Imbong vs Ochoa - G.R. No. 204819. April 8, 2014

8/20/2019 Imbong vs Ochoa - G.R. No. 204819. April 8, 2014

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EN BANC[G.R. No. 204819. April 8, 2014.]

JAMES M. IMBONG and LOVELY-ANN C. IMBONG, for themselves and n !ehalf of ther mnor"hldren, L#CIA CA$LOS IMBONG and BE$NA%E&&E CA$LOS IMBONG and MAGNI'ICA& C(IL%%EVELO)MEN& CEN&E$, INC., *ettoners, vs. (ON. )A+#I&O N. OCHOA, J$., Ee"tveSe"retar, (ON. 'LO$ENCIO B. ABA%, Se"retar, %e*artment of Bd/et and Mana/ement,

(ON. EN$I+#E &. ONA, Se"retar, %e*artment of (ealth, (ON. A$MIN A. L#IS&$O, Se"retar,%e*artment of Ed"aton, Cltre and S*orts and (ON. MAN#EL A. $O0AS II, Se"retar,%e*artment of Interor and Lo"al Government, res*ondents.1G.$. No. 234564. A*rl 7, 2384.9ALLIANCE 'O$ &(E 'AMILY 'O#N%A&ION )(ILI))INES, INC. 1AL'I9, re*resented ! ts)resdent, Mara Con"e*"on S. No"he, S*oses $enaldo S. Lstro : $ose B. Lstro, Jose S.Sande;as : Elenta S.A. Sande;as, Artro M. Gorre< : Maretta C. Gorre. Araneta, S*oses $enatoC. Castor : Mldred C. Castor for themselves and on !ehalf of ther mnor "hldren, $en<

Je?re C. Castor, Jose*h $aml C. Castor, John )al C. Castor : $a*hael C. Castor, S*osesAleander $. $a"ho : >ara >. $a"ho for themselves and on !ehalf of ther mnor "hldrenMar/arta $a"ho, M@aela $a"ho, Martn $a"ho, Mar $a"ho : Manolo $a"ho, S*oses Alfred$. $a"ho : 'ran"ne V. $a"ho for themselves and on !ehalf of ther mnor "hldren M"hael$a"ho, Marana $a"ho, $afael $a"ho, Ma $a"ho, Chesse $a"ho : Lara $a"ho, S*oses%avd $. $a"ho : Armln A. $a"ho for themselves and on !ehalf of ther mnor "hld Ga!rel$a"ho, Mnd M. Jatas and on !ehalf of her mnor "hldren El;ah Gerald Jatas and ElanGa!rel Jatas, Salva"on M. Montero, Eml $. Las, Jose*h $. Las : atrna $. Las,*ettoners, vs. (ON. )A+#I&O N. OC(OA, J$., Ee"tve Se"retar, (ON. EN$I+#E &. ONA,Se"retar, %e*artment of (ealth, (ON. A$MIN A. L#IS&$O, Se"retar, %e*artment ofEd"aton, Cltre and S*orts, (ON. CO$A>ON SOLIMAN, Se"retar, %e*artment of So"alelfare and %evelo*ment, (ON. MAN#EL A. $O0AS II, Se"retar, %e*artment of Interor andLo"al Government, (ON. 'LO$ENCIO B. ABA%, Se"retar, %e*artment of Bd/et andMana/ement, (ON. A$SENIO M. BALISACAN, So"o-E"onom" )lannn/ Se"retar and NE%A%re"tor-General, &(E )(ILI))INE COMMISSION ON OMEN, re*resented ! ts Char*erson,$emedos I/na"o-$@@en, &(E )(ILI))INE (EAL&( INS#$ANCE CO$)O$A&ION, re*resented! ts )resdent Edardo Ban


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A$MIN A. L#IS&$O, Se"retar, %e*artment of Ed"aton and (ON. MAN#EL A. $O0AS II,Se"retar, %e*artment of Interor and Lo"al Government, res*ondents.1G.$. No. 23D336. A*rl 7, 2384.9E0)E%I&O A. B#GA$IN, J$., *ettoner, vs. O''ICE O' &(E )$ESI%EN& O' &(E $E)#BLIC O'

&(E )(ILI))INES, (ON. SENA&E )$ESI%EN&, (ON. S)EAE$ O' &(E (O#SE O'$E)$ESEN&A&IVES and (ON. SOLICI&O$ GENE$AL, res*ondents.

1G.$. No. 23D346. A*rl 7, 2384.9E%#A$%O B. OLAG#E$ and &(E CA&(OLIC 0YB$S)ACE A)OS&OLA&E O' &(E )(ILI))INES,*ettoners, vs. %O( SEC$E&A$Y EN$I+#E &. ONA, '%A %I$EC&O$ S#>E&&E (. LA>O, %BMSEC$E&A$Y 'LO$ENCIO B. ABA%, %ILG SEC$E&A$Y MAN#EL A. $O0AS II, %ECS SEC$E&A$YA$MIN A. L#IS&$O, res*ondents.1G.$. No. 23D867. A*rl 7, 2384.9)(ILI))INE ALLIANCE O' 0SEMINA$IANS, INC. )A0H, heren re*resented ! ts Natonal)resdent, Att. $"ardo M. $!o, and n hs on !ehalf, Att. Lno E.A. %mas, $omeo B.Almonte, Osmndo C. Orlanes, Arseno >. Menor, Samel J. Ya*, Jame '. Mateo, $oll S/an,%ante E. Ma/dan/al, M"hael E/eno O. )lana, Benvendo C. M/el, Jr., Landrto M. %o@noand Baldomero 'al"one, *ettoners, vs. (ON. )A+#I&O N. OC(OA, J$., Ee"tve Se"retar,(ON. 'LO$ENCIO B. ABA%, Se"retar, %e*artment of Bd/et and Mana/ement, (ON.EN$I+#E &. ONA, Se"retar, %e*artment of (ealth, (ON. A$MIN A. L#IS&$O, Se"retar,%e*artment of Ed"aton, (ON. MAN#EL A. $O0AS II, Se"retar, %e*artment of Interor andLo"al Government, (ON. CO$A>ON J. SOLIMAN, Se"retar, %e*artment of So"al elfare and%evelo*ment, (ON. A$SENIO BALISACAN, %re"tor-General, Natonal E"onom" and%evelo*ment Athort, (ON. S#>E&&E (. LA>O, %re"tor-General, 'ood and %r/sAdmnstraton, &(E BOA$% O' %I$EC&O$S, )hl**ne (ealth Insran"e Cor*oraton, and

&(E BOA$% O' COMMISSIONE$S, )hl**ne Commsson on omen, res*ondents.1G.$. No. 23D47. A*rl 7, 2384.9$EYNAL%O J. EC(AVE>, M.%., JAC+#ELINE (. ING M.%., CYN&(IA &. %OMINGO, M.%., AN%

JOSE)(INE MILLA%O-L#MI&AO, M.%., "olle"tvel @non as %o"tors for Lfe, and AN&(ONY)E$E>, MIC(AEL AN&(ONY G. MA)A, CA$LOS AN&ONIO )ALA%, IL'$E%O JOSE, CLAI$ENAVA$$O, ANNA COSIO, and GAB$IEL %Y LIACCO "olle"tvel @non as 'l*nos for Lfe,*ettoners, vs. (ON. )A+#I&O N. OC(OA, J$., Ee"tve Se"retarF (ON. 'LO$ENCIO B.ABA%, Se"retar of the %e*artment of Bd/et and Mana/ementF (ON. EN$I+#E &. ONA,Se"retar of the %e*artment of (ealthF (ON. A$MIN A. L#IS&$O, Se"retar of the%e*artment of Ed"atonF and (ON. MAN#EL A. $O0AS II, Se"retar of the %e*artment ofInteror and Lo"al Government, res*ondents.1G.$. No. 23D458. A*rl 7, 2384.9S)O#SES '$ANCISCO S. &A&A% AN% MA$IA 'ENNY C. &A&A% : ALAN '. )AG#IA, forthemselves, ther )ostert, and the rest of 'l*no *ostert, *ettoners, vs. O''ICE O' &(E)$ESI%EN& of the $e*!l" of the )hl**nes, res*ondent.1G.$. No. 23D23. A*rl 7, 2384.9)$O-LI'E )(ILI))INES 'O#N%A&ION, In"., re*resented ! Lorna Mele/rto, as Ee"tve%re"tor, and n her *ersonal "a*a"t, JOSELYN B. BASILIO, $OBE$& >. CO$&ES, A$IEL A.C$ISOS&OMO, JE$EMY I. GA&%#LA, C$IS&INA A. MON&ES, $A#L AN&ONIO A. NI%OY,INS&ON CON$A% B. )A%OJINOG, $#'INO L. )OLICA$)IO III, *ettoners, vs. O''ICE O' &(E)$ESI%EN&, SENA&E O' &(E )(ILI))INES, (O#SE O' $E)$ESEN&A&IVES, (ON. )A+#I&O N.OC(OA, J$., Ee"tve Se"retar, (ON. 'LO$ENCIO B. ABA%, Se"retar, %e*artment of

Bd/et and Mana/ement, (ON. EN$I+#E &. ONA, Se"retar, %e*artment of (ealth, (ON.A$MIN A. L#IS&$O, Se"retar, %e*artment of Ed"aton and (ON. MAN#EL A. $O0AS II,Se"retar, %e*artment of Interor and Lo"al Government, res*ondents.1G.$. No. 236DD. A*rl 7, 2384.9MILLENNI#M SAIN& 'O#N%A&ION, INC., A&&Y. $AMON )E%$OSA, A&&Y. CI&A BO$$OMEO-GA$CIA, S&ELLA ACE%E$A, A&&Y. BE$&ENI CA&AL#A CA#SING, *ettoners, vs. O''ICE O'

&(E )$ESI%EN&, O''ICE O' &(E E0EC#&IVE SEC$E&A$Y, %E)A$&MEN& O' (EAL&(,%E)A$&MEN& O' E%#CA&ION, res*ondents.1G.$. No. 23888. A*rl 7, 2384.9


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JO(N AL&E$ B. J#A&, MA$Y M. IMBONG, AN&(ONY VIC&O$IO B. L#MICAO, JOSE)( MA$&IN+. VE$%EJO, AN&ONIA EMMA $. $O0AS and LO&A LA&-G#E$$E$O, *ettoners, vs. (ON.)A+#I&O N. OC(OA, J$., Ee"tve Se"retar, (ON. 'LO$ENCIO ABA%, Se"retar,%e*artment of Bd/et and Mana/ement, (ON. EN$I+#E &. ONA, Se"retar, %e*artment of(ealth, (ON. A$MIN A. L#IS&$O, Se"retar, %e*artment of Ed"aton, Cltre and S*ortsand (ON. MAN#EL A. $O0AS II, Se"retar, %e*artment of Interor and Lo"al Government,

res*ondents.1G.$. No. 2382. A*rl 7, 2384.9CO#)LES 'O$ C($IS& 'O#N%A&ION, INC., S)O#SES J#AN CA$LOS A$&A%I SA$MIEN&O AN%'$ANCESCA ISABELLE BESINGA-SA$MIEN&O, AN% S)O#SES L#IS '$ANCIS A. $O%$IGO, J$.and %EBO$A( MA$IE VE$ONICA N. $O%$IGO, *ettoners, vs. (ON. )A+#I&O N. OC(OA, J$.,Ee"tve Se"retar, (ON. 'LO$ENCIO B. ABA%, Se"retar, %e*artment of Bd/et andMana/ement, (ON. EN$I+#E &. ONA, Se"retar, %e*artment of (ealth, (ON. A$MIN A.L#IS&$O, Se"retar, %e*artment of Ed"aton, Cltre and S*orts and (ON. MAN#EL A.$O0AS II, Se"retar, %e*artment of Interor and Lo"al Government, res*ondents.1G.$. No. 23D6. A*rl 7, 2384.9ALMA$IM CEN&I &ILLA( and AB%#L(#SSEIN M. AS(IM, *ettoners, vs. (ON. )A+#I&O N.OC(OA, J$., Ee"tve Se"retar, (ON. EN$I+#E &. ONA, Se"retar of the %e*artment of(ealth, and (ON. A$MIN A. L#IS&$O, Se"retar of the %e*artment of Bd/et andMana/ement, res*ondents.%ECISIONMEN%O>A, J *K'reedom of rel/on as a""orded *referred stats ! the framers of or fndamental la.And ths Cort has "onsstentl armed ths *referred stats, ell aare that t s des/nedto *rote"t the !roadest *oss!le l!ert of "ons"en"e, to allo ea"h man to !eleve as hs"ons"en"e dre"ts, to *rofess hs !elefs, and to lve as he !eleves he o/ht to lve,"onsstent th the l!ert of others and th the "ommon /ood. 8 (%AaI"

&o ths da, *overt s stll a ma;or stm!ln/ !lo"@ to the natons emer/en"e as adevelo*ed "ontr, leavn/ or *eo*le !elea/ered n a state of hn/er, lltera" andnem*loment. hle /overnmental *ol"es have !een /eared toards the revtal


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ts de"son ma *rod"e, the Cort no fa"es the rs "ontrovers, as *resented n forteen84H *ettons and to 2H *ettons-n-nterventon, to tK %"(SEa8H )etton for Certorar and )roh!ton, D Rled ! s*oses Atts. James M. Im!on/ andLovel Ann C. Im!on/, n ther *ersonal "a*a"tes as "t


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T &he $( La volates the r/ht to rel/os freedom. &he *ettoners "ontend that the$( La volates the "onstttonal /arantee res*e"tn/ rel/on as t athor


