Tanushri Gukhool

A.  i. What is mean by the word “abortion”?

     ii. What Biblical and Church teachings might be used in a

         discussion about abortion?

B. Explain how Christians might put their beliefs about

    abortion into action

C. “Abortion is never justified”

      Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and

      show that you’ve thought about different points of view.

      You must refer to Christianity in your answer?

Contents Page

My Aims………........................................................... pg 2

Part A: Section 1………………….………................... pg 3

Part A: Section 2.……………………........................... pg 5

Part B……………………………….............................. pg 7

Part C………………………………….......................... pg 9

Pg 1

Aims for the end of this project!

During this project I aim to study the topic of abortion. Firstly I aim to show you all the  different perspectives of the “abortion argument” giving points for both sides of the argument of  abortion un-biased and the personal, social and worldwide issues that are attached to it. I aim to give as much information on abortion as I can, including my personal thoughts of the issue.

Secondly I will aim to display how the differences of opinion can influence our community and our beliefs. Also how many people have been debating over this issue for years and have still not been able to come up with agreeable terms on both sides.

pg 2

Part A:

Section 1

“Abortion”

What is meant by the word abortion?

   An abortion is the premature removal of the embryo or foetus from the , resulting in or caused by the foetus’s death. It can happen naturally as a spontaneous abortion also know as a miscarriage, due to accidental trauma or natural causes. It can be induced by medical or surgical, for example:

Therapeutic abortion: An abortion performed either...

  • to save the life of the pregnant woman
  • to preserve the woman’s physical or mental health
  • to terminate pregnancy that would result in a child born with a medical disorder
  • to reduce the number of foetuses to reduce health risks that come with multiple pregnancies.

   An abortion is usually used as a means emergency contraception. "Abortion" can refer to an induced procedure at any point during pregnancy; it’s a miscarriage or induced termination before the point of viability. The abortion debate asks whether it can be morally right to terminate a pregnancy before normal childbirth.

The abortion law:

   Some people think that abortion is always wrong, some think abortion is right when the mother's life is at risk, and others think that there is a range of circumstances where an abortion is morally acceptable.

   Technically the law doesn’t legalise abortions, but give a legal defence for those having them. Abortions can legally be performed under certain conditions, like if continuing with the pregnancy involves a bigger risk to the physical or mental health of the woman, or her existing children, than having a termination. The woman's actual or probable future environment may be taken into account.

   Abortion up to 24 weeks is also allowed if there is a large risk that the child when born would suffer physical or mental defects so bad that they would be seriously handicapped. An abortion must be agreed by two doctors, one in an emergency, and it is to be performed by a doctor in a government-approved hospital or clinic.

   Abortion has been legal in Britain since 1967. In 1974 119,000 legal abortions were carried out in England and Wales. By 1995 this figure had risen to 154,000.

pg 3

“Back street abortions”

   Before abortions became illegal, women across the world went to extreme lengths terminate the abortions themselves or others, these were called “back street abortions”. They are unhygienic, almost always done by an untrained practitioner, uses inappropriate methods and/or has very poor after care in inadequate caring quarters if any at all. They are done by using old surgical methods such as: injecting poisonous solutions into the mothers womb or inserting objects intended to free the foetus from the womb lining.

   Many women would use methods of self-induced abortion include taking remedies to induce labour naturally, e.g. herbal remedies or poisons aimed to bring on a miscarriage. Some of these methods are harmless, but also have no effect, others work more effectively, but can be extremely dangerous to the woman.

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Some people resort to inflicting physical abuse: falling down stairs, physical harm to the belly, jumping from heights. This is usually used when they cannot find any other way to end their unwanted pregnancy. This is extremely risky for the woman and is often not effective in ending the pregnancy.

When does life begin?

   There is a problem with the time limit to when abortions should be allowed. At the moment it is at the point of viability, 24 weeks, but everyone has different views on when life begins:

Conception - The group of cells present ...

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