Abortionisaverycontroversialsubjectthathasbeencontinuallyarguedoverforthepastfewyears andprobablymanyyearstocome.Themaincontroversyisshouldabortionbelegalized?First beforewegetintothemanysidesofabortionwemustfirstdefineabortionAbortionisthe destructionofthefetusorunbornchildwhilethechildisstillinthemotherswomb.Thiscanbe donebyalmostanyonefromthemotherherselftobackalleyabortionsandeventoabortionsby clinicssetupespeciallyforthispurpose.
TherearetwosidestothisabortiontopicthePRO–LIFEwhichisthosewhoareagainstabortion altogetherandthePRO–CHOICEorthosewhobelieveitisthewomansrighttochooseifshewants tohavean abortion....showmorecontent...
Awomanhasbeenrapedandmadepregnant:"Oh,she'sgottohaveanabortion"No onehasstudiedtherapeandincestvictimsneeds;abortionispresumedtofillherneeds." Variousstudiesandresearchindicatethatrapeandincestvictimsfallintoahigh–riskcategoryof abortion.Butwhathappensafteravictimhasanabortion?JackieBakeravictimstates:"I soondiscoveredthattheaftermathofmyabortioncontinuedalongtimeafterthememoryofmy rapehadfadedIfeltemptyandhorrible
NobodytoldmeabouttheemptinessandpainIwouldfeeldeepwithincausingnightmaresanddeep depressions.TheyalltoldmethataftertheabortionIcouldcontinuewithmylifeasifnothingever happened."(Reardon21–22)Thisisthestorywehearfromalotofabortedwomen.Todayin oursocietyitisbelievedbymostpeoplethatitisthewomansfaultjustasmuchasthemansfault,if notmoremanypeoplethinkwomenareresponsibleforcontributingtotherapeitselfThentherape victimsfeelself–blameandguilt.Andeventhenarapeorincestvictimsfamilymembersorclose friendsmayreinforcethesenegativefeelings.Ortheydroptheproblembecausetheydon'tknow howtotalkaboutit
Weevenseethesamethingintheabortionexperience.Whenapersonbecomespregnantbecauseof rapeorincestthereisa
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BanningAbortionFormanyyearsnowpeoplehavedebatedoverabortion.Legallyawomancan haveanabortionwhensheisupto24weekspregnantexceptifthemothers'lifeisindanger.Some peopleseethisaskillinginnocentbabiesbutothersseeitasarescueforteenagemothers'etc. Abortionwasonlylegalizedin1861butwasonlycarriedoutifthemotherslifewasatrisk.However thischangedwiththeintroductionoftheAbortionAct(1967)bytheLiberalMPDavidSteelThis allowedawomantohaveanabortioniftherewasariskorinjurytoherorherexistingchildren's physicalormentalhealthbutthemothermusthavethepermissionoftwodoctors.In1990thelaw waschangedagain:showmorecontent
Thisissimilartothesuctionprocedureexceptthattheabortionistinsertsacurette,aloop–shaped steelknifeupintotheuterus.Hethencutstheplacentaandbabyintopiecesandscrapesthemout intoabasin.Bleedingisusuallyprofuse.D&X(PartialBirth)Alsousedforadvancedpregnancies. Thecervixisdilatedtoallowpassageofaringforceps.Afootorlowerlegislocatedandpulledinto thevaginaThebabyisextractedinbreechfashionuntiltheheadisjustinsidethecervixThebaby's legshangoutsidethewoman'sbody.Withthebabyfacedown,scissorsareplungedintothebaby's headatthenapeoftheneckandspreadopentoenlargethewound.Asuctiontipisinsertedandthe baby'sbrainisremoved.Theskullcollapsesandthebabyisdelivered.Sharpandsuctioncurettage iscontinueduntilthewallsofthewombareclean.Thesemethodsmayseemcruelbutababycan havedistasterousaffectsonthemothers'livesIfabortionsweremadeillegalthenumberofteenage orunmarriedpregnacys'wouldrisedramatically.Also,victimsofrapeorincestmaynotwantto havethebaby,asitwouldremindthemoftheirterribleexperiences.Alotofteenagerswouldbe unabletocopewithababy;alotofteenagersaregettingpregnantattheageof13/14Tohaveto bringupababycouldtakeawayanychanceofacareerandthebaby