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It s "lamed that, ! /vn/ a!solte athort to the *erson ho ll nder/ore*rod"tve health *ro"edre, the $( La forsa@es an real dalo/e !eteen the s*osesand m*edes the r/ht of s*oses to mtall de"de on matters *ertann/ to the overallell-!en/ of ther faml. In the same !reath, t s also "lamed that the *arents of a "hldho has s?ered a ms"arra/e are de*rved of *arental athort to determne hetherther "hld shold se "ontra"e*tves. D3

T &he $( La volates the "onstttonal *rn"*le of non-dele/aton of Le/slatveathort. &he *ettoners =eston the dele/aton ! Con/ress to the '%A of the *oer todetermne hether a *rod"t s non-a!ortfa"ent and to !e n"lded n the Emer/en"%r/s Lst E%LH. D8 IEaC%(T &he $( La volates the one s!;e"tUone !ll rle *rovson nder Se"ton 2 8H,Art"le VI of the Consttton. D2T &he $( La volates Natral La. D6T &he $( La volates the *rn"*le of Atonom of Lo"al Government #nts LG#sH andthe Atonomos $e/on of Mslm Mndanao A$MMH. It s "ontended that the $( La,*rovdn/ for re*rod"tve health measres at the lo"al /overnment level and the A$MM,nfrn/es *on the *oers devolved to LG#s and the A$MM nder the Lo"al GovernmentCode and $.A. No. 53D4. D4 ("%A&CVaros *artes also so/ht and ere /ranted Leave to Rle ther res*e"tve "omments-n-nterventon n defense of the "onstttonalt of the $( La. Asde from the O"e of theSol"tor General OSGH h"h "ommented on the *ettons n !ehalf of the res*ondents, DDCon/ressman Ed"el C. La/man, D former o"als of the %e*artment of (ealth %r.Es*eran


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In addton, $.A. No. D528, a**roved on Jne 28, 855, "ontaned *rovsons relatve tods*ensn/ of a!ortfa"ents or ant-"on"e*tonal s!stan"es and dev"es. #nder Se"ton 6thereof, t as *rovded that no dr/ or "hem"al *rod"t or dev"e "a*a!le of *rovo@n/a!orton or *reventn/ "on"e*ton as "lassRed ! the 'ood and %r/ Admnstraton shall !edelvered or sold to an *erson thot a *ro*er *res"r*ton ! a dl l"ensed *hs"an.On %e"em!er 88, 85, the )hl**nes, adhern/ to the #N %e"laraton on )o*laton, h"h

re"o/n


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that the State and ts a/en"es Q the entre !rea"ra", from the "a!net se"retares donto the !aran/a o"als n the remotest areas of the "ontr Q s made to *la n them*lementaton of the "ontra"e*ton *ro/ram to the fllest etent *oss!le sn/ ta*aersmone. &he State then ll !e the fnder and *rovder of all forms of faml *lannn/methods and the m*lementer of the *ro/ram ! ensrn/ the des*read dssemnaton of,and nversal a""ess to, a fll ran/e of faml *lannn/ methods, dev"es and s**les. 4

ISS#ESAfter a s"rtn of the varos ar/ments and "ontentons of the *artes, the Cort hassnthes


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"o/n


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In the s"holarl estmaton of former S*reme Cort Jst"e 'lorentno 'el"ano, ;d"alreve s essental for the mantenan"e and enfor"ement of the se*araton of *oers andthe !alan"n/ of *oers amon/ the three /reat de*artments of /overnment thro/h thedeRnton and mantenan"e of the !ondares of athort and "ontrol !eteen them. &ohm, ;d"al reve s the "hef, ndeed the onl, medm of *art"*aton Q or nstrment ofnterventon Q of the ;d"ar n that !alan"n/ o*eraton. 5D

Lest t !e msnderstood, t !ears em*has


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Moreover, the *ettoners have shon that the "ase s so !e"ase med"al *ra"ttoners ormed"al *rovders are n dan/er of !en/ "rmnall *rose"ted nder the $( La for va/evolatons thereof, *art"larl *!l" health o"ers ho are threatened to !e dsmssedfrom the serv"e th forfetre of retrement and other !eneRts. &he mst, at least, !eheard on the matter NO. S&aA"C'a"al Challen/e

&he OSG also assals the *ro*ret of the fa"al "hallen/e lod/ed ! the s!;e"t *ettons,"ontendn/ that the $( La "annot !e "hallen/ed on ts fa"e as t s not a s*ee"hre/latn/ measre. 83D

&he Cort s not *ersaded. &"%IE(In #nted States #SH "onstttonal la, a fa"al "hallen/e, also @non as a 'rst AmendmentChallen/e, s one that s lan"hed to assal the valdt of stattes "on"ernn/ not onl*rote"ted s*ee"h, !t also all other r/hts n the 'rst Amendment. 83 &hese n"lderel/os freedom, freedom of the *ress, and the r/ht of the *eo*le to *ea"ea!l assem!le,and to *etton the Government for a redress of /revan"es. 83 After all, the fndamentalr/ht to rel/os freedom, freedom of the *ress and *ea"efl assem!l are !t "om*onentr/hts of the r/ht to ones freedom of e*resson, as the are modes h"h ones tho/htsare eternal


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&rans"endental Im*ortan"eNotthstandn/, the Cort leans on the do"trne that the rle on standn/ s a matter of*ro"edre, hen"e, "an !e relaed for non-tradtonal *lant?s l@e ordnar "t


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&he *ettoners also =eston the "onstttonalt of the $( La, "lamn/ that t volatesSe"ton 2 8H, Art"le VI of the Consttton, 822 *res"r!n/ the one s!;e"t-one ttle rle.A""ordn/ to them, !en/ one for re*rod"tve health th res*ons!le *arenthood, theassaled le/slaton volates the "onstttonal standards of de *ro"ess ! "on"ealn/ tstre ntent Q to a"t as a *o*laton "ontrol measre. 826

&o !elttle the "hallen/e, the res*ondents nsst that the $( La s not a !rth or *o*laton

"ontrol measre, 824 and that the "on"e*ts of res*ons!le *arenthood and re*rod"tvehealth are !oth nterrelated as the are nse*ara!le. 82D &(CSAE%es*te e?orts to *sh the $( La as a re*rod"tve health la, the Cort sees t as*rn"*all a *o*laton "ontrol measre. &he "or*s of the $( La s /eared toards thered"ton of the "ontrs *o*laton. hle t "lams to save lves and @ee* or omen and"hldren health, t also *romotes *re/nan"-*reventn/ *rod"ts. As stated earler, the $(La em*has


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Consdern/ the "lose ntma" !eteen re*rod"tve health and res*ons!le *arenthoodh"h !ears to the attanment of the /oal of a"hevn/ sstana!le hman develo*ment asstated nder ts terms, the Cort Rnds no reason to !eleve that Con/ress ntentonallso/ht to de"eve the *!l" as to the "ontents of the assaled le/slaton. %CS"a&II Q S#BS&AN&IVE ISS#ESK8-&he $/ht to Lfe

)oston of the )ettoners &he *ettoners assal the $( La !e"ase t volates the r/ht to lfe and health of then!orn "hld nder Se"ton 82, Art"le II of the Consttton. &he assaled le/slaton allon/a""ess to a!ortfa"entsUa!ortves e?e"tvel san"tons a!orton. 863 ("%Sa&A""ordn/ to the *ettoners, des*te ts e*ress terms *roh!tn/ a!orton, Se"ton 4 aH ofthe $( La "onsders "ontra"e*tves that *revent the fertl


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As e*onded earler, the se of "ontra"e*tves and faml *lannn/ methods n the)hl**nes s not of re"ent vnta/e. 'rom the ena"tment of $.A. No. 425, enttled An A"t to$e/late the Sale, %s*ensaton, andUor %str!ton of Contra"e*tve %r/s and %ev"es on

Jne 87, 85, *res"r!n/ rles on "ontra"e*tve dr/s and dev"es h"h *reventfertl


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*oer of the "orts to alter t, !ased on the *ostlate that the framers and the *eo*le meanhat the sa. Ver!a le/s non est re"edendm Q from the ords of a statte there shold!e no de*artre.

&he rason d Wtre for the rle s essentall to-foldK 'rst, !e"ase t s assmed that theords n h"h "onstttonal *rovsons are "o"hed e*ress the o!;e"tve so/ht to !eattanedF and se"ond, !e"ase the Consttton s not *rmarl a laers do"ment !t

essentall that of the *eo*le, n hose "ons"osness t shold ever !e *resent as anm*ortant "ondton for the rle of la to *reval. &CEa%IIn "onformt th the a!ove *rn"*le, the tradtonal meann/ of the ord "on"e*tonh"h, as des"r!ed and deRned ! all rela!le and re*ta!le sor"es, means that lfe !e/nsat fertl


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4 "hromosomes. A "hromosome "ont of 4 s fond onl Q and I re*eat, onl n hman"ells. &herefore, the fertl


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of the male s*erm and the female ovm, and those that smlarl ta@e a"ton *ror tofertl


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8D5 It des"r!es fertl


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Not sr*rsn/l, even the OSG does not s**ort ths *oston.If s"h theor old !e a""e*ted, t old nnervn/l le/tm


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aH A!ortfa"ent refers to an dr/ or dev"e that nd"es a!orton or the destr"ton ofa fets nsde the mothers om! or the *reventon of the fertl


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At ths ;n"tre, the Cort a/rees th AL'I that the athors of the $(-I$$ /ravel a!sedther o"e hen the redeRned the meann/ of a!ortfa"ent. &he $( La deRnesa!ortfa"ent as follosKSEC. 4.%eRnton of &erms. Q 'or the *r*ose of ths A"t, the follon/ terms shall !e deRnedas follosKaH A!ortfa"ent refers to an dr/ or dev"e that nd"es a!orton or the destr"ton of

a fets nsde the mothers om! or the *reventon of the fertl


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&o re*eat and em*has


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. . . n "ase of do!t, the Consttton shold !e "onsdered self-ee"tn/ rather than non-self-ee"tn/. . . . #nless the "ontrar s "learl ntended, the *rovsons of the Constttonshold !e "onsdered self-ee"tn/, as a "ontrar rle old /ve the le/slatre ds"retonto determne hen, or hether, the shall !e e?e"tve. &hese *rovsons old !es!ordnated to the ll of the lama@n/ !od, h"h "old ma@e them entrelmeann/less ! sm*l refsn/ to *ass the needed m*lementn/ statte. Em*hases

s**ledH &hs notthstandn/, t !ears mentonn/ that the *ettoners, *art"larl AL'I, do not=eston "ontra"e*ton and "ontra"e*tves *er se. 874 In fa"t, AL'I *ras that the stats =oQ nder $.A. No. D528 and $.A. No. 425, the sale and dstr!ton of "ontra"e*tves are not*roh!ted hen the are ds*ensed ! a *res"r*ton of a dl l"ensed ! a *hs"an Q !emantaned. 87D E&C"Sa

&he le/slatve ntent n the ena"tment of the $( La n ths re/ard s to leave nta"t the*rovsons of $.A. No. 425. &here s no ntenton at all to do aa th t. It s stll a /ood laand ts re=rements are stll n to !e "om*led th. &hs, the Cort a/rees th theo!servaton of res*ondent La/man that the e?e"tvt of the $( La ll not lead to thenmt/ated *rolferaton of "ontra"e*tves sn"e the sale, dstr!ton and ds*ensaton of"ontra"e*tve dr/s and dev"es ll stll re=re the *res"r*ton of a l"ensed *hs"an.th $.A. No. 425 n *la"e, there ests ade=ate safe/ards to ensre the *!l" that onl"ontra"e*tves that are safe are made avala!le to the *!l". As a*tl e*laned !res*ondent La/manK &"C%IS%. Contra"e*tves "annot !eds*ensed and sed thot*res"r*ton837. As an added *rote"ton to volntar sers of "ontra"e*tves, the same "annot !eds*ensed and sed thot *res"r*ton.835. $e*!l" A"t No. 425 or An A"t to $e/late the Sale, %s*ensaton, andUor%str!ton of Contra"e*tve %r/s and %ev"es and $e*!l" A"t No. D528 or An A"t$e/latn/ the )ra"t"e of )harma" and Settn/ Standards of )harma"et"al Ed"aton nthe )hl**nes and for Other )r*oses are not re*ealed ! the $( La and the *rovsons of sad A"ts are not n"onsstent th the $( La.883. Conse=entl, the sale, dstr!ton and ds*ensaton of "ontra"e*tve dr/s anddev"es are *art"larl /overned ! $A No. 425 h"h *rovdes n fllKSe"ton 8. It shall !e nlafl for an *erson, *artnersh*, or "or*oraton, to sell,ds*ense or otherse dstr!te hether for or thot "onsderaton, an "ontra"e*tvedr/ or dev"e, nless s"h sale, ds*ensaton or dstr!ton s ! a dl l"ensed dr/ storeor *harma"et"al "om*an and th the *res"r*ton of a =alRed med"al *ra"ttoner.Se". 2. 'or the *r*ose of ths A"tK IC(Aa&aH Contra"e*tve dr/ s an med"ne, dr/, "hem"al, or *orton h"h s sede"lsvel for the *r*ose of *reventn/ fertl


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*rolferaton of "ontra"e*tves, hether harmfl or not, s "om*letel narranted and!aseless. 87 1Em*hases n the Or/nal. #nderlnn/ s**led.9In $eK Se"ton 83 of the $( LaK

&he fore/on/ safe/ards shold !e read n "onne"ton th Se"ton 83 of the $( La h"h*rovdesK Ca"EI%SEC. 83. )ro"rement and %str!ton of 'aml )lannn/ S**les. Q &he %O( shall

*ro"re, dstr!te to LG#s and montor the sa/e of faml *lannn/ s**les for the hole"ontr. &he %O( shall "oordnate th all a**ro*rate lo"al /overnment !odes to *lan andm*lement ths *ro"rement and dstr!ton *ro/ram. &he s**l and !d/et allotmentsshall !e !ased on, amon/ others, the "rrent levels and *ro;e"tons of the follon/KaH Nm!er of omen of re*rod"tve a/e and "o*les ho ant to s*a"e or lmt ther"hldrenF!H Contra"e*tve *revalen"e rate, ! t*e of method sedF and"H Cost of faml *lannn/ s**les. C(E%A")rovded, &hat LG#s ma m*lement ts on *ro"rement, dstr!ton and montorn/*ro/ram "onsstent th the overall *rovsons of ths A"t and the /delnes of the %O(.

