Puerto Rico Governor Signs Controversial Law Recognizing Unborn as Human Beings
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — In a move that has ignited intense debate across the U.S. territory, Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón signed a measure into law on Thursday that legally recognizes a fetus as a “human being” under the island’s Penal Code. The amendment, identified as Senate Bill 923, was approved without public hearings, drawing immediate praise from conservative supporters and sharp criticism from medical and legal experts who warn of far-reaching consequences for women’s healthcare and privacy rights.
The new legislation amends Article 98 of the Puerto Rico Penal Code to define the unborn fetus as a human being for the purposes of criminal law, specifically in cases involving murder. In a brief statement following the signing, Governor González-Colón, a Republican, asserted that the legislation “aims to maintain consistency between civil and criminal provisions by recognizing the unborn child as a human being.”
This action follows a similar amendment to the island’s Civil Code enacted in late 2025, which recognized the “conceived child” as a natural person. The administration argues that the Penal Code update is a necessary step to harmonize the island’s legal framework, ensuring that the protections afforded in civil disputes—such as inheritance and personal injury claims—are mirrored in criminal statutes.
However, the lack of public debate and the speed of the bill’s passage have alarmed opposition groups and medical professionals. Dr. Carlos Díaz Vélez, president of the College of Medical Surgeons of Puerto Rico, issued a stern warning regarding the practical implications of the law. He argued that the legislation could force doctors into practicing “defensive health care” to avoid potential criminal liability, potentially compromising the quality of treatment for pregnant women.
“The system is not prepared for this,” Díaz Vélez stated, noting that the law could allow third parties to intervene in the doctor-patient relationship, thereby violating strict privacy laws. He emphasized that new protocols and regulations would need to be implemented immediately to navigate the complex legal landscape created by the amendment.
Legal experts and reproductive rights advocates have also voiced concerns that the law effectively creates a “personhood” status for fetuses that could erode abortion rights, which remain legal in Puerto Rico. Rosa Seguí Cordero, an attorney and spokesperson for the National Campaign for Free, Safe and Accessible Abortion, criticized the government’s approach.
“A zygote was given legal personality,” Seguí Cordero said. “We women were stripped of our rights.” She raised hypothetical scenarios that could arise from the new legal definition, questioning whether a woman who suffers a miscarriage could now face scrutiny as a murder suspect, or if a fertilized egg would be entitled to health insurance benefits independent of the mother.
The administration has pushed back against these claims, stating that the amendment is intended to complement existing laws that protect pregnant women from violence. Officials referenced the legislative intent to classify the killing of a pregnant woman—resulting in the death of the fetus—as first-degree murder. This provision echoes the sentiment behind the “Keishla Rodríguez Law,” named after a pregnant woman whose brutal 2021 murder shocked the island and led to federal life sentences for her killer.
Despite the controversy, the law is now in effect. It represents a significant victory for the island’s conservative and religious factions, who have long lobbied for stronger legal recognition of life from the moment of conception. For the medical community and women’s rights organizations, however, the signing marks the beginning of a complex legal battle to determine how these new definitions will be applied in hospitals and courtrooms across Puerto Rico.
* njrtl.org
* washingtontimes.com
* greenwichtime.com
* puertoricoreport.com
* youtube.com
* aleteia.org
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