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DifferentViewsonAbortion
DanielM.Garcia TeagueHS
DualCreditSociology
October26,2017
Abstract
AbortionisasocialtopicthatishighlycontroversialintheUnitedStatesItishighlyfoughtout throughthereaffirmationoflaws,politics,andeventhroughtheopposingviewpointsofdifferent people.Icompletelyopposetheideaofabortion,butthatisbecauseIinterpretitdifferentlythan peopleofothermoralsorcharacteristicvaluesperceiveit.Myviewpointisthatabortionislikean inhumaneactofmurder,becauseyouaretakingawaythelifeofsomeonewhohasnothadthe chancetoexperienceitTrueasitmaybethatthatchildmayhavebeenabandonedandledofftoa worselife,butmyopinionstillstands...showmorecontent...
Abortionisatopicthat,tomespecifically,shouldbebanned,butithasit'sownsreasonand opposingviewsthatallowsittokeepongoing.
Whenlookingthroughtheopposingviewsonabortiontherearetwosidesthatyoumayknowas "pro–life"and"pro–choice"whichnamesliterallystandfortheirtruemeaning"Thosefor"pro–life"believethatabortionismurder,whilethosefor"pro–choice"seeitinthewaythatthewoman hastherighttochoosewhatshedoeswithherownchild.
Icannotrelatetothechoicesofabortion,butIdohaveaninterestinthistopicforotherreasonsTo behonest,Idolikeviewingtheopposingviewsandcommentsaboutthistopic,butIalsoamonthe sideof"pro–life".Icompletelydisagreewiththeideasof"pro–choice",becauseIhaveneverbeen putinasituationagainstabortion,buthowdothoseparentsknowwhotheyaresettinguptoan untimelyend?Ibelievethattherearekidsthatcouldbecomethegreatestinnovatorsandinventors oftechnologicalandsocietaladvancementintheirowngeneration,yettheyneverhadthechanceto provetheirownworth.Thatmaybeasentimentalreason,butthatisjustthewayIviewabortion. Thereareotherwaysthatpeopleviewabortionandthiscanbehighlycontroversialinasetamount aways(whichishowthesidesof
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Abortion
Womenmayhaveanabortionforavarietyofreasons,butingeneraltheychooseabortionbecausea pregnancyatthattimeisinsomewaywrongforthem."Abortionistheremovalofafetusfromthe uterusbeforeitismatureenoughtoliveonitsown"(Kuechler1996)Whenthishappens spontaneouslywecallitamiscarriage.Inducedabortionisbroughtaboutdeliberatelybyamedical procedurethatendspregnancy.Legalabortion,carriedoutbytrainedmedicalpractitioners,isoneof themostcommonandsafestsurgicalprocedures"About15millionAmericanwomenchooseto haveinducedabortionseachyear.Lessthan1%ofallabortionpatientsexperienceamajor complicationassociatedwiththeprocedure"(Kuechler1996).showmorecontent
Afterthat,surgicalabortionmaybethesafestandbestoption.
MethotrexatehasbeenusedintheUSsince1953,whenitwasapprovedbytheFDAtotreatcertain typesofcancer.Sincethattime,"medicalresearchershavediscoveredotherimportantusesforthe drug"(AnkerbergandWeldon4).Oneoftheseusesistoendunintendedpregnancies.Althoughthe "FDAdidnotconsidermethotrexateforthisspecificpurpose,cliniciansmayprescribeandarenow prescribingmethotrexateforearlyabortion"(AnkerbergandWeldon4).Methotrexateisusually giventoapregnantwomanintheformofaninjectionorshot,althoughitcanbetakenorally "Methotrexatestopstheongoingimplantationprocessthatoccursduringthefirstseveralweeksafter conception.Anothermedicationthatmightbeusedismifepristone"(AnkerbergandWeldon4).