&hs, n the dstr!ton ! the %O( of "ontra"e*tve dr/s and dev"es, t mst "onsder the*rovsons of $.A. No. 425, h"h s stll n e?e"t, and ensre that the "ontra"e*tves that tll *ro"re shall !e from a dl l"ensed dr/ store or *harma"et"al "om*an and thatthe a"tal ds*ensaton of these "ontra"e*tve dr/s and dev"es ll done follon/ a*res"r*ton of a =alRed med"al *ra"ttoner. &he dstr!ton of "ontra"e*tve dr/s anddev"es mst not !e nds"rmnatel done. &he *!l" health mst !e *rote"ted ! all*oss!le means. As *onted ot ! Jst"e %e Castro, a heav res*ons!lt and !rden areassmed ! the /overnment n s**ln/ "ontra"e*tve dr/s and dev"es, for t ma !eheld a""onta!le for an n;r, llness or loss of lfe resltn/ from or n"dental to ther se.87 (&CaA%At an rate, t !ears *ontn/ ot that not a sn/le "ontra"e*tve has et !een s!mtted tothe '%A *rsant to the $( La. It !ehooves the Cort to aat ts determnaton h"hdr/s or dev"es are de"lared ! the '%A as safe, t !en/ the a/en" tas@ed to ensre thatfood and med"nes avala!le to the *!l" are safe for *!l" "onsm*ton. Conse=entl,the Cort Rnds that, at ths *ont, the atta"@ on the $( La on ths /rond s *rematre.Indeed, the varos @nds of "ontra"e*tves mst Rrst !e measred * to the "onstttonalardst"@ as e*onded heren, to !e determned as the "ase *resents tself. SICa%AAt ths *ont, the Cort s of the stron/ ve that Con/ress "annot le/slate that hormonal"ontra"e*tves and ntra-terne dev"es are safe and non-a!ortfa"ent. &he Rrst senten"e of Se"ton 5 that ordans ther n"lson ! the Natonal %r/ 'ormlar n the E%L ! sn/ themandator shall s to !e "onstred as o*eratve onl after the have !een tested,evalated, and a**roved ! the '%A. &he '%A, not Con/ress, has the e*ertse to determnehether a *art"lar hormonal "ontra"e*tve or ntraterne dev"e s safe and non-a!ortfa"ent. &he *rovson of the thrd senten"e "on"ernn/ the re=rements for then"lson or removal of a *art"lar faml *lannn/ s**l from the E%L s**orts ths"onstr"ton.Stated d?erentl, the *rovson n Se"ton 5 "overn/ the n"lson of hormonal"ontra"e*tves, ntra-terne dev"es, n;e"ta!les, and other safe, le/al, non-a!ortfa"entand e?e"tve faml *lannn/ *rod"ts and s**les ! the Natonal %r/ 'ormlar n theE%L s not mandator. &here mst Rrst !e a determnaton ! the '%A that the are n fa"t

safe, le/al, non-a!ortfa"ent and e?e"tve faml *lannn/ *rod"ts and s**les. &here "an!e no *redetermnaton ! Con/ress that the /amt of "ontra"e*tves are safe, le/al, non-a!ortfa"ent and e?e"tve thot the *ro*er s"entR" eamnaton. %&IaCS6-'reedom of $el/onand the $/ht to 'ree S*ee"h)oston of the )ettonersK8. On Contra"e*tonhle "ontra"e*tves and *ro"edres l@e vase"tom and t!al l/aton are not "overed !the "onstttonal *ros"r*ton, there are those ho, !e"ase of ther rel/os ed"aton and


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!a"@/rond, sn"erel !eleve that "ontra"e*tves, hether a!ortfa"ent or not, are evl.Some of these are med"al *ra"ttoners ho essentall "lam that ther !elefs *roh!t notonl the se of "ontra"e*tves !t also the lln/ *art"*aton and "oo*eraton n all thn/sdealn/ th "ontra"e*tve se. )ettoner )A0 e*laned that "ontra"e*ton s /ravelo**osed to martal "hastt, t s "ontrar to the /ood of the transmsson of lfe, and to there"*ro"al self-/vn/ of the s*osesF t harms tre love and denes the sovere/n rle of God

n the transmsson of (man lfe. 877 Ca"EI% &he *ettoners =eston the State-s*onsored *ro"rement of "ontra"e*tves, ar/n/ thatthe e*endtre of ther taes on "ontra"e*tves volates the /arantee of rel/os freedomsn"e "ontra"e*tves "ontravene ther rel/os !elefs. 875 E%(&AI2. On $el/os A""ommodaton and

&he %t to $efer)ettoners Im!on/ and Lat note that hle the $( La attem*ts to address rel/ossentments ! ma@n/ *rovsons for a "ons"entos o!;e"tor, the "onstttonal /arantee snonetheless volated !e"ase the la also m*oses *on the "ons"entos o!;e"tor the dtto refer the *atent see@n/ re*rod"tve health serv"es to another med"al *ra"ttoner hoold !e a!le to *rovde for the *atents needs. 'or the *ettoners, ths amonts tore=rn/ the "ons"entos o!;e"tor to "oo*erate th the ver thn/ he refses to dothot volatn/ hsUher rel/os !elefs. 853

&he frther ar/e that even f the "ons"entos o!;e"tors dt to refer s re"o/n


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*rovde, s**ort and fa"ltate a""ess and nformaton to "ontra"e*ton a/anst ther !elefsmst !e str"@ don as t rns afol to the "onstttonal /arantee of rel/os freedom."&ESIa

&he $es*ondents )ostons &he res*ondents, on the other hand, "ontend that the $( La does not *rovde that as*e"R" mode or t*e of "ontra"e*tves !e sed, !e t natral or artR"al. It nether m*oses

nor san"tons an rel/on or !elef. 85 &he *ont ot that the $( La onl see@s to servethe *!l" nterest ! *rovdn/ a""ess!le, e?e"tve and =alt re*rod"tve health serv"esto ensre maternal and "hld health, n lne th the States dt to !rn/ to realt the so"al

;st"e health /arantees of the Consttton, 85 and that hat the la onl *roh!ts arethose a"ts or *ra"t"es, h"h de*rve others of ther r/ht to re*rod"tve health. 857 &heassert that the assaled la onl see@s to /arantee nformed "ho"e, h"h s an assran"ethat no one ll !e "om*elled to volate hs rel/on a/anst hs free ll. 855 A(a"IS

&he res*ondents add that ! assertn/ that onl natral faml *lannn/ shold !e alloed,the *ettoners are e?e"tvel /on/ a/anst the "onstttonal r/ht to rel/os freedom, thesame r/ht the nvo@ed to assal the "onstttonalt of the $( La. 233 In other ords, !see@n/ the de"laraton that the $( La s n"onstttonal, the *ettoners are as@n/ thatthe Cort re"o/n


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la and a re/me of trth, ;st"e, freedom, love, e=alt, and *ea"e, do ordan and*roml/ate ths Consttton. &SE"A%

&he 'l*no *eo*le n m*lorn/ the ad of Alm/ht God manfested ther s*rtalt nnaten or natre and "ons"osness as a *eo*le, sha*ed ! tradton and hstor"al e*eren"e.As ths s em!oded n the *ream!le, t means that the State re"o/n


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L. ed. 8847, 88D6H, !t also assres the free eer"se of ones "hosen form of rel/on thnlmts of tmost am*ltde. It has !een sad that the rel/on "lases of the Consttton areall des/ned to *rote"t the !roadest *oss!le l!ert of "ons"en"e, to allo ea"h man to!eleve as hs "ons"en"e dre"ts, to *rofess hs !elefs, and to lve as he !eleves he o/htto lve, "onsstent th the l!ert of others and th the "ommon /ood. An le/slatonhose e?e"t or *r*ose s to m*ede the o!servan"e of one or all rel/ons, or to

ds"rmnate nvdosl !eteen the rel/ons, s nvald, even tho/h the !rden ma !e"hara"ter


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"lear and *resent dan/er test !t dd not em*lo t. Nevertheless, ths test "ontned to !e"ted n s!se=ent "ases on rel/os l!ert. &he Gerona "ase then *ronon"ed that thetest of *ermss!lt of rel/os freedom s hether t volates the esta!lshed nstttons ofso"et and la. &he V"torano "ase mentoned the mmedate and /rave dan/er test asell as the do"trne that a la of /eneral a**l"a!lt ma !rden rel/os eer"se*rovded the la s the least restr"tve means to a""om*lsh the /oal of the la. &he "ase

also sed, al!et na**ro*ratel, the "om*elln/ state nterest test. After V"torano,German ent !a"@ to the Gerona rle. E!ralna/ then em*loed the /rave and mmedatedan/er test and overrled the Gerona test. &he farl re"ent "ase of I/lesa n Crsto ent!a"@ to the "lear and *resent dan/er test n the maden "ase of Amer"an B!le So"et.Not sr*rsn/l, all the "ases h"h em*loed the "lear and *resent dan/er or /rave andmmedate dan/er test nvolved, n one form or another, rel/os s*ee"h as ths test soften sed n "ases on freedom of e*resson. On the other hand, the Gerona and German"ases set the rle that rel/os freedom ll not *reval over esta!lshed nstttons ofso"et and la. Gerona, hoever, h"h as the athort "ted ! German has !eenoverrled ! E!ralna/ h"h em*loed the /rave and mmedate dan/er test. V"toranoas the onl "ase that em*loed the "om*elln/ state nterest test, !t as e*laned*revosl, the se of the test as na**ro*rate to the fa"ts of the "ase. I"&C(%

&he "ase at !ar does not nvolve s*ee"h as n Amer"an B!le So"et, E!ralna/ and I/lesan Crsto here the "lear and *resent dan/er and /rave and mmedate dan/er testsere a**ro*rate as s*ee"h has easl ds"ern!le or mmedate e?e"ts. &he Gerona andGerman do"trne, asde from havn/ !een overrled, s not "on/rent th the !enevolentnetralt a**roa"h, ths not a**ro*rate n ths ;rsd"ton. Smlar to V"torano, the*resent "ase nvolves *rel "ond"t arsn/ from rel/os !elef. &he "om*elln/ statenterest test s *ro*er here "ond"t s nvolved for the hole /amt of hman "ond"t hasd?erent e?e"ts on the states nterestsK some e?e"ts ma !e mmedate and short-termhle others delaed and far-rea"hn/. A test that old *rote"t the nterests of the state n*reventn/ a s!stantve evl, hether mmedate or delaed, s therefore ne"essar.(oever, not an nterest of the state old s"e to *reval over the r/ht to rel/osfreedom as ths s a fndamental r/ht that en;os a *referred *oston n the herar"h ofr/hts Q the most nalena!le and sa"red of all hman r/hts, n the ords of Je?erson. &hsr/ht s sa"red for an nvo"aton of the 'ree Eer"se Clase s an a**eal to a h/hersovere/nt. &he entre "onstttonal order of lmted /overnment s *remsed *on ana"@noled/ment of s"h h/her sovere/nt, ths the 'l*nos m*lore the ad of Alm/htGod n order to !ld a ;st and hmane so"et and esta!lsh a /overnment. As held nSher!ert, onl the /ravest a!ses, endan/ern/ *aramont nterests "an lmt thsfndamental r/ht. A mere !alan"n/ of nterests h"h !alan"es a r/ht th ;st a "olora!lestate nterest s therefore not a**ro*rate. Instead, onl a "om*elln/ nterest of the state"an *reval over the fndamental r/ht to rel/os l!ert. &he test re=res the state to "arra heav !rden, a "om*elln/ one, for to do otherse old allo the state to !atterrel/on, es*e"all the less *oerfl ones ntl the are destroed. In determnn/ h"hshall *reval !eteen the states nterest and rel/os l!ert, reasona!leness shall !e the/de. &he "om*elln/ state nterest serves the *r*ose of revern/ rel/os l!ert hleat the same tme a?ordn/ *rote"ton to the *aramont nterests of the state. &hs as thetest sed n Sher!ert h"h nvolved "ond"t, .e., refsal to or@ an Satrdas. In the end,the "om*elln/ state nterest test, ! *holdn/ the *aramont nterests of the state,

see@s to *rote"t the ver state, thot h"h, rel/os l!ert ll not !e *reserved.1Em*hases n the or/nal. #nderlnn/ s**led.9 I&ECS(

&he Corts )ostonIn the "ase at !en"h, t s not thn the *rovn"e of the Cort to determne hether the seof "ontra"e*tves or ones *art"*aton n the s**ort of modern re*rod"tve healthmeasres s moral from a rel/os stand*ont or hether the same s r/ht or ron/a""ordn/ to ones do/ma or !elef. 'or the Cort has de"lared that matters dealn/ thfath, *ra"t"e, do"trne, form of orsh*, e""lesast"al la, "stom and rle of a "hr"h . . .are n=estona!l e""lesast"al matters h"h are otsde the *rovn"e of the "vl "orts.


