Abortion Dilemma - Essay Example

Early Sol Gadong Academia-Research 7 December Abortion occurs throughout the world and has been a global phenomenon dating back to the ancient Greeks. Abortion is being practiced in using a variety of methods in many countries. However, with the development of women’s rights and the feminist movement, the attitude towards abortion has changed radically. As of 1982, 10% and 18% of the worlds population, respectively, lived in countries where abortion was totally prohibited or where it was permitted only to save the mothers life (SOURCE). Further investigation shows that in 1972 and 1975, 75% of the surveyed population in America approved the prohibition of abortion under some health condition and 10% refuse the idea of abortion under all conditions. Furthermore, reports from the United Nations and the World Health Organization indicate that illegal abortion is the largest and most important threat to the health of women, representing about 13% of the maternal mortality ratio in the world (SOURCE). Abortion is defined as a procedure to end a pregnancy by using medicine or surgery to to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus (SOURCE). Legally, the procedure can only be done by a licensed physician or someone acting under the supervision of a licensed physician. However, there is evidence that in certain communities, women train other women on abortion techniques (SOURCE). In 1803, Britain passed the first Anti- abortion law, followed by the United States in 1880. In most of the Arab world and Middle East today, the Islamic law prohibits abortion and considers the act as a crime. Abortion may only be done when the woman’s life is in danger. Islamic law qualifies abortion under two classifications. The first one is abortion with force and without the woman’s intention. This is completely prohibited and must be paid by blood money when committed. Secondly, abortion is prohibited under all circumstances after the embryo has completed the fourth month. It is believed that God has bowled the soul into the embryo and if the embryo and aborting the embryo means killing a human person (SOURCE). Induced abortion has always been a great source of discussion, debate, and activism. There are two main opposing sides in this debate: the pro-life and the pro-choice, each with its own stands on the moral, philosophical, biological, and legal systems. Members of the pro-life movement argue against access to abortion. They claim that the fetus is a human being who has the right to live and as such, abortion is tantamount to killing him. Pro-choice is a position which argues in favor of access to abortion. They claim that women have reproductive rights and these include the choice to continue pregnancy or not. In addition, members of feminist movements argue that women must have full control of her body and the decision to commit abortion should be entirely theirs. Proponents of pro-choice position point out that many abortions take place in the first months of pregnancy. This means that the womb is still not a separate entity from the mother and thus, abortion may not be regarded as a crime or the killing of a human being. Furthermore, an article titled Ten Arguments against Anti-Abortion says “(t)he concept of personhood is different from the concept of human life. Human life occurs at conception, but fertilized eggs used for in vitro fertilization are also human lives and those not implanted are routinely thrown away. Is this murder, and if not, then how is abortion murder?” Aside from these reasons, the right to abortion is considered a privacy issue and invading such privacy should be considered immoral. Such was the main driving point in the case of “Roe vs Wade.” This is a landmark case that was a turning point in American Abortion law and has, in fact, changed the laws on abortion in the United States of America. Jane Roe was the alias of Norma McCorvey, an American national from Texas. The suit was originally filed on her behalf, alleging that the abortion law in Texas violated her constitutional rights and the rights of other women (Panchyk 110). She asked the federal court for Abortion permission, but the court failed to give it to her. The defendant was the district attorney of Dallas County, Texas, Henry B. Wade. Roe argued that the court is invading her privacy and abortion should be allowed without prior permission from the respective authority. The court then could not argue more against Roe’s reasons and so came up with a more detailed law that favors the privacy of women in the United States of America.“In Roe v. Wade” the Court said that a fetus is not a person but "potential life," and thus does not have constitutional rights of its own (SOURCE). The Court also set up a framework clarifying the extent of a woman’s right to abortion and the states right to protect potential life. It is said that during the first trimester of pregnancy, a womans privacy right is strongest and the state may not regulate abortion for any reason. During the second trimester, the state may regulate abortion only to protect the health of the woman. During the third trimester, the state may regulate or prohibit abortion to promote its interest in the potential life of the fetus, except where abortion is necessary to preserve the Woman’s life or health (SOURCE). The above stated case about Roe v Wade made revolutionary changes in the law of Abortion in the United States, and the debate about the case is valid until today. On a personal note, I stand against abortion because I believe that such a behavior is against humanity. As a Muslim, I strictly follow the codes of the Islamic law which only allows abortion when the life of the woman or the child is in danger. I believe that abortion is equivalent to murder since a human being’s life is being taken away. I likewise believe that abortion will simply lead to an increase in rape cases and encourage unsafe sex in society. There is no denying that women who undergo an abortion are those that are very young and have very limited education in reproductive health. Thus, an access to abortion may encourage them further to engage in unsafe sex. In fact, their male partners might even encourage or force them into having an abortion. Committing an abortion will definitely expose these unprotected women to great physical and emotional stress. This will scar them far into the future, physically, emotionally and mentally. Rather than lobbying for abortion, civic groups must focus on educating the youth on the issues of reproductive health. Young people must be made aware that sexual intercourse is a very important and sensitive act that requires a lot of responsibility. If the youth is given proper education, then they will be more mature and more responsible in dealing with the issues of unprotected premarital sex. If we succeed in doing this, then more unwanted pregnancies will be avoided and abortion will be no longer a persistent problem in society. Additional Works Cited: Panchyk, Richard. Our Supreme Court: A history with 14 activities. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press, 2006. (from: http://books.google.com.ph/) Read More