Mifepristoneisanewermedicationthatwasdevelopedandtestedspecificallyasanabortion inducingagent.Itworksbyblockingthehormoneprogesterone,whichisnecessarytosustain pregnancy.Withoutthishormone,"theliningoftheuterusbreaksdown,thecervixopeningofthe uterusorwombsoftens,andbleedingbegins"(AnkerbergandWeldon5).Afewdaysaftertaking eithermethotrexateormifepristone,aseconddrug,misoprostol,istaken."Misoprostoltabletscause theuterustocontractandempty"(AnkerbergandWeldon5)
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AbortionAbortionisaverycontroversialsubjectandmanypeoplehavevariedattitudesand opinionsonitsrightsandwrongs.Itisvitalthatinsocietythatmoreandmorepeoplebecome anti–abortionbeforeitisatrendthatspiralsoutofcontrol.Abortionmeanstoendsomethingbefore ithasbeenmadecomplete.Therearetwotypesofabortion,spontaneousabortionandinduced abortionSpontaneousabortionwhichisnaturallyoccurringandcommonlycalledamiscarriageand ontheotherhandinducedabortionwhichiswhenthe'mother'intentionallyendsanunplanned pregnancy.
Manypeople...showmorecontent...
Thisunbornchildfeelspainlikeanyotherchild,ithasaheartbeatandmovesthebabiesonlyflawis thatithastorelyonits'mother'forbreathandtherearewomenouttherewhoarenotpreparedto offerthis.
Anotherconcernisthatabortionhasbeenacceptedintoday'ssociety.Ifabornbabywastreatedin suchamatter–scrapedtodeath,vacuumedup,destroyed,murderedanditsattackerwouldinno doubtbearrestedandissuedalongprisonsentence.SoIaskyouwhydoesthisnothappentothe 'mothers'oftheunbornchildren?Notonlyistherenojusticedonewhenababyisaborteditis perfectlylegalinmanycountriesallovertheworld!ThereismanyImpressionableteenagersand womenwholookuptosuperstarsasrolemodelsandtheserolemodelssuchasMadonnawhoinher relativelyrecentautobiographyadmittedtohavingsomanyabortionsitreacheddoublefigures. MyraHindlyisinfamousforherpartinthemoorsmurdersinthe1960'sandshewasjustlygivena lifesentencebutMadonnawhohaskilledherfairshareofchildrenislookeduptoandadoredby many.
Finallynotonlydoesabortionkillhelplessbabiesitispotentiallyfatalto'mothers'aswell.Twoout ofeveryfiveabortionsareillegalThisresultsinproblemsbecausethereisnogovernment guidelinesinplaceatthesebackstreetclinicswherespreadofinfection,
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Abortion
"Abortionisaprocedure,eithersurgicalormedical,toendapregnancybyremovingthefetusand placentafromtheuterus."Thisdefinition(A.D.A.M.,2003)isadrymedicaldefinitionthatlacks meaningThispaperattemptstoapplymeaningtothisdrydefinition,andindoingso,willshowthe lessknownandlesspublishedsideofabortion;thehumanside.