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223 &he ;rsd"ton of the Cort etends onl to *!l" and se"lar moralt. hatever*ronon"ement the Cort ma@es n the "ase at !en"h shold !e nderstood onl n thsrealm here t has athort. Stated otherse, hle the Cort stands thot athort torle on e""lesast"al matters, as van/ard of the Consttton, t does have athort todetermne hether the $( La "ontravenes the /arantee of rel/os freedom. C"AI&aAt Rrst !lsh, t a**ears that the $( La re"o/n


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In the same !reath that the esta!lshment "lase restr"ts hat the /overnment "an do threl/on, t also lmts hat rel/os se"ts "an or "annot do th the /overnment. &he "annether "ase the /overnment to ado*t ther *art"lar do"trnes as *ol" for everone, nor"an the not "ase the /overnment to restr"t other /ro*s. &o do so, n sm*le terms, old"ase the State to adhere to a *art"lar rel/on and, ths, esta!lshn/ a state rel/on.

&%CA(E

Conse=entl, the *ettoners are ms/ded n ther s**oston that the State "annotenhan"e ts *o*laton "ontrol *ro/ram thro/h the $( La sm*l !e"ase the *romotonof "ontra"e*tve se s "ontrar to ther rel/os !elefs. Indeed, the State s not *re"ldedto *rse ts le/tmate se"lar o!;e"tves thot !en/ d"tated *on ! the *ol"es of anone rel/on. One "annot refse to *a hs taes sm*l !e"ase t ll "lod hs "ons"en"e.

&he demar"aton lne !eteen Chr"h and State demands that one render nto Caesar thethn/s that are Caesars and nto God the thn/s that are Gods. 228

&he 'ree Eer"se Clase and the %t to $eferhle the $( La, n es*osn/ state *ol" to *romote re*rod"tve health manfestlres*e"ts dverse rel/os !elefs n lne th the Non-Esta!lshment Clase, the same"on"lson "annot !e rea"hed th res*e"t to Se"tons , 26 and 24 thereof. &he sad*rovsons "ommonl mandate that a hos*tal or a med"al *ra"ttoner to mmedatel refera *erson see@n/ health "are and serv"es nder the la to another a""ess!le health"are*rovder des*te ther "ons"entos o!;e"tons !ased on rel/os or eth"al !elefs.In a staton here the free eer"se of rel/on s alle/edl !rdened ! /overnmentle/slaton or *ra"t"e, the "om*elln/ state nterest test n lne th the Corts es*osal ofthe %o"trne of Benevolent Netralt n Es"rtor, Rnds a**l"aton. In ths "ase, the"ons"entos o!;e"tors "lam to rel/os freedom old arrant an eem*ton fromo!l/atons nder the $( La, nless the /overnment s""eeds n demonstratn/ a more"om*elln/ state nterest n the a""om*lshment of an m*ortant se"lar o!;e"tve.Ne"essarl so, the *lea of "ons"entos o!;e"tors for eem*ton from the $( La deservesno less than str"t s"rtn. C(E%A"In a**ln/ the test, the Rrst n=r s hether a "ons"entos o!;e"tors r/ht to rel/osfreedom has !een !rdened. As n Es"rtor, there s no do!t that an ntense t/-of-ar*la/es a "ons"entos o!;e"tor. One sde "oaes hm nto o!eden"e to the la and thea!andonment of hs rel/os !elefs, hle the other ent"es hm to a "lean "ons"en"e etnder the *an of *enalt. &he s"enaro s an llstraton of the *red"ament of med"al*ra"ttoners hose rel/os !elefs are n"on/rent th hat the $( La *romotes.

&he Cort s of the ve that the o!l/aton to refer m*osed ! the $( La volates therel/os !elef and "onv"ton of a "ons"entos o!;e"tor. On"e the med"al *ra"ttoner,a/anst hs ll, refers a *atent see@n/ nformaton on modern re*rod"tve health*rod"ts, serv"es, *ro"edres and methods, hs "ons"en"e s mmedatel !rdened as hehas !een "om*elled to *erform an a"t a/anst hs !elefs. As Commssoner Joa=n A.Bernas Commssoner BernasH has rtten, at the !ass of the free eer"se "lase s theres*e"t for the nvola!lt of the hman "ons"en"e. 222

&ho/h t has !een sad that the a"t of referral s an o*t-ot "lase, t s, hoever, a false"om*romse !e"ase t ma@es *ro-lfe health *rovders "om*l"t n the *erforman"e of ana"t that the Rnd morall re*/nant or o?ensve. &he "annot, n "ons"en"e, do ndre"tlhat the "annot do dre"tl. One ma not he the *rn"*al, !t he s e=all /lt f hea!ets the o?ensve a"t ! ndre"t *art"*aton. C"A%(I

Moreover, the /arantee of rel/os freedom s ne"essarl ntertned th the r/ht to frees*ee"h, t !en/ an eternal


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In "ase of "on"t !eteen the rel/os !elefs and moral "onv"tons of ndvdals, on onehand, and the nterest of the State, on the other, to *rovde a""ess and nformaton onre*rod"tve health *rod"ts, serv"es, *ro"edres and methods to ena!le the *eo*le todetermne the tmn/, nm!er and s*a"n/ of the !rth of ther "hldren, the Cort s of thestron/ ve that the rel/os freedom of health *rovders, hether *!l" or *rvate, shold!e a""orded *rma". A""ordn/l, a "ons"entos o!;e"tor shold !e eem*t from

"om*lan"e th the mandates of the $( La. If he old !e "om*elled to a"t "ontrar to hsrel/os !elef and "onv"ton, t old !e volatve of the *rn"*le of non-"oer"onenshrned n the "onstttonal r/ht to free eer"se of rel/on. I&%(SEInterestn/l, on A*rl 24, 2386, S"otlands Inner (ose of the Cort of Sesson, fond n the"ase of %oo/an and ood v. N(S Greater Glas/o and Clde (ealth Board, 22D that themdves "lamn/ to !e "ons"entos o!;e"tors nder the *rovsons of S"otlands A!ortonA"t of 85, "old not !e re=red to dele/ate, s*ervse or s**ort sta? on ther la!or ardho ere nvolved n a!ortons. 22 &he Inner (ose stated that f *art"*aton eredeRned a""ordn/ to hether the *erson as ta@n/ *art dre"tl or ndre"tl ths olda"tall mean more "om*let and n"ertant. 22hle the sad "ase dd not "over the a"t of referral, the a**l"a!le *rn"*le as the same Qthe "old not !e for"ed to assst a!ortons f t old !e a/anst ther "ons"en"e or ll.Instttonal (ealth )rovders

&he same holds tre th res*e"t to non-maternt s*e"alt hos*tals and hos*tals onedand o*erated ! a rel/os /ro* and health "are serv"e *rovders. Consdern/ thatSe"ton 24 of the $( La *enal


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the *rote"tve ro!e that /arantees ts free eer"se s not ta@en o? even f one a"=resem*loment n the /overnment. "S&(ACIt shold !e stressed that ntelle"tal l!ert o""*es a *la"e nferor to none n theherar"h of hman vales. &he mnd mst !e free to thn@ hat t lls, hether n these"lar or rel/os s*here, to /ve e*resson to ts !elefs ! oral ds"orse or thro/h themeda and, ths, see@ other "andd ves n o""asons or /athern/s or n more *ermanent

a//r*aton. Em!ra"ed n s"h "on"e*t then are freedom of rel/on, freedom of s*ee"h, ofthe *ress, assem!l and *etton, and freedom of asso"aton. 225 &he ds"rmnator *rovson s vod not onl !e"ase no s"h e"e*ton s stated n the $(La tself !t also !e"ase t s volatve of the e=al *rote"ton "lase n the Consttton.+otn/ res*ondent La/man, f there s an "on"t !eteen the $(-I$$ and the $( La, thela mst *reval. IS(aC%

Jst"e Mendo


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. . . h"h o are ds"ssn/ ahle a/o th Jst"e A!ad. hat s the "om*elln/State nterest n m*osn/ ths dt to refer to a "ons"entos o!;e"tor h"h refses to doso !e"ase of hs rel/os !elefX C&AI("Senor State Sol"tor (l!aK

Ahh, Yor (onor, . . . Jst"e %e CastroK

hat s the "om*elln/ State nterest to m*ose ths !rdenXSenor State Sol"tor (l!aKIn the Rrst *la"e, Yor (onor, I dont !eleve that the standard s a "om*elln/ State

nterest, ths s an ordnar health le/slaton nvolvn/ *rofessonals. &hs s not a frees*ee"h matter or a *re free eer"se matter. &hs s a re/laton ! the State of therelatonsh* !eteen med"al do"tors and ther *atents. 268 %C&(aS$esltantl, the Cort Rnds no "om*elln/ state nterest h"h old lmt the free eer"se"lase of the "ons"entos o!;e"tors, hoever fe n nm!er. Onl the *reventon of anmmedate and /rave dan/er to the se"rt and elfare of the "ommnt "an ;stf thenfrn/ement of rel/os freedom. If the /overnment fals to sho the serosness andmmeda" of the threat, State ntrson s "onstttonall na""e*ta!le. 262'reedom of rel/on means more than ;st the freedom to !eleve. It also means the freedomto a"t or not to a"t a""ordn/ to hat one !eleves. And ths freedom s volated hen one s"om*elled to a"t a/anst ones !elef or s *revented from a"tn/ a""ordn/ to ones !elef.266 (%IA&SA**arentl, n these "ases, there s no mmedate dan/er to the lfe or health of an ndvdaln the *er"eved s"enaro of the s!;e"t *rovsons. After all, a "o*le ho *lans the tmn/,nm!er and s*a"n/ of the !rth of ther "hldren refers to a ftre event that s "ontn/enton hether or not the mother de"des to ado*t or se the nformaton, *rod"t, method ors**l /ven to her or hether she even de"des to !e"ome *re/nant at all. On the otherhand, the !rden *la"ed *on those ho o!;e"t to "ontra"e*tve se s mmedate ando""rs the moment a *atent see@s "onsltaton on re*rod"tve health matters.Moreover, /rantn/ that a "om*elln/ nterest ests to ;stf the nfrn/ement of the"ons"entos o!;e"tors rel/os freedom, the res*ondents have faled to demonstrate the/ravest a!ses, endan/ern/ *aramont nterests h"h "old lmt or overrde a *ersonsfndamental r/ht to rel/os freedom. Also, the res*ondents have not *resented an/overnment e?ort eerted to sho that the means t ta@es to a"heve ts le/tmate stateo!;e"tve s the least ntrsve means. 264 Other than the asserton that the a"t of referrn/old onl !e momentar, "onsdern/ that the a"t of referral ! a "ons"entos o!;e"tor sthe ver a"ton !en/ "ontested as volatve of rel/os freedom, t !ehooves theres*ondents to demonstrate that no other means "an !e nderta@en ! the State to a"hevets o!;e"tve thot volatn/ the r/hts of the "ons"entos o!;e"tor. &he health "on"erns of omen ma stll !e addressed ! other *ra"ttoners ho ma *erform re*rod"tve health-related *ro"edres th o*en lln/ness and motvaton. S"e t to sa, a *erson ho sfor"ed to *erform an a"t n tter rel"tan"e deserves the *rote"ton of the Cort as the lastvan/ard of "onstttonal freedoms. CAaE%(At an rate, there are other se"lar ste*s alread ta@en ! the Le/slatre to ensre that ther/ht to health s *rote"ted. Consdern/ other le/slatons as the stand no, $.A. No. 425or the Contra"e*tve A"t, $.A. No. 6D or &he )o*laton A"t of the )hl**nes and $.A.No. 583, otherse @non as &he Ma/na Carta of omen, am*l "ater to the needs of

omen n relaton to health serv"es and *ro/rams. &he *ertnent *rovson of Ma/na Cartaon "om*rehensve health serv"es and *ro/rams for omen, n fa"t, readsKSe"ton 8. omens $/ht to (ealth. Q aH Com*rehensve (ealth Serv"es. Q &he Stateshall, at all tmes, *rovde for a "om*rehensve, "ltre-senstve, and /ender-res*onsvehealth serv"es and *ro/rams "overn/ all sta/es of a omans lfe ""le and h"haddresses the ma;or "ases of omens mortalt and mor!dtK )rovded, &hat n the*rovson for "om*rehensve health serv"es, de res*e"t shall !e a""orded to omensrel/os "onv"tons, the r/hts of the s*oses to fond a faml n a""ordan"e th ther


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rel/os "onv"tons, and the demands of res*ons!le *arenthood, and the r/ht of omen to*rote"ton from ha


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Att. L!an, re*resentn/ C'C, manfestedK the for"ed referral "lase that e are o!;e"tn/on /ronds of volaton of freedom of rel/on does not "ontem*late an emer/en". 26In a "on"t staton !eteen the lfe of the mother and the lfe of a "hld, the do"tor smorall o!l/ed alas to tr to save !oth lves. If, hoever, t s m*oss!le, the resltn/death to one shold not !e del!erate. Att. No"he e*lanedK SE(a&C)rn"*le of %o!le-E?e"t. Q Ma e *lease remnd the *rn"*al athor of the $( Bll n the

