Abortion Should Be Illegal Except in Cases Where Rape, Incest, or the Health of the Mother Is Involved - Essay Example

Abortion Should Be Illegal Except in Cases Where Rape, Incest, or the Health of the Mother Is InvolvedIntroduction Women are equal to men on all counts. Viewed from a special angle, women are more adequate as compared to men. A woman provides support to the creative force of nature by giving protection to the fetus for the initial nine months. But the ground reality is unsatisfactory on many counts, the result being women are driven to desperation. The birth of a female child is accepted with displeasure in most of the societies.

What makes the girl child insecure and why the female fetus is awarded the punishment of abortion? Case against abortionIs abortion a desired step from the point of view of women? My response to this question is in the negative. A woman’s conscience does not respond to the call of abortion normally and her heart is like the oases of love. But hard and unexpected developments relating to her health drive her to that option. During the course of medical examination the doctor informs the pregnant mother that the growing fetus will develop physical deformities and the child will also suffer from mental disorders.

By the current standards of medical billing, even to bring up a normal child is a difficult proposition (notwithstanding the insurance reimbursements) and to take care about a physically challenged child for a middle class family is a tough option. Psychological issues will also torment the parents of such a child. Who will look after about its welfare, when the parents are no more? Many types of deformities are incurable and the modern medical system is grappling with such issues. The child’s suffering added to the suffering of the parents can be prevented when the mother avails the option of abortion.

The economic related to bringing up the childAbortion, just because the parents or the mother do not want the child, should be illegal. A part of the society, and some of the women activists strongly plead that abortion needs to be legalized and it must be the choice of the mother to have the child or not and her decision should be final for termination of the pregnancy. But pro-life activists are not willing to accept this stand. The unwanted child can be given for adoption after completing the legal formalities.

This is a good alternative from sociological considerations. Why terminate the life before it had the chance to begin its innings? God knows what the future holds for that child. That child may be credited with sterling achievements in life.From the personal perspective of the womanBut when a woman is raped, a peculiar situation develops. Such pregnancies will not be to the liking of the woman. The legal procedures may take care of the individual who commits such a heinous crime, severe punishment may be awarded, but what can compensate the woman who goes through the process of intense suffering?

The alternative is to allow the woman to abort such a fetus, if that is her choice. Rape is an emotionally distressing experience. But even in such cases, where the law and order machinery of the state has to interfere, discriminative practices often take place. Mark Graber in his book “Rethinking Abortion,” argues, “Statutory bans on abortion have been a particularly poor means for protecting the unborn because such measures are consistently administered in ways that intentionally discriminate against poor persons and persons of color.”(158) If rape cases are not honestly investigated, the suffering of the concerned woman is all the more.

ConclusionIn fine, abortion should be illegal except in cases of rape, incest and the serious health considerations of the mother. It is a complex issue which has bearing on societal values like ethical, philosophical, moral, biological and legal angles. Religious ethics can play a dominant role in preventing abortion, which is rampart in the society impacted by materialistic civilization. Fetus is a human being, and just because it in a helpless position, one cannot kill it. It is murder. Abortion should be allowed only when the mother’s health is in a perilous condition and in case of serious birth defects.

From the constructive angle, provide sex education, birth control measures to the adolescent youth well in time. The combustible younger generation should also be inculcated with moral values. Works CitedGraber, Mark. Rethinking Abortion: Equal Choice, the Constitution, and Reproductive Politics.Princeton University Press, March 23, 1999, Print. Apart from the discussions about the merits and demerits of abortion, one important issue cannot be sidetracked. Abortion should be legal on account of two counts.

Women should have the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive systems. Nobody can take away that right from them forcibly by imposing restrictions. It is her individual freedom, regardless of the government policy. Mark Graber, in his book, “Rethinking Abortion” writes, “Even if States may ban abortion, law enforcement officials cannot prevent some women from procuring an abortion in those communities that by law or custom permit women of other races and economic classes to make that reproductive choice.”(p.8) Abortion is a highly sensitive subject concerning the individual and fundamental rights of the woman.

Society needs to be responsive to it and help her make the best choice under the circumstances. A woman knows what is good for her.