ABriefHistory
ArchaeologistshaverecentlyuncoveredRomanruinsthatcontaintheevidenceofabortedchildren, abandonedchildren,andchildrenthatweredestroyedjustafterbirth(infanticide);allofthesebodies wererecoveredfromabrothel.Fastforwardingafewhundredyears,ThomasAquinaswroteonthe evilsofabortion,andthemoralshowmorecontent
OnJanuary22,1973thefamousRoevs.Wadecasewasdecided,essentiallylegalizingabortionin theUnitedStates,andmeantthedeathofmillionsofbabiesforyearstocome.Thiswasasaddayin ournation'shistory,andisknownasthepointofnoreturnformanypeople.Inthissameyear,the nationsawariseinactiongroupsthatwereconcernedwiththepreservationofhumanlife,fromthe "wombtothetomb,"orfromtheunborntotheelderlyandagingThe1980'shadsimilarlegislation, whichmetwithsimilaropposition.Inlate1987orearly1988,thefirstfederallyfundedfetaltissue researchfacilitieswereformed,capitalizingonthedeathoftheunborn,andwascondemnedbythen presidentReganInthe1990'swesawtheintroductionofRU–486,theabortionpillCurrently,we areseeingareversetrendinAmerica;thepoliticaloppositionofthenowcommonpracticeof abortion.Thebanonthebarbaricpracticeofpartial–birthabortionhasbeenpassed.Minnesota,with theaidofGov.Pawlenty,andMinnesotaCitizensConcernedforLife(MCCL)havepasseda"right toknow"act,callingfortheeducationonabortion,priortothemotherreceivinganabortion.
TheProblem
Sincethe1973rulingonRoevsWade,therehavebeenover35milliondeaths(HeritageHouse, 1998).Moredeathoccurredinthese25yearsthaninallofthewarsthattheUnitedStatesfought, combinedInfact,ifyoutakethenumberofUScasualtiesinallof
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TheHistoryofAbortion
Abortionistheendingofapregnancybeforebirth.Anabortionresultsinthedeathoftheembryoor fetusandmaybeeitherspontaneousorinducedForyears,abortionhasbeenanextremely controversialsubject.Thehistoryofabortionreachesbacknotjustdecades,butcenturies,andeven milleniums.Today,policiesregardinglegalabortionintheU.S.isbeingdebatedeverywhere.Many mythsandmisconceptionsconfusethisissueAbetterunderstandingofthehistoryofabortionin Americacanhelpprovideacontextforanimprovedpolicyinthefuture.
Abortionhasbeenwidelyknown,practiced,anddebatedsinceancienttimes.Theancient Hebrewsshowmorecontent
Theseillegalabortionswereunsafe,andcouldbefataltomostwomen,andputtheirlivesatrisk. JaneRoewasatwenty–oneyearoldwomanthatwaspregnant,whorepresentedallofthewomen whowantedabortionsbutcouldnotgetone.HenryWadewasaTexasattorneyGeneralwhohad defendedthestate'slaw.TheSupremeCourtruledforRoeandstatedthatAmerica'srighttoprivacy included:therightforawomantochoosewhetherornottohaveherchild;andtherightfora womanandherdoctortomakethisdecisionwithoutstateinvolvementwithinthefirsttrimesterof thepregnancyItmadeitpossibleforwomantogetsafe,legalabortionsfromwell–trainedmedical practitioners.Consequently,therewasadramaticdecreaseinpregnancyrelateddeaths. Anti–abortionpoliticiansin1981unsuccessfullyattemptedtointroducea"HumanLifeAmendment thatprohibitedabortionsunderallconditionsPresidentReaganandGeorgeBushalsowantedto overturntheSupremeCourt'srulingoftheRoev.Wadecase.TheDepartmentofHealthandHuman Servicesin1988,introducedfederal"gag"rules.Theserulesdidnotallowfederallyfundedfamily planningclinicstodiscussandinformtheirpatientsaboutabortion.In1939,the"abortionpill"RU 486wasbannedbytheFDA(FoodandDrugAdministration).After,manyanti–abortionbillswere introducedinstatelegislaturesBillssupportingabortionrightswere
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WhatisAbortion
Abortionisthetermusedtodescribetheprematureexpulsionofthefoetusfromthewomb,orthe operationtocausethis.Itiswhenapregnantwomanintentionallygetsridofherchildbeforeitis fullydeveloped
Abortionisanextremelytopicalissueandhasbeenpractisedformanycenturies,althoughitonly becamelegalinBritainin1967Thiswasbecauseanactwaspassedtoencouragewomennotto havedangerous'BackStreetAbortions'.Peoplewhohadnomedicalexperienceoftencarriedthese out.TheAbortionActallowedabortionstobecarriedout,iftwodoctorsagreedthat:
·Themother'slifewasindanger
·Gravepermanentinjurytothemother's...showmorecontent...