(ose of $e*resentatves of the *rn"*le of do!le-e?e"t heren ntentonal harm on thelfe of ether the mother of the "hld s never ;stRed to !rn/ a!ot a /ood e?e"t. In a"on"t staton !eteen the lfe of the "hld and the lfe of the mother, the do"tor smorall o!l/ed alas to tr to save !oth lves. (oever, he "an a"t n favor of one notne"essarl the motherH hen t s med"all m*oss!le to save !oth, *rovded that no dre"tharm s ntended to the other. If the a!ove *rn"*les are o!served, the loss of the "hlds lfeor the mothers lfe s not ntentonal and, therefore, navoda!le. (en"e, the do"tor oldnot !e /lt of a!orton or mrder. &he mother s never *tted a/anst the "hld !e"ase!oth ther lves are e=all vala!le. 267A""ordn/l, f t s ne"essar to save the lfe of a mother, *ro"edres endan/ern/ the lfe of the "hld ma !e resorted to even f s a/anst the rel/os sentments of the med"al*ra"ttoner. As =oted a!ove, hatever !rden m*osed *on a med"al *ra"ttoner n ths"ase old have !een more than ;stRed "onsdern/ the lfe he old !e a!le to save.ES"A(&'aml )lannn/ SemnarsAnent the re=rement m*osed nder Se"ton 8D 265 as a "ondton for the ssan"e of amarra/e l"ense, the Cort Rnds the same to !e a reasona!le eer"se of *ol"e *oer !the /overnment. A "rsor readn/ of the assaled *rovson !ares that the rel/os freedomof the *ettoners s not at all volated. All the la re=res s for old-!e s*oses to attenda semnar on *arenthood, faml *lannn/ !reastfeedn/ and nfant ntrton. It does noteven mandate the t*e of faml *lannn/ methods to !e n"lded n the semnar, hetherthe !e natral or artR"al. As "orre"tl noted ! the OSG, those ho re"eve annformaton drn/ ther attendan"e n the re=red semnars are not "om*elled to a""e*tthe nformaton /ven to them, are "om*letel free to re;e"t the nformaton the Rndna""e*ta!le, and retan the freedom to de"de on matters of faml lfe thot thenterventon of the State. a&ICA"4-&he 'aml and the $/ht to )rva")ettoner C'C assals the $( La !e"ase Se"ton 26 aH 2H H thereof volates the*rovsons of the Consttton ! ntrdn/ nto martal *rva" and atonom. It ar/es thatt "ltvates dsnt and fosters anmost n the faml rather than *romote ts soldartand total develo*ment. 243

&he Cort "annot !t a/ree. &he 857 Consttton s re*lete th *rovsons stren/thenn/ the faml as t s the !as"so"al nsttton. In fa"t, one art"le, Art"le 0V, s devoted entrel to the faml. Sa(&CEA$&ICLE 0V

&(E 'AMILYSe"ton 8. &he State re"o/n


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In ths "ase, the $( La, n ts not-so-hdden desre to "ontrol *o*laton /roth, "ontans*rovsons h"h tend to re"@ the faml as a sold so"al nsttton. It !ars the hs!andandUor the father from *art"*atn/ n the de"son ma@n/ *ro"ess re/ardn/ ther "ommonftre *ro/en. It l@ese de*rves the *arents of ther athort over ther mnor da/htersm*l !e"ase she s alread a *arent or had s?ered a ms"arra/e. &CaEI"

&he 'aml and S*osal Consent

Se"ton 26 aH 2H H of the $( La statesK &he follon/ a"ts are *roh!tedKaH An health "are serv"e *rovder, hether *!l" or *rvate, ho shallK . . .2H refse to *erform le/al and med"all-safe re*rod"tve health *ro"edres on an*erson of le/al a/e on the /rond of la"@ of "onsent or athor


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not "ommer"al or so"al *ro;e"ts. Yet t s an asso"aton for as no!le a *r*ose as annvolved n or *ror de"sons.Iron"all, Grsold nvaldated a Conne"t"t statte h"h made the se of "ontra"e*tvesa "rmnal o?ense on the /rond of ts amontn/ to an n"onstttonal nvason of the r/htto *rva" of marred *ersons. Nevertheless, t re"o/n


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After all, Se"ton 82, Art"le II of the Consttton mandates the State to *rote"t !oth the lfeof the mother as that of the n!orn "hld. Consdern/ that nformaton to ena!le a *erson toma@e nformed de"sons s essental n the *rote"ton and mantenan"e of ones health,a""ess to s"h nformaton th res*e"t to re*rod"tve health mst !e alloed. In thsstaton, the fear that *arents m/ht !e de*rved of ther *arental "ontrol s nfonded!e"ase the are not *roh!ted to eer"se *arental /dan"e and "ontrol over ther mnor

"hld and assst her n de"dn/ hether to a""e*t or re;e"t the nformaton re"eved.SA(I&CSe"ond E"e*tonK Lfe &hreatenn/ CasesAs n the "ase of the "ons"entos o!;e"tor, an e"e*ton mst !e made n lfe-threatenn/"ases that re=re the *erforman"e of emer/en" *ro"edres. In s"h "ases, the lfe of themnor ho has alread s?ered a ms"arra/e and that of the s*ose shold not !e *t at/rave rs@ sm*l for la"@ of "onsent. It shold !e em*has


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/ender !ased volen"e and teen *re/nan"F *hs"al, so"al and emotonal "han/es nadoles"entsF omens r/hts and "hldrens r/htsF res*ons!le teena/e !ehavorF /ender anddevelo*mentF and res*ons!le *arenthood, and that $le 83, Se"ton 88.38 of the $(-I$$and Se"ton 4 tH of the $( La tself *rovdes for the tea"hn/ of res*ons!le teena/e!ehavor, /ender senstvt and *hs"al and emotonal "han/es amon/ adoles"ents Q theCort Rnds that the le/al mandate *rovded nder the assaled *rovson s**lements,

rather than s**lants, the r/hts and dtes of the *arents n the moral develo*ment of ther"hldren. (ESI"&'rthermore, as Se"ton 84 also mandates that the mandator re*rod"tve health ed"aton*ro/ram shall !e develo*ed n "on;n"ton th *arent-tea"her-"ommnt asso"atons,s"hool o"als and other nterest /ro*s, t "old ver ell !e sad that t ll !e n lne ththe rel/os !elefs of the *ettoners. B m*osn/ s"h a "ondton, t !e"omes a**arentthat the *ettoners "ontenton that Se"ton 84 volates Art"le 0V, Se"ton 6 8H of theConsttton s thot mert. 2D4 a%S(C"hle the Cort notes the *oss!lt that ed"ators m/ht rase ther o!;e"ton to ther*art"*aton n the re*rod"tve health ed"aton *ro/ram *rovded nder Se"ton 84 of the$( La on the /rond that the same volates ther rel/os !elefs, the Cort reserves ts

;d/ment shold an a"tal "ase !e Rled !efore t.-%e )ro"ess

&he *ettoners "ontend that the $( La s?ers from va/eness and, ths volates the de*ro"ess "lase of the Consttton. A""ordn/ to them, Se"ton 26 aH 8H mentons a *rvatehealth serv"e *rovder amon/ those ho ma !e held *nsha!le !t does not deRne hos a *rvate health "are serv"e *rovder. &he ar/e that "onfson frther reslts sn"eSe"ton onl ma@es referen"e to a *rvate health "are nsttton. &C"%aE

&he *ettoners also *ont ot that Se"ton of the assaled le/slaton eem*ts hos*talso*erated ! rel/os /ro*s from rendern/ re*rod"tve health serv"e and modern faml*lannn/ methods. It s n"lear, hoever, f these nstttons are also eem*t from /vn/re*rod"tve health nformaton nder Se"ton 26 aH 8H, or from rendern/ re*rod"tvehealth *ro"edres nder Se"ton 26 aH 2H.'nall, t s averred that the $( La *nshes the thholdn/, restr"tn/ and *rovdn/ ofn"orre"t nformaton, !t at the same tme fals to deRne n"orre"t nformaton.

&he ar/ments fal to *ersade. A(C&EaA statte or a"t s?ers from the defe"t of va/eness hen t la"@s "om*rehens!lestandards that men of "ommon ntell/en"e mst ne"essarl /ess ts meann/ and d?er asto ts a**l"aton. It s re*/nant to the Consttton n to res*e"tsK 8H t volates de*ro"ess for falre to a""ord *ersons, es*e"all the *artes tar/eted ! t, far not"e of the"ond"t to avodF and 2H t leaves la enfor"ers n!rdled ds"reton n "arrn/ ot ts*rovsons and !e"omes an ar!trar en/ of the Government ms"le. 2DD Moreover, ndetermnn/ hether the ords sed n a statte are va/e, ords mst not onl !e ta@en na""ordan"e th ther *lan meann/ alone, !t also n relaton to other *arts of the statte.It s a rle that ever *art of the statte mst !e nter*reted th referen"e to the "ontet,that s, ever *art of t mst !e "onstred to/ether th the other *arts and @e*t s!serventto the /eneral ntent of the hole ena"tment. 2D a"I&S%As "orre"tl noted ! the OSG, n determnn/ the deRnton of *rvate health "are serv"e*rovder, referen"e mst !e made to Se"ton 4 nH of the $( La h"h deRnes a *!l"health serv"e *rovder, v


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health !oard n a""ordan"e th the /delnes *roml/ated ! the %e*artment of (ealth%O(H. ACI%&E'rther, the se of the term *rvate health "are nsttton n Se"ton of the la, nsteadof *rvate health "are serv"e *rovder, shold not !e a "ase of "onfson for the o!vosreason that the are sed snonmosl.

&he Cort need not !ela!or the sse of hether the r/ht to !e eem*t from !en/ o!l/ated

to render re*rod"tve health serv"e and modern faml *lannn/ methods, n"ldeseem*ton from !en/ o!l/ated to /ve re*rod"tve health nformaton and to renderre*rod"tve health *ro"edres. Clearl, s!;e"t to the =alR"atons and eem*tons earlerds"ssed, the r/ht to !e eem*t from !en/ o!l/ated to render re*rod"tve health serv"eand modern faml *lannn/ methods, ne"essarl n"ldes eem*ton from !en/ o!l/atedto /ve re*rod"tve health nformaton and to render re*rod"tve health *ro"edres. &heterms serv"e and methods are !road eno/h to n"lde the *rovdn/ of nformaton andthe rendern/ of med"al *ro"edres. A"S(C%

&he same "an !e sad th res*e"t to the "ontenton that the $( La *nshes health "areserv"e *rovders ho ntentonall thhold, restr"t and *rovde n"orre"t nformatonre/ardn/ re*rod"tve health *ro/rams and serv"es. 'or read referen"e, the assaled*rovson s here! =oted as follosKSEC. 26. )roh!ted A"ts. Q &he follon/ a"ts are *roh!tedK "SIAC%aH An health "are serv"e *rovder, hether *!l" or *rvate, ho shallK8H non/l thhold nformaton or restr"t the dssemnaton thereof, andUorntentonall *rovde n"orre"t nformaton re/ardn/ *ro/rams and serv"es on re*rod"tvehealth n"ldn/ the r/ht to nformed "ho"e and a""ess to a fll ran/e of le/al, med"all-safe, non-a!ortfa"ent and e?e"tve faml *lannn/ methodsF S&aC"A'rom ts *lan meann/, the ord n"orre"t here denotes faln/ to a/ree th a "o* ormodel or th esta!lshed rlesF na""rate, faltF faln/ to a/ree th the re=rements ofdt, moralt or *ro*retF and faln/ to "on"de th the trth. 2D On the other hand, theord @non/l means th aareness or del!erateness that s ntentonal. 2D7 #sedto/ether n relaton to Se"ton 26 aH 8H, the "onnote a sense of mal"e and ll motve tomslead or msre*resent the *!l" as to the natre and e?e"t of *ro/rams and serv"es onre*rod"tve health. )!l" health and safet demand that health "are serv"e *rovders /vether honest and "orre"t med"al nformaton n a""ordan"e th hat s a""e*ta!le nmed"al *ra"t"e. hle health "are serv"e *rovders are not !arred from e*ressn/ theron *ersonal o*nons re/ardn/ the *ro/rams and serv"es on re*rod"tve health, therr/ht mst !e tem*ered th the need to *rovde *!l" health and safet. &he *!l"deserves no less. SE"AIC-E=al )rote"ton

&he *ettoners also "lam that the $( La volates the e=al *rote"ton "lase nder theConsttton as t ds"rmnates a/anst the *oor !e"ase t ma@es them the *rmar tar/etof the /overnment *ro/ram that *romotes "ontra"e*tve se. &he ar/e that, rather than*romotn/ re*rod"tve health amon/ the *oor, the $( La ntrod"es "ontra"e*tves thatold e?e"tvel red"e the nm!er of the *oor. &her !ases are the varos *rovsons nthe $( La dealn/ th the *oor, es*e"all those mentoned n the /dn/ *rn"*les 2D5and deRnton of terms 23 of the la.

&he add that the e"lson of *rvate ed"atonal nstttons from the mandatorre*rod"tve health ed"aton *ro/ram m*osed ! the $( La renders t n"onstttonal.

S"&IA(In Brao/o v. )hl**ne &rth Commsson, 28 the Cort had the o""ason to e*ond on the"on"e*t of e=al *rote"ton. &hsKOne of the !as" *rn"*les on h"h ths /overnment as fonded s that of the e=alt ofr/ht h"h s em!oded n Se"ton 8, Art"le III of the 857 Consttton. &he e=al *rote"tonof the las s em!ra"ed n the "on"e*t of de *ro"ess, as ever nfar ds"rmnaton o?endsthe re=rements of ;st"e and far *la. It has !een em!oded n a se*arate "lase,hoever, to *rovde for a more s*e"R" /arant a/anst an form of nde favortsm orhostlt from the /overnment. Ar!trarness n /eneral ma !e "hallen/ed on the !ass of


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the de *ro"ess "lase. Bt f the *art"lar a"t assaled *arta@es of an narranted*artalt on *re;d"e, the shar*er ea*on to "t t don s the e=al *rote"ton "lase.a&"(ICA""ordn/ to a lon/ lne of de"sons, e=al *rote"ton sm*l re=res that all *ersons orthn/s smlarl stated shold !e treated al@e, !oth as to r/hts "onferred andres*ons!ltes m*osed. It re=res *!l" !odes and nstttons to treat smlarl stated

ndvdals n a smlar manner. &he *r*ose of the e=al *rote"ton "lase s to se"reever *erson thn a states ;rsd"ton a/anst ntentonal and ar!trar ds"rmnaton,hether o""asoned ! the e*ress terms of a statte or ! ts m*ro*er ee"ton thro/hthe states dl "onsttted athortes. In other ords, the "on"e*t of e=al ;st"e nderthe la re=res the state to /overn m*artall, and t ma not dra dstn"tons !eteenndvdals solel on d?eren"es that are rrelevant to a le/tmate /overnmental o!;e"tve.

