proper prescription from a physician, shall dispense any
abortive shall suffer arresto mayor and a fine not exceeding 1,000 pesos.
Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights
Article 5 – Autonomy and individual responsibility. The autonomy of persons to
make decisions, while taking responsibility for those decisions and respecting the
autonomy of others, is to be respected. For persons who are not capable of exercising
autonomy, special measures are to be taken to protect their rights and interests.
Article 10 – Equality, justice and equity. The fundamental equality of all human
beings in dignity and rights is to be respected so that they are treated justly and
equitably.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Article 10 - Right to life. States Parties reaffirm that every human being has the
inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective
enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee (par. 7)

The Committee remains concerned at the extent of euthanasia and assisted suicides in
the State party. Under the law on the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted
Suicide, although a second physician must give an opinion, a physician can terminate a
patient’s life without any independent review by a judge or magistrate to guarantee that
this decision was not the subject of undue influence or misapprehension. (art. 6)
The Committee reiterates its previous recommendations in this regard and urges
that this legislation be reviewed in light of the Covenant’s recognition of the right
to life.