Arguments against Abortion - Essay Example

ARGUMENTS AGAINST ABORTION "America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts -- a child -- as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters" And, in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign." (Mother Theresa -- "Notable and Quotable," Wall Street Journal, 2/25/94, p. A14) INTRODUCTION The aspect of abortion has been in vogue for centuries in all parts of the world and debated for and against ever since. While individuals arguing for abortion have been insistent on certain safety related issues and also often alleged business related factors, aspects against abortion too have various and even more credible grounds including religious, medical, legal, ethical and so on. While abortion is definitely a favourable decision in case of a medical emergency whereby at least the mother's life can be saved, in today's world abortion has actually become a matter of choice on various counts, and unfortunately, even a family planning tool. AIM This paper aims at bringing out certain critical issues advocating against exercising the option of abortion. WOMEN'S CHOICE Across the country, people on both sides of abortion debate agree that women have a right to make informed decisions about their pregnancy. Women have a right to know what is right, safe and good for them and the child in the long run ethically, morally, medically and even psychologically. However, in honest opinion of this author, there are certain critical issues involved when terminating a pregnancy willingly, which may affect her for a long time. While there are adequate instances of medical practitioners and employers advising women regarding terminating pregnancies purely to save them monetarily through savings on maternity benefits, the abortion decision should not be taken under pressure from the employers. Unfortunately, even this happens far too often in modern world. "Coercive and unethical counselors lie to vulnerable women and pressure them. This has happened in some abortion clinics as well as some pregnancy care centers. Women have died from botched abortions, both before abortion was legalized and after, when it is supposed to be safe. After all, employers do not want to pay for maternity benefits or lose productivity when a mother takes time off to care for a newborn or sick child. "(Source: Feminists for Life, Serrin M. Foster, 1999) WHAT RELIGION SAYS Bible doesn't advocate anything against abortion for the basic reason that abortion was unthinkable in those days when a child was considered to be a gift from the god. Further, childlessness was seen as the greatest curse. Hence, there was no need to mention this aspect at all in the bible. However, "some verses appear to teach that if a woman gives birth prematurely, but the baby is not injured, then only a fine is appropriate. However, if the child dies then the law of retaliation (lex talionis) should be applied. In other words, killing an unborn baby would carry the same penalty as killing a born baby. A baby inside the womb has the same legal status as a baby outside the womb." (Arguments Against Abortion, Kerby Anderson, President of Probe Ministries International, 1997) Roman Catholicism: The popes have taught that abortion is always forbidden. However, grounds for abortion in a variety of life saving and other situation exist in Catholic traditions. A 15th century Catholic saint, St Antonius, archbishop of Florence even permitted abortion as a life saving measure. However, abortion under other circumstances wasn't allowed in general. Protestantism: "Conservative Protestants usually condemn abortion, but Protestants are largely open to a moral choice on abortion. The United Methodist General Conference was typical of mainline Protestant churches when it rejected "simplistic answers to the problem of abortion which, on the one hand, regard all abortions as murders, or, on the other hand, regard all abortions as procedures without moral significance." (Source: Sacred Choices: The Right to Contraception and Abortion in Ten World Religions by Daniel C. Maguire in USA TODAY) Judaism: Children have been considered as blessings by this culture which has always been looking for survival in this modern world with more enemies than friends. However, except for certain permissive mentions, the abortion is not recommended unless emergencies. Islam: Islam believes in more and more followers across the world and doesn't seemingly advocate abortion per se. After 120 days, abortion is permissible only to save the mother's life, where the pregnancy is harming an already suckling child, or when it is known that the fetus is malformed. Buddhism: This religion has always followed the wiser, middle path in most aspects and has not prevented abortion per se. Hinduism: The literature of this religion calls abortion one of the mahapatakas (sinful acts). But Hindu culture has been more liberal and permissive one with liberty to follow one's convictions. Abortion in India is legal since 1971 except in conditions where some parents want to choose one sex over other. Female infanticide is banned. Taoism and Confucianism: "It is especially noteworthy in the Chinese religions that sex and sexual pleasure are esteemed and celebrated along with the need for moderation. Thus, there is minimal resistance in these religions to contraception, and abortion is allowed as a backup if needed." (Source: Sacred Choices: The Right to Contraception and Abortion in Ten World Religions Daniel C. Maguire in USA TODAY) THE MEDICAL FACULTY "A developing embryo is genetically different from the mother. A developing embryo is also genetically different from the sperm and egg that created it. A human being has 46 chromosomes (sometimes 47 chromosomes). Sperm and egg have 23 chromosomes. Another set of medical arguments against abortion surround the definition of life and death. If one set of criteria have been used to define death, could they also be used to define life Death used to be defined by the cessation of heartbeat. A stopped heart was a clear sign of death. If the cessation of heartbeat could define death, could the onset of a heartbeat define life The heart is formed by the 18th day in the womb. If heartbeat was used to define life, then nearly all abortions would be outlawed." (Arguments Against Abortion, Kerby Anderson, President of Probe Ministries International, 1997) Physicians now use a more rigorous criterion for death: brain wave activity. Since death is closely related to a flat EEG as per medical science, presence of waves should denote life. Consequently, since brain functioning starts showing on the screen in about two months, the fetus at this stage can be said to be alive. Further, the sonography has allowed us to notice unique set of patterns and that the presence of life form growing and developing in the mother's womb which has hands, legs, eyes, ears fingers, mouth and vital organs functioning as smoothly as in an adult. No more proof is required that there is life inside he womb and needs to be treated as life in normal sense. The point is simple. Medical science leads to a pro-life perspective rather than a pro-choice perspective. If medical science can be used at all to draw a line, the clearest line is at the moment of conception. Medical arguments provide a strong