&he e=al *rote"ton "lase s amed at all o"al state a"tons, not ;st those of thele/slatre. Its nh!tons "over all the de*artments of the /overnment n"ldn/ the *olt"aland ee"tve de*artments, and etend to all a"tons of a state denn/ e=al *rote"ton ofthe las, thro/h hatever a/en" or hatever /se s ta@en. %(CS&aIt, hoever, does not re=re the nversal a**l"aton of the las to all *ersons or thn/sthot dstn"ton. hat t sm*l re=res s e=alt amon/ e=als as determneda""ordn/ to a vald "lassR"aton. Indeed, the e=al *rote"ton "lase *ermts "lassR"aton.S"h "lassR"aton, hoever, to !e vald mst *ass the test of reasona!leness. &he test hasfor re=stesK 8H &he "lassR"aton rests on s!stantal dstn"tonsF 2H It s /ermane to the*r*ose of the laF 6H It s not lmted to estn/ "ondtons onlF and 4H It a**les e=allto all mem!ers of the same "lass. S*erR"al d?eren"es do not ma@e for a vald"lassR"aton. A%Ea(&'or a "lassR"aton to meet the re=rements of "onstttonalt, t mst n"lde or em!ra"eall *ersons ho natrall !elon/ to the "lass. &he "lassR"aton ll !e re/arded as nvald f all the mem!ers of the "lass are not smlarl treated, !oth as to r/hts "onferred ando!l/atons m*osed. It s not ne"essar that the "lassR"aton !e made th a!soltesmmetr, n the sense that the mem!ers of the "lass shold *ossess the same"hara"terst"s n e=al de/ree. S!stantal smlart ll s"eF and as lon/ as ths sa"heved, all those "overed ! the "lassR"aton are to !e treated e=all. &he mere fa"t thatan ndvdal !elon/n/ to a "lass d?ers from the other mem!ers, as lon/ as that "lass ss!stantall dstn/sha!le from all others, does not ;stf the non-a**l"aton of the lato hm. IECAa%

&he "lassR"aton mst not !e !ased on estn/ "r"mstan"es onl, or so "onsttted as to*re"lde addton to the nm!er n"lded n the "lass. It mst !e of s"h a natre as toem!ra"e all those ho ma thereafter !e n smlar "r"mstan"es and "ondtons. It mstnot leave ot or ndern"lde those that shold otherse fall nto a "ertan "lassR"aton.1Em*hases s**ledF "tatons e"lded9

&o *rovde that the *oor are to !e /ven *rort n the /overnments re*rod"tve health"are *ro/ram s not a volaton of the e=al *rote"ton "lase. In fa"t, t s *rsant toSe"ton 88, Art"le 0III of the Consttton h"h re"o/n


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Moreover, the $( La does not *res"r!e the nm!er of "hldren a "o*le ma have anddoes not m*ose "ondtons *on "o*les ho ntend to have "hldren. hle the *ettonerssrmse that the assaled la see@s to "har/e "o*les th the dt to have "hldren onl fthe old rase them n a trl hmane a, a dee*er loo@ nto ts *rovsons shos thathat the la see@s to do s to sm*l *rovde *rort to the *oor n the m*lementaton of/overnment *ro/rams to *romote !as" re*rod"tve health "are. C("&IA

th res*e"t to the e"lson of *rvate ed"atonal nstttons from the mandatorre*rod"tve health ed"aton *ro/ram nder Se"ton 84, s"e t to state that the merefa"t that the "hldren of those ho are less fortnate attend *!l" ed"atonal nstttonsdoes not amont to s!stantal dstn"ton s"ent to annl the assaled *rovson. On theother hand, s!stantal dstn"ton rests !eteen *!l" ed"atonal nstttons and *rvateed"atonal nstttons, *art"larl !e"ase there s a need to re"o/n


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&he Cort Rnds nothn/ ron/ th the dele/aton. &he '%A does not onl have the *oer!t also the "om*eten" to evalate, re/ster and "over health serv"es and methods. It sthe onl /overnment entt em*oered to render s"h serv"es and h/hl *roR"ent to doso. It shold !e nderstood that health serv"es and methods fall nder the /amt of termsthat are asso"ated th hat s ordnarl nderstood as health *rod"ts. In ths"onne"ton, Se"ton 4 of $.A. No. 623, as amended ! $.A. No. 588 readsK

SEC. 4.&o "arr ot the *rovsons of ths A"t, there s here! "reated an o"e to !e "alledthe 'ood and %r/ Admnstraton '%AH n the %e*artment of (ealth %O(H. SadAdmnstraton shall !e nder the O"e of the Se"retar and shall have the follon/fn"tons, *oers and dtesK &"aAI%aH &o admnster the e?e"tve m*lementaton of ths A"t and of the rles andre/latons ssed *rsant to the sameF!H &o assme *rmar ;rsd"ton n the "olle"ton of sam*les of health *rod"tsF"H &o anal


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even n le/slaton has !e"ome ne"essar. &o man of the *ro!lems attendant *on *resentda nderta@n/s, the le/slatre ma not have the "om*eten"e, let alone the nterest andthe tme, to *rovde the re=red dre"t and e"a"os, not to sa s*e"R" soltons.(IES&A83-Atonom of Lo"al Governments and the Atonomos $e/onof Mslm Mndanao A$MMH

As for the atonom of lo"al /overnments, the *ettoners "lam that the $( La nfrn/es*on the *oers devolved to lo"al /overnment nts LG#sH nder Se"ton 8 of the Lo"alGovernment Code. Sad Se"ton 8 vested *on the LG#s the dtes and fn"tons*ertann/ to the delver of !as" serv"es and fa"ltes, as follosKSEC&ION 8. Bas" Serv"es and 'a"ltes. QaH Lo"al /overnment nts shall endeavor to !e self-relant and shall "ontne eer"sn/the *oers and ds"har/n/ the dtes and fn"tons "rrentl vested *on them. &he shallalso ds"har/e the fn"tons and res*ons!ltes of natonal a/en"es and o"es devolved tothem *rsant to ths Code. Lo"al /overnment nts shall l@ese eer"se s"h other*oers and ds"har/e s"h other fn"tons and res*ons!ltes as are ne"essar,a**ro*rate, or n"dental to e"ent and e?e"tve *rovson of the !as" serv"es andfa"ltes enmerated heren. ("SCE%!H S"h !as" serv"es and fa"ltes n"lde, !t are not lmted to . . . .hle the aforementoned *rovson "har/es the LG#s to ta@e on the fn"tons andres*ons!ltes that have alread !een devolved *on them from the natonal a/en"es onthe as*e"t of *rovdn/ for !as" serv"es and fa"ltes n ther res*e"tve ;rsd"tons,*ara/ra*h "H of the same *rovson *rovdes a "ate/or"al e"e*ton of "ases nvolvn/natonall-fnded *ro;e"ts, fa"ltes, *ro/rams and serv"es. 27 &hsK %aEA&""H Notthstandn/ the *rovsons of s!se"ton !H hereof, *!l" or@s andnfrastr"tre *ro;e"ts and other fa"ltes, *ro/rams and serv"es fnded ! the NatonalGovernment nder the annal General A**ro*ratons A"t, other s*e"al las, *ertnentee"tve orders, and those holl or *artall fnded from fore/n sor"es, are not "overednder ths Se"ton, e"e*t n those "ases here the lo"al /overnment nt "on"erned s dldes/nated as the m*lementn/ a/en" for s"h *ro;e"ts, fa"ltes, *ro/rams and serv"es.1Em*hases s**led9 &I%(C"

&he essen"e of ths e*ress reservaton of *oer ! the natonal /overnment s that, nlessan LG# s *art"larl des/nated as the m*lementn/ a/en", t has no *oer over a*ro/ram for h"h fndn/ has !een *rovded ! the natonal /overnment nder the annal/eneral a**ro*ratons a"t, even f the *ro/ram nvolves the delver of !as" serv"es thnthe ;rsd"ton of the LG#. 25 A "om*lete reln=shment of "entral /overnment *oers onthe matter of *rovdn/ !as" fa"ltes and serv"es "annot !e m*led as the Lo"alGovernment Code tself e/hs a/anst t. 23In ths "ase, a readn/ of the $( La "learl shos that hether t *ertans to theesta!lshment of health "are fa"ltes, 28 the hrn/ of s@lled health *rofessonals, 22 orthe trann/ of !aran/a health or@ers, 26 t ll !e the natonal /overnment that ll*rovde for the fndn/ of ts m*lementaton. Lo"al atonom s not a!solte. &he natonal/overnment stll has the sa hen t "omes to natonal *rort *ro/rams h"h the lo"al/overnment s "alled *on to m*lement l@e the $( La.Moreover, from the se of the ord endeavor, the LG#s are merel en"ora/ed to *rovdethese serv"es. &here s nothn/ n the ordn/ of the la h"h "an !e "onstred as ma@n/

the avala!lt of these serv"es mandator for the LG#s. 'or sad reason, t "annot !e sadthat the $( La amonts to an nde en"roa"hment ! the natonal /overnment *on theatonom en;oed ! the lo"al /overnments. E(S&%A

&he A$MM &he fa"t that the $( La does not ntrde n the atonom of lo"al /overnments "an !ee=all a**led to the A$MM. &he $( La does not nfrn/e *on ts atonom. Moreover,Art"le III, Se"tons , 83 and 88 of $.A. No. 53D4, or the or/an" a"t of the A$MM, allded to! *ettoner &llah to ;stf the eem*ton of the o*eraton of the $( La n theatonomos re/on, refer to the *ol" statements for the /dan"e of the re/onal


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/overnment. &hese *rovsons reled *on ! the *ettoners sm*l delneate the *oersthat ma !e eer"sed ! the re/onal /overnment, h"h "an, n no manner, !e"hara"ter


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And n ths "ontr, the e"onom s !en/ *ro**ed * ! remttan"es from or Overseas'l*no or@ers. &hs s !e"ase e have an am*le s**l of on/ a!le-!oded [email protected] old ha**en f the "ontr old !e e/hed don ! an a/en/ *o*laton and thefeer on/er /eneraton old not !e a!le to s**ort themX &hs old !e the statonhen or total fertlt rate old /o don !elo the re*la"ement level of to 2H "hldren*er oman. 273

Indeed, at the *resent, the "ontr has a *o*laton *ro!lem, !t the State shold not se"oer"ve measres l@e the *enal *rovsons of the $( La a/anst "ons"entos o!;e"torsHto solve t. Nonetheless, the *ol" of the Cort s non-nterferen"e n the sdom of a la.S%(I&E. . . . Bt ths Cort "annot /o !eond hat the le/slatre has lad don. Its dt s to sahat the la s as ena"ted ! the lama@n/ !od. &hat s not the same as san/ hat thela shold !e or hat s the "orre"t rle n a /ven set of "r"mstan"es. It s not the*rovn"e of the ;d"ar to loo@ nto the sdom of the la nor to =eston the *ol"esado*ted ! the le/slatve !ran"h. Nor s t the !sness of ths &r!nal to remed evern;st staton that ma arse from the a**l"aton of a *art"lar la. It s for the le/slatreto ena"t remedal le/slaton f that old !e ne"essar n the *remses. Bt as alas, tha*t ;d"al "aton and "old netralt, the Cort mst "arr ot the del"ate fn"ton ofnter*retn/ the la, /ded ! the Consttton and estn/ le/slaton and mndfl ofsettled ;rs*rden"e. &he Corts fn"ton s therefore lmted, and a""ordn/l, mst"onRne tself to the ;d"al tas@ of san/ hat the la s, as ena"ted ! the lama@n/!od. 278 &S(I%aBe that as t ma, t !ears reteratn/ that the $( La s a mere "om*laton andenhan"ement of the *ror estn/ "ontra"e*tve and re*rod"tve health las, !t th"oer"ve measres. Even f the Cort de"rees the $( La as entrel n"onstttonal, therell stll !e the )o*laton A"t $.A. No. 6DH, the Contra"e*tve A"t $.A. No. 425H and there*rod"tve health for omen or &he Ma/na Carta of omen $.A. No. 583H, sans the"oer"ve *rovsons of the assaled le/slaton. All the same, the *rn"*le of no-a!ortonand non-"oer"on n the ado*ton of an faml *lannn/ method shold !e mantaned.(E$E'O$E, the *ettons are )A$&IALLY G$AN&E%. A""ordn/l, the Cort de"lares $.A. No.836D4 as NO& #NCONS&I&IONAL e"e*t th res*e"t to the follon/ *rovsons h"h arede"lared #NCONS&I&IONALK SCE%AI89 Se"ton and the "orres*ondn/ *rovson n the $(-I$$ nsofar as theK aH re=re*rvate health fa"ltes and non-maternt s*e"alt hos*tals and hos*tals oned ando*erated ! a rel/os /ro* to refer *atents, not n an emer/en" or lfe-threatenn/ "ase,as deRned nder $e*!l" A"t No. 7644, to another health fa"lt h"h s "onvenentla""ess!leF and !H allo mnor-*arents or mnors ho have s?ered a ms"arra/e a""ess tomodern methods of faml *lannn/ thot rtten "onsent from ther *arents or/ardanUsF29 Se"ton 26 aH 8H and the "orres*ondn/ *rovson n the $(-I$$, *art"larl Se"tonD.24 thereof, nsofar as the *nsh an health"are serv"e *rovder ho fals and or refsesto dssemnate nformaton re/ardn/ *ro/rams and serv"es on re*rod"tve healthre/ardless of hs or her rel/os !elefs. AS(EC%69 Se"ton 26 aH 2H H and the "orres*ondn/ *rovson n the $(-I$$ nsofar as theallo a marred ndvdal, not n an emer/en" or lfe-threatenn/ "ase, as deRned nder$e*!l" A"t No. 7644, to nder/o re*rod"tve health *ro"edres thot the "onsent of the

s*oseF49 Se"ton 26 aH 2H H and the "orres*ondn/ *rovson n the $(-I$$ nsofar as thelmt the re=rement of *arental "onsent onl to ele"tve sr/"al *ro"edres.D9 Se"ton 26 aH 6H and the "orres*ondn/ *rovson n the $(-I$$, *art"larl Se"tonD.24 thereof, nsofar as the *nsh an health"are serv"e *rovder ho fals andUor refsesto refer a *atent not n an emer/en" or lfe-threatenn/ "ase, as deRned nder $e*!l" A"tNo. 7644, to another health "are serv"e *rovder thn the same fa"lt or one h"h s"onvenentl a""ess!le re/ardless of hs or her rel/os !elefsF S%Aa&C