Manyorganisationsofferadviceandsupportfordifferentsituations.'LIFE'isapro–lifeorganisation thatbelievethatabortionshouldn'tbepractised.Theyteachthateverylifeissacredandthatit beginsrightatthemomentofconception.However,therearepro–choicegroupswhobelievethatit isthewoman'sownchoiceChristiansarefoundsupportingbothcauses
A.(ii)ExplainwhatChristianteachingsmightbeusedinadiscussionaboutabortion.
Whenforminganopiniononanissuesuchasabortion,aChristianwouldlooktowardsmanythings tohelpthem.
JesusandhisteachingsintheNewTestamentareextremelyimportanttoChristians,asmanyofthe ideasonlifestylearestillrelevanttodayAlthoughJesusneveractuallyusedthetermabortion,nor doeshepreachabouttheideaofgettingridofanunbornchildhedoestellusthatwe'Shallnotkill'. Thisrulecouldbeappliedtoabortion,asyouaretechnicallykillingsomeone.Therearefrequent remindersintheNewTestamenttoloveGodandyouneighbourasyourselfWiththislessonin mind,Christianscouldformtheopinionthatiftheywereanunbornbaby,wouldtheywantsomeone tochoosewhethertheywouldeveractuallymakeittobeingahumanbeingintherealworld AnotherimportantmessageinthegospelofLukeis
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'thatnotevenasparrowis
OpiniononAbortion
Myownopinionofabortionisveryvaried.Therearesomanydifferentreasonsforabortions.Every womanwhohashadonewillhavehadreasons.Iamsuretheywouldn'thavedecidedinafew minutesthattheyweregoingtoaborttheirbabyTheywouldhavethoughtlongandhardabout whattodo.Iputmyselfinthepositionofsomeoneelse.IfIgotpregnantnowwouldIreallybeable tokeepit.Iwould,forone,havetostopschoolandmissoutontheeducationIwouldneedtobring upachildIprobablywouldn'tbeabletocopewiththeemotionalpressuresandcopewiththepain ofgivingbirth.Itallseemssoeasybeforeyouseeitthroughsomeoneelse'seyes.Women...show morecontent
Today,abortionisillegalinveryfewcountries–eventhosewithreligiousbeliefsandtraditions. Duringthe1960sand1970smanygovernmentsrelaxedtheirabortionlawsandmadeiteasierfor womentoterminateunwantedpregnanciesInafewcountriessuchastheSovietUnionabortionis seenasanalternativetocontraception.InChinawomenareforcedtohaveabortionsbecauseofthe one–child–per–familypolicy.Thispolicyisaimedatreducingthecountry'soverpopulation problems.
Reasonsforabortionswithdifferentcircumstances
Ifyouarethinkingthattherearenovalidreasonsforabortion,justimagineafourteenyearoldgirl whohasbeenrapedHowcanshebeexpectedtogetonwithherlifeandeverrecoverifshehasa baby?Howcanshereceiveafulleducation?Everytimeshelooksatthebaby,shewillbereminded ofherterribleexperience.
Insomecountries,forexample,RussiaandChina,thereisanabsenceoffamilyplanning.Abortion isusedasaformofbirthcontrolInRussia,awomanhasonaveragefourorfiveabortionsinher lifetime.InChinathereareovertenmillionabortionsannually.Ithinkthattheamountofmoney spentonabortionsinthesecountriescouldbebetterspentonpromotingcontraceptivesandfamily planningIdonotagree
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