Mexico City deputy proposes harsher penalties for elderly abandonment

A new legislative proposal in Mexico City seeks to increase penalties for the abandonment of elderly individuals who are unable to care for themselves. Deputy Adriana Espinosa de los Monteros García has submitted an initiative to reform Article 156 and add Article 156 Bis to the local Penal Code.

The proposal suggests prison sentences ranging from four to eight years and fines of 300 to 600 days for those who fail to meet legal care obligations. Additionally, the initiative includes the loss of inheritance and succession rights regarding the victim. If the abandonment results in physical or mental health damage, the penalty could increase by half. In cases where abandonment leads to the death of the victim, the proposed sanction is 10 to 16 years of imprisonment.

Currently, the local Penal Code mandates sentences of three months to three years for such abandonment when no injury occurs. The initiative aims to distinguish between unjustified abandonment of dependent persons and the economic or material difficulties families may face in fulfilling their responsibilities.