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9 Se"ton 26 !H and the "orres*ondn/ *rovson n the $(-I$$, *art"larl Se"tonD.24 thereof, nsofar as the *nsh an *!l" o"er ho refses to s**ort re*rod"tvehealth *ro/rams or shall do an a"t that hnders the fll m*lementaton of a re*rod"tvehealth *ro/ram, re/ardless of hs or her rel/os !elefsF9 Se"ton 8 and the "orres*ondn/ *rovson n the $(-I$$ re/ardn/ the rendern/ of*ro !ono re*rod"tve health serv"e n so far as the a?e"t the "ons"entos o!;e"tor n

se"rn/ )hl(ealth a""redtatonF and79 Se"ton 6.38 aH and Se"ton 6.38 ;H of the $(-I$$, h"h added the =alRer*rmarl n deRnn/ a!ortfa"ents and "ontra"e*tves, as the are ltra vres and,therefore, nll and vod for "ontravenn/ Se"ton 4 aH of the $( La and volatn/ Se"ton82, Art"le II of the Consttton. A("C%I

&he Stats +o Ante Order ssed ! the Cort on Mar"h 85, 2386 as etended ! ts Order,dated Jl 8, 2386, s here! LI'&E%, nsofar as the *rovsons of $.A. No. 836D4 h"h have!een heren de"lared as "onstttonal.SO O$%E$E%. S"A(&IVelas"o, Jr., )eralta, Bersamn, Vllarama, Jr. and )ere


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health @aht alan/ *ahntlot n/ @anan/ ma/lan/ sa*a/@at na@asalala sa /anton/@a@aahan an/ @anan/ @als/an at msmon/ !ha. "IC(&%Sa *an/ n/ m/a matataas na nannn/@lan sa *amahalaan na natasan/ ma/*at*ad n/$( La, hnd narara*at na sla a haaan/ lma!a/ sa @atn/@lan/ to. Bn/an sla n/@a*an/arhan n/ *amahalaan *an/ *at*ad an/ m/a !atas, at hnd nla maaarn//amtn an/ nasa!n/ @a*an/arhan *an/ !/n an/ m/a nlalaon n/ *amahalaan *ara

sa m/a mamamaan, lalo nat an/ m/a lann/ to a @a/na sa sa*n/ *an/@als/an.Sns*ortahan n/ $( La an/ *a/slon/ at *an/an/ala/a sa @ara*atan n/ @a!a!ahan.An/ *a/@a@aloo! n/ ma!sa at mahsa na re*rod"tve health "are serv"es a aon salann nton/ mas/ro an/ @als/an n/ ma/-na, at ma@a*a/tata/ n/ sa*at na*amantaan alan/-alan/ sa @a*a@anan n/ lahat. (IEASa(nd ma@a@ala na an/ *alt-lt na *a/!an//t sa m/a @ata/an/ med"all-safe, non-a!ortfa"ent, e?e"tve, le/al, a?orda!le and =alt re*rod"tve health "are serv"es,methods, dev"es and s**les sa $( La a d-*an/@aranan/ *a/*a*ahala/a sa !han/ tao at an/ sadan/ *a/aa@s sa a!orton !lan/ san/ @rmen na ma @aram*atan/*arsa aon sa atn/ !atas.An/ )asann n/ )ettoners)na*ala/a !lan/ san/ *anan/ *a/-naa, na an/ lahat n/ !atas a hnd la!a/ saSal/an/ Batas o @onsttsonal. 2 Ito a *an/nahn/ *rns*o na mata/al nan/ @n@lala,@n/ @aat nasan n/ orte S*rema na *aalan/-!sa an/ san/ !atas 6 !lan/*a/@lala sa dnon/, dan/al at @a!aanhan n/ on/reso na /maa nto, at sa )an/lo nana/*at!a dto. 4 An/ tn/@ln/ ma/*at*ad n/ Sal/an/ Batas a hnd natatan/ saorte S*remaF to a @aa@!at na @atn/@lan n/ on/reso at n/ )an/lo. D CSI(%A%ahl an/ lahat n/ !atas a *na*ala/a na @onsttsonal, an/ snman na ddlo/ saorte S*rema *an/ *aalan/-!sa to a ma!/at an/ ssn/n. I*a*aalan/-!salaman/ n/ orte S*rema an/ san/ !atas o !aha/ nto @n/ malna na ma*a@@ta n/*ettoner an/ *a/la!a/ nto sa Sal/an/ Batas. na@alan/an/ malna at totohanan an/m/a !ataan sa *a/*a*aalan/-!sa n/ !atas, at hnd maaarn/ an/ m/a to a ha@a-ha@alaman/. Sa@a laman/ *a*aalan/-!sa n/ orte S*rema an/ san/ !atas @n/ malnana na*a@ta an/ *a/mamala!s at *a/saln/at n/ on/reso sa atn/ Sal/an/ Batas. 7

&Ca"IEAn/ )asa n/ MaoraAon sa %e"son, an/ $( La a @onsttsonal mal!an na laman/ sa m/a smsnod na!aha/ ntoK8. Se"ton , 5 at an/ @a@lan/ !aha/ nto sa Im*lementn/ $les and $e/latonsI$$H n/ $( La, sa dahlan/ to aK aH na/-tos sa m/a non-maternt s*e"alt hos*talsat m/a os*tal na *a/mama-ar o *natata@!o n/ m/a rel/os /ro* na a/aran/ tro sa*na@amala*t na health fa"lt an/ m/a *asenten/ ala sa emer/en" "ondton o hndseros "ase, aon sa $.A. 7644, 83 na na/hahan/ad n/ ser!so @ol sa modern faml*lannn/ methods, 88 at !H na/!!/a-daan sa m/a menor de edad na ma ana@ ona/@aroon n/ ms"arra/e na ma@na!an/ sa modern faml *lannn/ methods @aht alan/*ahntlot n/ @anlan/ m/a ma/lan/F 82 E(SC"&2. Se"ton 26 aH 8H, 86 at an/ Se"ton D.24 84 n/ I$$ n/ $( La, sa dahlan/*narrsahan nto an/ @aht snon/ health "are serv"e *rovder na hnd na/*ala/ana* otman//n/ ma/*ala/ana* n/ mahala/an/ @aalaman @a/na n/ m/a *ro/rama atser!so @ol sa re*rod"tve health, nan/ alan/ *a@ndan/an sa rel/os !elefs n/ m/a

health "are serv"e *rovders na toF6. Se"ton 26 aH 2H H, 8D at an/ @a@lan/ !aha/ nto sa I$$ n/ $( La, 8 sadahlan/ na/!!/a-daan to sa san/ ma asaa na ala sa emer/en" "ondton o hndseros "ase na smalalm sa re*rod"tve health *ro"edres @aht alan/ *ahntlot n/@anan/ asaaF AE(&IC4. Se"ton 26 aH 2H H 8 sa dahlan/ *narrsahan nto an/ health "are serv"e*rovder na hhn/ n/ *ahntlot n/ ma/lan/ !a/o ma/sa/aa n/ re*rod"tve health*ro"edre sa menor de edad na ala sa emer/en" "ondton o hnd seros "aseF


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D. Se"ton 26 aH 6H, 87 at an/ Se"ton D.24 n/ I$$ n/ $( La, sa dahlan/*narrsahan nto an/ @aht snon/ health "are serv"e *rovder na hnd na/tro otman//n/ tro sa *na@amala*t na health fa"lt an/ m/a *asenten/ ala saemer/en" "ondton o hnd seros "ase na na/hahan/ad n/ ser!so @ol sa modernfaml *lannn/ methodsF IECAa%!. Se"ton 26 !H, 85 at an/ Se"ton D.24 n/ I$$ n/ $( La, sa dahlan/ *narrsahan

nto an/ @aht snon/ *!l" o"er na aa ma/ta/od n/ re*rod"tve health *ro/rams o/a/aa n/ @aht anon/ hahadlan/ o ma@a@asa/a!al sa malaa@an/ *a/sasa@at*aran n/san/ re*rod"tve health *ro/ramF. Se"ton 8, 23 at an/ @a@lan/ !aha/ nto sa I$$ n/ $( La, 28 @a/na sa*a/sasa/aa n/ *ro !ono re*rod"tve health serv"es sa dahlan/ naaa*e@than nto an/"ons"entos o!;e"tor sa *a/@ha n/ )hl(ealth a""redtatonF at7. Se"ton 6.38 aH 22 at 6.38 ;H 26 n/ I$$ n/ $( La sa dahlan/ na/dada/da/ to n/saltan/ *rmarl sa @ahl/an n/ a!ortfa"ent, na la!a/ sa Se"ton 4 aH 24 n/ $( La atSe"ton 82, Art"le II 2D n/ Sal/an/ Batas. a(%&AIAn/ $el/os 'reedom, an/ Com*elln/ State Interest &est,at an/ Cons"entos O!;e"torBa/o @o tala@an an/ m/a s!stant!on/ m/a ar/mento @ol sa rel/os freedom, nas@on/ !at@sn an/ *a//amt n/ san/ te"hn"al le/al test *an/ tm!an/n @n/ aln sadalaaK aH an/ *olsa n/ *amahalaan, /aa n/ re*rod"tve health, o !H san/ @ara*atan/aa n/ rel/os freedom, an/ da*at mana/. Sa *ala/a @o, hnd a@ma an/ *a//amt n/te"hn"al le/al test na "om*elln/ state nterest sa @ason/ hnahara* natn. EC"&a((nd a@o smasan/-aon na narara*at /amtn an/ "om*elln/ state nterest test *an/ta@n an/ le/aldad n/ $( La Q *art@lar na an/ *a//aranta n/ *amahalaan sa l/tas,ma!sa, a!ot-@aa, de-@aldad, naaaon sa !atas at hnd a!ortfa"ent na re*rod"tvehealth "are serv"es, methods, dev"es at s**les *ara sa lahat, *at na an/ mahala/an/@aalaman @ol dto Q sa @adahlanan/ !o an/ *a/@lala n/ $( La sa rel/os freedom,@aat hnd na @alan/an an/ test na to. Sa Estrada v. Es"rtor, 2 *nalana/ natn naK

&he "om*elln/ state nterest test s *ro*er here "ond"t s nvolved for the hole /amtof hman "ond"t has d?erent e?e"ts on the states nterestsK some e?e"ts ma !emmedate and short-term hle others delaed and far-rea"hn/. A test that old *rote"tthe nterests of the state n *reventn/ a s!stantve evl, hether mmedate or delaed, stherefore ne"essar. (oever, not an nterest of the state old s"e to *reval over ther/ht to rel/os freedom as ths s a fndamental r/ht that en;os a *referred *oston nthe herar"h of r/hts Q the most nalena!le and sa"red of all hman r/hts, n the ordsof Je?erson. &hs r/ht s sa"red for an nvo"aton of the 'ree Eer"se Clase s an a**eal toa h/her sovere/nt. &he entre "onstttonal order of lmted /overnment s *remsed *onan a"@noled/ment of s"h h/her sovere/nt, ths the 'l*nos m*lore the ad ofAlm/ht God n order to !ld a ;st and hmane so"et and esta!lsh a /overnment. Asheld n Sher!ert, onl the /ravest a!ses, endan/ern/ *aramont nterests "an lmt thsfndamental r/ht. A mere !alan"n/ of nterests h"h !alan"es a r/ht th ;st a "olora!lestate nterest s therefore not a**ro*rate. Instead, onl a "om*elln/ nterest of the state"an *reval over the fndamental r/ht to rel/os l!ert. &he test re=res the state to "arra heav !rden, a "om*elln/ one, for to do otherse old allo the state to !atterrel/on, es*e"all the less *oerfl ones ntl the are destroed. In determnn/ h"hshall *reval !eteen the states nterest and rel/os l!ert, reasona!leness shall !e the

/de. &he "om*elln/ state nterest serves the *r*ose of revern/ rel/os l!ert hleat the same tme a?ordn/ *rote"ton to the *aramont nterests of the state. 2 Em*hassorsH ECaI&"Gnamt an/ "om*elln/ state nterest test sa Estrada v. Es"rtor *an/ malaman @n/ an/res*ondent doon a narara*at na !/an n/ eem*ton la!an sa @ason/ admnstrat!o!n/a n/ *a@@sama na sa lala@n/ hnd na asaa aon sa Cvl Code. aranan, !lan/@aan n/ *amahalaan, mahahara* an/ res*ondent sa @ason/ ds/ra"efl and mmoral"ond"t. Ba/@s, nlahad n/ res*ondent na !a/amat alan/ !as!as n/ *amahalaan/ s!lan/ @anlan/ *a/sasama, ma !as!as naman to n/ @anlan/ relhon na Jehovahs