case against abortion and for life. (Arguments Against Abortion, Kerby Anderson, President of Probe Ministries International, 1997) Abortion also emanates into various medical complications in the woman which can be considered as the cons of abortion. Some of the general complications arising in women due to abortions are: Blocked fallopian tubes Weakened cervix uterine scarring damage to the woman's reproductive system which may make her unable to conceive in the future face the increase in the probability of an increase in tubal babies hysterectomies miscarriages stillbirths premature births (Source: Anti Abortion Arguments - Reasons Against Abortion by Roy D'Silva 2007) There is evidence of increased chances of breast, uterine and cervical cancer in these women undergoing abortion. Another aspect is that most of the abortion operations taking place across the world are illegal. Some abortions in many developing countries are done after sex test purely as a means of having male or female sex babies. Such abortion operations are undertaken illegally, in unhygienic conditions or by mid-wives which may later lead to life-long miseries of infections, allergies and other such ailments. Abortion and Mental Health. "Researchers in New Zealand have found that those reporting an abortion prior to age 21 had rates of mental disorders from age 21 to 25 more than 11/2 times higher than the rates for women who did not become pregnant and those who became pregnant but did not abort. The relationship between abortion and mental health problems persisted even when the researchers took into account the mental health of the women prior to the abortion. The researchers concluded, "Abortion in young women may be associated with increased risks of mental health problems." However, according to Dr. Russo, countering New Zealand study in the USA, says that pro-choice researchers have a different agenda. "To someone who believes that the decision to have a child is a personal decision, protected by a right of privacy, evidence about negative effects of abortion is important, but for a different policy goal - to provide women accurate information so they can make informed choices in their pregnancy decision making process." She also believes telling women an abortion is wrong may create guilt and shame in some, but those feelings are rooted in social disapproval and not abortion per se." (Source: Warren Throckmorton, article in Washington Post 2006) PHILOSOPHICAL/ETHICAL PART "Dr. Francis Crick, of DNA fame, demonstrated that he was less concerned about the ethics of such logical extensions and proposed a more radical definition of personhood. He suggested in the British journal Nature that if "a child were considered to be legally born when two days old, it could be examined to see whether it was an 'acceptable member of human society.' Obviously this is not only an argument for abortion; it's an argument for infanticide." Physicians around the world have subscribed to the Hippocratic Oath ("I will not give a woman a pessary to produce abortion"). Further, the unborn were even protected by various international documents like the Declaration of Geneva and the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of the Child." (Arguments Against Abortion, Kerby Anderson, President of Probe Ministries International, 1997) In common terms, it is an irony for the unborn child who is literally killed by the very parents for absolutely no fault of his or hers. The reason for abortions that I have personally seen have been vague: like it's too early or it's at the time when I am expecting a promotion and cannot afford to be tied down with another responsibility, or even that we are planning a long professional trip abroad and cannot afford to have him with us. Was the same option of killing their own child available for them for these reasons And if not so, what's the difference between a life in a womb and that on this earth. Both are alive and full of hopes for a beautiful life ahead. Failure of family planning or a poor planning on that font shouldn't become a reason for death of a living creature. Abortion should not be used as another form of contraception. Its barbaric and disgusting! THE LAW "Abortion is inherently different from other medical procedures because no other procedure involves the purposeful termination of a potential life." - Potter Stewart quotes (American Judge and associate justice of the US Supreme Court (1958-81). 1915-1985) The law does not have much say in this regard. One should ask himself, if law is made for a living being, then in medical terms, isn't a child in a womb also living being. Why is there different law whereby abortion is permitted before birth but not permitted afterwards The only factor leading to exercising the option of abortion should be when either mother's or child's life is at stake. I have personally known cases where there was a danger to life of either one during birth and mothers have chosen to give birth and take the risk of their own death than choose their own safety and get rid of the child. Law makers should think about this aspect and work to bring in appropriate amendments to the laws regarding abortion. Female infanticide is banned legally in many countries except for medical reasons. The same can be extended to abortion itself except for medical reasons. CONCLUSION "Please don't kill the child. I want the child. Please give me the child. I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted, and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child, and be loved by the child. From our children's home in Calcutta alone, we have saved over 3,000 children from abortions. These children have brought such love and joy to their adopting parents, and have grown up so full of love and joy!" - Mother Teresa Throughout the history, no society has encouraged taking life in their own hands, especially that of an unborn who cannot even defend himself. For all those careless parents, offering their child for adoption is a viable option. This may actually turn out better for the child than living with such insensitive ones for the rest of his life. He or she may rather go to some home where it is loved, appreciated and welcomed. Enactment of a suitable law and a simple streamlined procedure for these adoptions would solve a lot of harassment for those millions of adoption hopefuls. In the instances of rape and incest, proper medical care can ensure that a woman will not get pregnant. In case of failures of such care, adoption is still an option. "While it cannot be said whether an abortion is an unforgivable event, it is of course an unforgettable event. An abortion plays havoc with the psychology and the future life of the entire family. The woman who has lost her child, at any time during the pregnancy, will never be the same. While the woman may be the hardest hit by an abortion, one also has to think about the mental and emotional state of the entire family. While physically only the woman undergoes an abortion, mentally and emotionally it is the entire family who loses a part of their mind and body forever. Anesthesia is available only for the physical structure of the human body, not for the emotional and mental state of a person." (Source: Anti Abortion Arguments - Reasons Against Abortion Roy D'Silva 2007) Read More