Legality of Abortion: Should it Be Legal - Research Paper Example

 Legality of Abortion Introduction Abortion can be defined as the killing of a fetus using medical treatments and other methods. Abortion normally happens in two ways; either spontaneously (called miscarriage) or purposely induced. The term ‘abortion’ is generally used for purposely induced abortion. Here, we are more concerned with the second type of abortion that is purposely induced abortion. A majority of people in the modern world is arguing for making abortion legal worldwide. The key arguments in support of abortion are to counter unexpected pregnancy, to reduce over population, and finally as the expression of woman’s right to her own body. The last is a true and correct statement as all the people have the right to do what they wish to their own bodies. However, they should understand one thing that the unborn baby is a different individual. Even though it resides inside its mother, it is a separate entity and has got a separate existence from its mother. The DNA and other elements of the body are entirely its own. Since the moment of conception, it is completely a distinct genetic individual. Looking at this issue, it is clear that abortion for any cause is wrong. Therefore, the call in favor of abortion because of unexpected pregnancy or abortion for the sake of convenience or as an expression of woman’s right to her own body is not tenable. Arguments for and Against Admittedly, the first and most prominent argument against abortion is that if abortion has been deemed to be moral in any phase of human development, there would not have been a greater cry for the enactments of law banning abortions. Admittedly, most of the religions in the world oppose the legalization of abortion. Abortion is similar to murder where an unborn baby is chopped up for the mistakes of his parents or sometimes for the benefit of others. As there is an inception of life since the conception, abortion can be regarded as a crime against the sanctity of human life. No civilized society permits to harm an individual intentionally or take one’s life without punishment and so abortion also is not an exception. Hence, in a society where murder is considered to be immoral and a crime, abortion must also be considered as a punitive crime. Some others argue that abortion is an alternative for contraception on the ground that any method that is used to prevent a woman from being pregnant can be considered as contraception. However, it is fundamentally foolish to claim so because unlike contraception that prevents pregnancy from taking place, abortion is committed only after the woman becomes pregnant. Pregnancy is a result of the failure to use effective contraceptives. Equating abortion with contraceptives is a falsified idea. So, abortion cannot be given the meaning of contraception. Abortion of pregnancy as a result of rape is another kind of moral puzzle. In the case of a molested or raped girl, proper medical care can ensure that she will not become pregnant. Abortion in such cases means to punish an innocent human being who had no role in the committed crime. Instead of punishing the unborn baby, it is the rapist or molester who is to be trialed and punished. In addition, one has to give attention to the physical and mental impacts of such an abortion on the woman. An easy measure adopted for time being or momentary convenience may, thus, result in or pave way to serious problems in the future. However, most of the abortions are taking place among teenagers who do not have sufficient life experiences. What they can do in this regard is to be prudent enough to use contraceptives before going into physical relations. A suitable philosophy at this juncture seems to come from Bartter (2001), who reminds such mothers of the fact that there are thousands who do not have a child to adopt. So, instead of throwing the unborn baby into the valley of death, those mothers can give such children to those who can bring them up as their own children. Thus, getting rid of the unwanted child may finish up in a happy ending (p. 39). In the modern world, abortion is used as a mode of reducing population growth in many countries. It is terrible to notice that even some governments also support abortion if the parents wish to abort the unexpected child. The devastation caused by compulsory abortion is much wider than many people would expect. As stated (in ‘Anti-abortion arguments’), a compulsory abortion may result in psychological distress both in the woman and her family in future life. The woman who has lost her child at any time during the pregnancy will never be the same thereafter. While the woman may be the most severely hit by the abortion, there certainly is mental and emotional stress on the entire family. While the woman undergoes physical infliction in an abortion, her family undergoes mental and emotional infliction as the entire family loses a part of their mind and body forever. Anesthesia and other sedatives are available only for the physical structure of the human body and not for the emotional and mental state of a person (Anti-abortion arguments, n.d). The wound that is caused to the heart will haunt them for their entire lifetime. If the present trend in demography continues, by the end of this century, 3/4 of the total population will be aged 75 years or more. Finally, as Ebaugh (2006) has mentioned, religions that form the basis of all ethics and moral reasoning on earth are against abortion. The Catholic Church, in particular, regards abortion as a serious crime. If abortion is made legitimate, it will be against the religious teachings and can injure the religious passions of the individuals who oppose legalization of abortion (p. 10). However, a little thought in favor of abortion can be given only on the ground of medical reasons. There are such medical cases where the mother’s life can be in danger if she gives birth to the child, and there are instances when the child will have serious physical or mental defect. In such instances, the decision should solely come from the people involved. It is true that the mother and the unborn baby are still two distinct entities, but under this difficult condition, it is truly a personal decision of those who are directly involved in this matter. It is in no way, to justify abortion but family has, in this terrible occasion, the right to decide whom to save. In most cases the decision becomes in favor of the mother. Regardless of the decision, one life will be lost and the other will be saved. Abortion in cases of rape also is treated the same as abortion for medical reasons. Here too, the decision whether to abort the baby or not is left with the girl who has been raped. This situation differs so fundamentally from abortion on demand and abortion for convenience. Here abortion is done to save a life rather than destroying a fetus. Therefore, abortions on the ground of medical reasons cannot be regarded merely as abortions as such. Abortion on medical ground is reasonable and justifiable only if its aim is to save life. The exponents of anti abortion agree to this context as they are aware of the fact that the so saved new born child cannot survive in the absence of its mother and it may lead to losing the life of the new born child in a few days (Illsley & Hall, 1976). Thus, more importance is given to saving the life of the mother. Conclusion In total, nobody can deny the fact that abortion is destroying a life. When the civilized community regards destroying a human life as a serious crime, destroying a fetus too amounts to killing a human being. For, in the unborn child also, there is life. If abortion is legalized, it is equal to giving everyone the right to kill all the human beings. We have the right to take a life if and only if we are capable of restoring it. Abortion is not the sole way to do away with the unwanted child. It is necessary to find alternate and sustainable ways to let him live. According to the teachings of religions, we are called to be co-associates of incepting life and it is not we who are imparting life. So, nobody has the right and power to take a life. To sum up, the unborn child deserves human consideration and the right to be born and brought up in this wonderful world. References Anti-abortion arguments: Reasons against abortion. (n.d). Buzzle.com. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/antiabortion-arguments-reasons-against-abortion.html Bartter, K. (2001). Ethical Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice. US: Elsevier Health Sciences. Ebaugh, H. R. (2006). Handbook of Religion and Social Institutions. USA: Springer. Illsley, R & Hall, M. H. (1976). Psychological aspects of abortion: A review of issues and needed research. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 53(1), 83-106. Read More