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tnesses and the at"h &oer and B!le &ra"t So"et. aat hnd sa narara*at nasam*ahan n/ @ason/ admnstrat!o !n/a nto. a(ECS&Sa @adahlanan/ amnado naman an/ Sol"tor General na tna at ta*at an/ *annala n/res*ondent sa @anan/ relhon, at na/ddlot n/ l/al/ sa @anan/ *annala an/ !antan/ ds"*lnar a"ton !n/a n/ @ason/ ds/ra"efl and mmoral "ond"t, na/*asa an/orte S*rema na narara*at na *atnaan n/ *amahalaan @n/ tna n/a na ma

"om*elln/ se"lar o!;e"tve na na/!nsod dto *an/ hnd *aa/an an/ *a@@sama n/res*ondent sa lala@n/ hnd na asaa. Narara*at dn, aon sa orte S*rema, na *a@tan/ *amahalaan na /mamt to n/ least restr"tve means sa *a/*/l n/ @ara*atan n/ m/atao sa *a/tatan//ol nto n/ "om*elln/ state nterest. (AS&Ca#@ol dto, nhaa/ n/ orte S*rema na the /overnment mst do more than assert theo!;e"tves at rs@ f eem*ton s /venF t mst *re"sel sho ho and to hat etent thoseo!;e"tves ll !e ndermned f eem*tons are /ranted. 27 Sa @alanan, !/o an/*amahalaan na *atnaan an/ *a@a nto sa *a/!a!aal sa relason n/ res*ondent.Bnsod nto, !n/an n/ eem*ton sa *arsa an/ res*ondent !ata sa @anan/ rel/osfreedom.Malna sa Estrada v. Es"rtor na sa lalm n/ "om*elln/ state nterest test, *na/ttn//alan/ rel/os freedom n/ m/a mamamaan at an/ nteres n/ *amahalaan sa *a/*a*at*adn/ *ata@aran/ snasa!n/ na/*a*ahra* sa rel/os "onv"tons n/ lan. a*a/ hnd nana/an/ nteres n/ *amahalaan, ma/!!/a n/ eem*ton sa *ata@aran an/ orte S*rema*ara sa m/a mamamaan/ nannnd/an *ara sa @anlan/ rel/os freedom. Isnaad dn saEstrada v. Es"rtor na na@a/aan na n/ orte S*rema na ma/!/a n/ eem*ton sa hal*na ma/*aalan/-!sa n/ m/a *ata@aran n/ *amahalaan *a/datn/ sa sa*n n/ rel/osfreedom. (A&IC"(nd to an/ stason sa lalm n/ $( La. Aon sa *ettoners, @atm!as n/ san/*a/@a@asala sa lalm n/ @anlan/ relhon an/ *a/sasa/aa n/ ser!so @ol sa modernfaml *lannn/ methods at *a/!!/a n/ *ao @ol dto. La!a/ to sa rel/os freedom n/m/a "ons"entos health *rofessonals na nannalan/ l@as na masama an/"ontra"e*ton. %ahl dto, narara*at na *aalan/-!sa an/ $( La. At, aon sa m/a @a*atd@on/ Mahstrado, alan/ "om*elln/ state nterest *ara *aa/an an/ *amahalaan/ *ltnan/ health *rofessonals na lma!a/ sa @anlan/ *annala. An/ totoo, alan/ *a/la!a/ sa*annala na *na*ata an/ $( La. &Aa"IEAn/ O*t-Ot ClaseNa@almtan n/ *ettoners an/ @a!an n/ $( La. Batd n/ on/reso na maaarn/ma@asa/asa sa *annala at @al/al/ n/ lan/ med"al *rofessonals an/ @atsan/ to sa$( La. %ahl msmo dto @aa na/-@t an/ on/reso n/ eem*ton sa $( La *ara sa m/a"ons"entos o!;e"tors sa *amama/tan n/ o*t-ot "lase. Sa lalm n/ o*t-ot "lase nana@a*aloo! sa Se"ton n/ $( La, hnd o!l/adon/ ma/dlot n/ ser!so @a/na samodern faml *lannn/ methods an/ m/a non-maternt s*e"alt hos*tals at m/a os*talna *a/mama-ar at *natata@!o n/ m/a rel/os /ro*s. Sa @a!lan/ !anda,*nahahala/ahan sa lalm n/ Se"ton 26 aH 6H n/ $( La an/ "ons"entos o!;e"ton n/health "are serv"e *rovders !ata sa @anlan/ eth"al o rel/os !elefs. Aon dto,eem*ted sla sa @a*arsahan na *a*ata sa m/a tatan//n/ ma/dlot n/ re*rod"tvehealth "are serv"es at ma/!/a n/ mahala/an/ @aalaman @ol dto. A&(Ca"Sama@atd, hnd na narara*at na /amtn *a an/ "om*elln/ state nterest test *an/mata@ an/ le/aldad n/ $( La. Matatandaan/ sa lalm n/ "om*elln/ state nterest test,

@alan/an/ *a@ta n/ *amahalaan @n/ *aano maaalan n/ sasa an/ m/a lann ntosa *a/!o n/ $( La @n/ ma/!!/a to n/ eem*tons sa m/a tnata@da n/ !atas.N/nt dahl @nlala na n/ $( La an/ rel/os freedom n/ m/a "ons"entos o!;e"tors sa*amama/tan n/ eem*ton na na@a-@t na dto, ala na sa *amahalaan an/ *asann*an/ *a/tan//ol an/ nteres nto sa *a/ss@a* na ma*an/ala/aan an/ re*rod"tvehealth n/ m/a mamamaan. IAE"C&Na/n/ senst!o an/ on/reso sa *annala n/ m/a "ons"entos o!;e"tors sa*amama/tan n/ *a/lalata/ n/ eem*tons sa $( La. Sa *nton/ to, @n/ @a@alan/ann*a n/ on/reso na *atnaan an/ "om*elln/ state nterest, maaalan n/ sasa an/


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res*eto sa sat sa na naatas n/ atn/ Sal/an/ Batas sa m/a ma//tn/ na san/a n/*amahalaan.An/ a/aran/ *a/tro na laman/ sa *na@amala*t na health fa"lt o health "are serv"e*rovder sa m/a *asenten/ na/hahan/ad n/ ser!so @ol sa modern faml *lannn/methods an/ nalala!n/ @atn/@lan n/ m/a "ons"entos o!;e"tors, n/ m/a non-maternts*e"alt hos*tals, at m/a os*tal na *a/mama-ar at *natata@!o n/ m/a rel/os /ro*s.

Ito a *an/ malaman n/ *asente @n/ saan sa ttn/o at *an/ hnd naman slama*a/@atan n/ ser!son/ nhahando/ n/ *amahalaan *ara ma*an/ala/aan an/ @anlan/re*rod"tve health. ACI%S"Aon sa Sol"tor GeneralK4. &he dt to refer, as an o*t ot "lase, s a "arefll !alan"ed "om*romse!eteen, on one hand, the nterests of the rel/os o!;e"tor ho s alloed to @ee* slent!t s re=red to refer and, on the other, the "t


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others. 68 B@od dto, hnd rn ma@a@ala na maaarn/ *a/!aal n/ *amahalaan an/san/ /aan @aht alnsnod *a to sa rel/os "onv"tons @n/ to a la!a/ sa m*ortantso"al dtes or s!versve of /ood order. 62Sa @anlan/ *a/*aso@ sa *ro*eson, tnan//a* n/ m/a med"al *rofessonals an/ m/amoral vales at @aa@!at na @atn/@lan sa m/a *asente. 66 Isa dto an/ na*a*anahon/dt to refer sa !an/ health fa"lt o health "are serv"e *rovder @n/ !atd nla na dahl sa

@anlan/ rel/os !elefs, hnd nla maaarn/ hatd an/ ser!son/ hnhn/ o @na@alan/ann/ *asente. 64 #*an/ ma*anatl an/ eth"al *ra"t"e, hnh@aat n/ m/a *antas an/ m/a"ons"entos o!;e"tors na ma/ln/@od @ala*t an/ !an/ med"al *rofessonals na hnd"ons"entos o!;e"tors *an/ maaos na ma*anatl an/ san/ referral sstem *aramas/rado na ma!!/a sa *asente an/ m/a *an/an/alan/an nton/ hnd @aan/t/nan n/ "ons"entos o!;e"tor. 6D Mahala/a to *an/ mas/ro na tlo-tlo an/ser!son/ *an/@als/an *ara sa m/a taon/ nan/an/alan/an nto. IaE(S%%ahl dto, hnd mattrn/ na da/da/ *asann n/ med"al *rofessonals an/ dt to refersa lalm n/ $( La. L@es na to sa @anlan/ *ro*eson. Sa @atnaan, nasa @a*an/arhann/ on/reso an/ ma/lata/ n/ m/a altntnn at da/da/ na *asann sa *ro*eson n/medsna aon sa *ol"e *oer nto *an/ slon/ an/ *!l" health. At, nnaa n/ $(La na dahl sa rel/os "onv"tons, hnd maaarn/ sa/aa n/ san/ med"al *rofessonalan/ ser!so @ol sa modern faml *lannn/ methods @aht hnhn/ *a n/ *asente. %ahldto, *na*aa/an sla na tman// n/ *asente at *a*ntahn to sa !an/ med"al*rofessonal na ma@attlon/ dto. I%E(Can/ ttsn, mattrn/ na *a/la!a/ sa snm*aan/ tn/@ln n/ m/a med"al*rofessonals an/ *a/tan//n/ ma/tro n/ *asente sa !an/ med"al *rofessonal. Maaarton/ ma/n/ !asehan n/ ds"*lnar a"ton la!an sa @anla. Aon sa san/ lathalan, dahlan/ m/a med"al *rofessonals a na*a*aloo! sa san/ mono*ol sa *a/hahatd n/ser!son/ *an/@als/an, an/ lan sa @anla na mas *nahahala/ahan an/ @anlan/rel/os nterests nan/ alan/ *a@ndan/an sa @a*a@anan n/ @anlan/ *asente ana!a!alot sa san/ matndn/ "on"t of nterest. 6 lala an/ da@lan/ *ro*eson/ to sa*a/*a*a@asa@t *ara sa @a!!t n/ !an/ tao, 6 @aa naman an/ *a/tan// @aht sa*a/ttro na laman/ sa !an/ health fa"lt o health "are serv"e *rovder a mattrn/na *a/@at n/ ser!son/ *an/@als/an sa m/a *asente. &%"CIS#*an/ ma!/an n/ @atm!as na *rote@son an/ @ara*atan n/ m/a *asente sa tlo-tlona ser!son/ *an/@als/an, mna!t n/ on/reso na *ataan n/ *arsa an/ m/a"ons"entos o!;e"tors na tatan//n/ t*arn man laman/ an/ dt to refer. I*nata an/*arsa *an/ mas/ro na hnd naman ma/a/amt n/ "ons"entos med"al *rofessonalsan/ eem*ton na *na/@aloo! sa @anla *an/ *ata an/ @anlan/ rel/os !elefs sa@anlan/ m/a *asente. )naral to n/ *rns*on/ an/ @ara*atan n/ malaan/ *a/sam!aat *a/*a*ahaa/ n/ relhon a nan/an/ahl/an na alan/ @ara*atan an/ snman naman/-a* sa *annalan/ hnd aon sa @anla.Sa *nton/ to, nas @n/ lnan na *na/!a!aal n/ Se"ton 26 aH 8H an/ *a/@a@at n/mahala/an/ @aalaman, *a/!a!aal sa *a/*a*ala/ana* nto o sadaan/ *a/!!/a n/maln/ m*ormason @a/na n/ m/a *ro/rama at ser!so @ol sa re*rod"tve health,@ara*atan n/ lahat sa nformed "ho"e at an/ *a//aranta n/ *amahalaan sa l/tas,ma!sa, a!ot-@aa, de-@aldad, naaaon sa !atas at hnd a!artfa"ent na faml *lannn/methods. S%"I&(Sa @a!lan/ !anda, *na/!a!aal naman n/ Se"ton 26 aH 2H an/ *a/tan//n/

ma/sa/aa n/ l/tas at naaaon sa !atas na re*rod"tve health *ro"edres dahl laman/sa an/ taon/ na/hahan/ad nto, !a/amat nasa hston/ edad, a hnd ma@a*a/*a@ta n/*ahntlot n/ @anan/ asaa o ma/lan/. (nd nto *na/!a!aal an/ *a/tan//n/ma/sa/aa n/ re*rod"tve health *ro"edres dahl sa @anlan/ rel/os !elefs. IC%"EAAn/ m/a health "are serv"e *rovders na tnt@o sa Se"ton 26 aH 8H at Se"ton 26 aH2H a hnd an/ m/a "ons"entos o!;e"tors. n/ "ons"entos o!;e"tor an/ san/ health"are serv"e *rovder, maaar na san/ tman// sa nan/ *a/@a@ataon *a laman/, at alana san/ o*ortndad *ara ma/!/a n/ maln/ m*ormason @a/na n/ m/a *ro/ramaat ser!so @ol sa re*rod"tve health dahl tnan//han na na an/ *asente. Gandn,


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ala *an/ o*ortndad an/ m/a "ons"entos o!;e"tors na tman//n/ ma/sa/aa n/l/tas at naaaon sa !atas na re*rod"tve health *ro"edres sa san/ ma-asaa o menorde edad dahl sa @a@lan/an n/ *ahntlot n/ asaa o ma/lan/. )a/la*t *a laman/ n/*asente sa @ana na hmhn/ n/ ser!so @ol sa re*rod"tve health, maaar na san/tman//, at an/ *a/tan//n/ to a dahl sa @anan/ rel/os !elefs, hnd dahl sa@aalan n/ *ahntlot.

n/ "ons"entos o!;e"tor an/ health "are s

Documents

Imbong vs Ochoa - G.R. No. 204819. April 8, 2014