Nature of the Controversy and a Brief History - Research Paper Example

 Nature of the Controversy and a Brief History Over the past years, different nations of the world have struggled with the problem of establishing the best methods of eradicating the abortion practices that have continued to be practiced in different health facilities despite the increased government regulations and pressure from the anti-abortion organizations and human right movements of the world. Even though proper methods of controlling unintended pregnancies have increased over the last few years, there are still significant cases of abortions amongst a number of women in different societies of the world today. The abortion saga has over the centuries been a source of major controversies amongst different organizations of the world with various political organizations and social organizations taking different stands on the issue. Some of these organizations have openly supported abortion practices while others have strongly opposed this act and have termed it evil. Organizations supporting abortion have in the past argued that women have the basic right to decide on whether to have a child or not while the opposing force feels that the act itself is quite illegal and morally wrong. Social organizations of the world such as the Catholic Church have not been left out of the debate in fact Catholic Church has been amongst the great opposing forces to abortion practices in America and all over the world. The Catholic Church in the recent past has even accused the American President Obama of conspiring in acts of promoting abortion in America (Castle, 2011). Some other organizations on the other hand feel that abortion is a good method of controlling unintended pregnancies in the society. According to Jones and Jerman (2014), a thirty percent of the women under the age of forty five years are likely to undertake an abortion. This is as a result of unintended pregnancies. One in every five pregnancies in America is likely to end with an abortion (Jones and Kavanaugh, 2011). In the year 2008, according to Finer and Zolna (2014), fifty one percent of the pregnancies in the US were unintended and of which forty percent of these ended with an abortion. In 2008 approximately 1.21 million abortions cases were reported in America. This was a decline in the figure that had been recorded in the previous years (Finer & Zolna, 2014). Jones and Jerman (2014) however indicated that the number of facilities offering abortion had significantly reduced to a number fewer than 1800 by the year 2008. This was as a result of the continued law enforcement by the different American states as well as pressure from anti-abortion organizations. In the past, the European Union took time to come up with the necessary regulations to curb the abortion practices in the different parts of the world. The burden was then left on the hands of the different governments of the world to individually address the abortion problem as well as the different anti-abortion organizations of the world to further pile more pressure on the governments to formulate more laws to curb cases of abortion. Nevertheless, abortion practices have recently significantly decreased. In the US, the reduction of abortion practices is attributable to the numerous laws that have continued to be passed by the different individual states as well as advancement in ways of preventing unexpected pregnancies. Such laws include the TRAP law that was plainly formulated for the different health facilities in America. According to Jones and Jerman (2014), in year 2008, hospitals alone accounted for approximately thirty four percent and performed four percent of the abortion procedures; clinics on the other hand recorded the highest rate accounting for forty seven percent and performing ninety four percent of the abortion procedures. The law then tended to shift the burden of liability from the doer to the medical facility performing the procedure. This has adequately forced the different hospitals and clinics in the US to refrain from the abortion practices. Other organizations such as Heritage foundations, the Catholic Church as well as the Focus on the family have also played a significant role in addressing abortion practices in America for their persistent push for more adequate laws and regulations on abortion cases (Castle 2011). Identifying organizations Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) main office is based in New York and Washington D. C. The organization came into being in the early years of the 19th century and has eve since dedicated its entire operations to bettering the lives of different individual groups of the societies of the world benefiting both advantaged and disadvantaged individuals. The organization undertakes several health care services ranging from breast cancer screening, HIV tests, abortions to contraception amongst others. Also, the organization is well known for the health education it provides to different individuals of the world through guidance and counseling. Moreover, contraception and abortions forms the largest part of the services offered by Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) in America and also in other parts of the world. American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) on the other hand is an American nonprofit organization that has for long been against the abortion practices in America. The organization came into being in the early 1970s and has ever since fought for different people of the world to embrace the dignity of the human life. This organization integrates both the cultural aspects and professional elements in its war against abortion practices. American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists believes that doctors and physicians should be life givers and not life destroyers and that abortion should never be considered as a solution in any health condition following the severe consequences it has on the health of the women of the world. Abortion cases are attributable to rise in maternal deaths, cases of suicide, depressions, drug abuse and other risks such as preterm births or even breast cancer in women (Norris et.al, 2011). Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) This organization targets quite a diverse group of individuals in the society; women, men and the teenagers who need proper health care and education. The organization specifically offers guidance mainly in areas of productive health, maternal health as well as child health care. The organization has partnerships with other similar organizations in other parts of the world and operates sixty six clinics in the U.S. and more than seven hundred clinics in other parts of the world. The organization further target to provide proper health care services to the less disadvantaged members of the society as well as to properly educate the different persons of the world on better healthcare methods. It is no doubt that Parental Parenthood organization has grown to become one of the most trusted reproductive healthcare providers in America and across the world. The organization is led by both men and women who are equally committed to providing the best healthcare services and health education in terms of quality and convenience to all people of the world. Cecile Richards is the overall president and the Chief Executive Officer of the organization as well as the President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Lisa David and Dawn Laguens are both the organization’s Executive Vice Presidents and at the same time the Chief Experience Officers. Latanya Mapp Frett is the Vice President in charge of the Global Programs of the organization. Jethro O. Miller is the organization’s Chief Development Officer. Tom Subak is the overall Chief Information Officer of the organization. Wallace D’Souza is the Chief Financial Officer of the organization. Debra Alligood White is the Senior Vice President and also General Counsel of the organization. Lastly, Marv Russell is the Chief Human Resources Officer of the organization. The above officers form the board management of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and are based in the national offices located in New York City and Washington D.C. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) has a link to other organizations such as the Center for Women Policy Studies, Choice USA, and Center for Women Policy Studies, Americans for Religious Liberty as well as the American United for Separation of Church and States amongst others. Planned Parenthood together with its associates have been working together and openly defended and promoted the continued practice of abortion in America. Over the year, Planned Parenthood has been receiving funds from the federal government as well as donations from charities and other organizations who are its close allies. The organization has a number of medical employees not only in America but also in other parts of the world where the respective clinics are located. As a result of extending it operations in other parts of the world, the organization feels that it has been quite successful in its rally campaign for abortion practices. Statistics of the world reveal that the company has continued to account for a substantial number of abortions every year. American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) The organization has more than two thousand five hundred members and associates. This organization represents a number of diverse interest groups in the society. Such special interest groups in our societies include women, men and the teenagers. American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists members include different physicians and doctors in America who feel that there is more to abortion than just a method of family planning. The board of the organization comprises both males and females. The board is responsible for leading the organization towards achieving its vision and mission of ensuring that the different individuals of America embrace the value that is attached to a human life. The President of the organization is Allan Sawyer. Donna Harrison is the executive Director and Director in charge of Research as well as public policies. The Director In charge of the communications is Josh Osbun with IMMED PSST President as Mary Davenport. Julie Mickelson is the Director in charge of the Latin America Region. American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists work together with other organizations such as America Life League, Anglican Priests for Life, Association of Pro-Life Physicians, Bioethics Defense Fund and Abbotsford Right to Life Society. American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists advocates for the right feeling of conscience on the side of the physician when making the different medical decisions. American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians therefore aims at limiting the health damages that can be perpetrated by the different physician in the field of medicine. The organization has an adequate number of health physicians who are volunteers. This organization highly depends on donations from the well wishers. This organization feels that it has not adequately achieved its mission of ensuring a safe haven for all girls and mothers of the world and creating a world where the human rights are respected. There is need to collaborate with other powerful organizations of the world such as the UN in pushing for abolition of the different forms of abortion. Conclusion Despite the fact that abortion has continued to be an act that is against the human rights of the different individuals of the world as well as a shameful and a dangerous act to the women who undertake the abortion procedures, it has continued to be practiced in different parts of the world with organizations such as the Planned Parenthood rallied behind it and of course with financial support from the government. This organization has continued to reach out to the different women, men and teenagers of the world and continued to sell the ideology of importance of abortion practices as a method of family planning yet this method pauses a lot of dangers to the health of different women of the world. Other organizations such as the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) on the other hand, have continued to fight this act regardless of the minimal support they have from the government in terms of financial resources. They have largely depended on the funds from the well wishers in their campaigns. However, in the recent past, anti-abortion organizations have had a breakthrough with the different American state governments enforcing various stricter laws and regulations to abortion incidences in America. References Castle, A. (2011). Abortion in the United States’ Bible belt: Organizing for Power and Empowerment. Castle Reproductive Health, 8(1), 1-11. Retrieved from http://www.reproductive-health-journal.com/content/8/1/1 Finer, L. & Zolna, R. (2014). Shifts in Intended and Unintended Pregnancies in the United States, 2001–2008. American Journal of Public Health, 104(1), S43–S48. doi10.2105/AJPH.2013.301416. Jones, R. & Jerman, J. (2014). Abortion incidence and service availability in the United States 2011. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 46(1), 3-14. Jones, R. & Kavanaugh, M. (2011). Changes in Abortion Rates between 2000 and 2008 and Lifetime Incidence of Abortion. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 117(6), 1358-1366. Norris, A., Bessett, D., Steinberg, J., Kavanaugh, M., Silvia, L., De Zordo & Davida, B. (2011). Abortion Stigma: A Reconceptualization of Constituents, Causes, and Consequences. Original Research Article in Women’s Health Issues. doi:10.1016/j.whi.2011.02.010. Read More