These include parental notification and consent for abortion for minor daughters; specific public health regulation of free-standing abortion facilities; women’s right to know, or informed consent laws; forbidding of certain types of abortions (covered below); forbidding of abortions for certain reasons, such as sex selection and after a certain age of fetal development. Legislations; to stop the use of tax money. There have been many cases where federal money has been given to pro-abortion organizations, e.g. Family planning which includes abortion as a possible method. Government support for institutions that have encouraged and referred for abortions should be ended and they money should be redirected to those institutions that support women before, during, and after birth.
THE GEO-POLITICAL HISTORY OF ABORTION
Ever since the time of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, manipulation or herbs where used as a form of birth control. Even down to the Middle Ages in Western Europe, abortion seemed to be a common practice. However, public opinion started to change, so much so that in 1869 the Roman Catholic Church even outlawed abortion. In the early 19th century England and the United States passed on strict anti-abortion laws.
By the 20th century the outlook towards abortion became so much more liberalized. During the 1970’s both United States and European countries legalized abortion, under a 1973 Supreme Court ruling (see Roe v. Wade ), abortions are tolerable during the first 6 months of pregnancy. Abortion is still a controversial issue in the United States. Several state legislatures passed restrictive abortion laws in hope that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, but in 1992 the court reaffirmed the basic principles of the 1973 decision.
From 1995 - 2000 the U.S. Congress continually passed a bill that would ban a late-term method of abortion called “partial-birth abortion.” Later attempts by U.S. states to ban this method were contested in the courts, and in 2000 the Supreme Court voided such laws that do not include an exception when the health of the mother is endangered.
METHODS OF ABORTION
There are correctly many medical techniques used to perform abortion. They are typically performed based upon the number of weeks elapsed since the conception of the human baby. The unit of measurement for all practical purposes is called a trimester, which is 12 weeks i.e. 3 months.
During the 1st trimester, endometrial aspiration, suction, or could be employed to eradicate the contents of the uterus
. In endometrial aspiration, a lean, flexible tube is inserted up the cervical canaland which then sucks out the lining of the uterus by an electric pump.
In the dilatation process the cervical canal is enlarged by the insertion of a series of metal dilators while the patient is under anesthesia, after which a rigid suction tube is inserted into the uterus to evacuate its contents. When, in place of suction, a thin metal tool called a is used to scrape (rather than vacuum out) the contents of the uterus, the procedure is called dilatation and curettage. When combined with dilatation, both evacuation and curettage can be used up to about the first trimester (plus ~ 2 weeks).
From 12 to 19 weeks the injection of a saline solution may be used to trigger uterine contractions; then again, the administration of prostaglandins by injection, suppository, or other method may be used to induce contractions, but these substances may cause severe side effects. Hysterotomy, the surgical removal of the uterine contents, may be used during the second trimester or later. In general, the more advanced the pregnancy, the greater the risk to the female of mortality or serious complications following an abortion.
In the late 20th century a new method of induced abortion was discovered that uses the drug RU 486 (mifepristone), an artificial steroid. RU 486 works by blocking the action of the hormone progesterone, which is needed to support the development of a fertilized egg. When ingested within weeks of conception, RU 486 effectively triggers the menstrual cycle and flushes the fertilized egg out of the uterus.
Induced abortions are normally performed for reasons that fall into 3 general categories:
- to preserve the life or physical or mental well-being of the mother;
-
to prevent the completion of a pregnancy that has resulted from rape;
- By some definitions, abortions that are performed to preserve the well-being of the female or in cases of rape or incest are therapeutic, or justifiable, abortions.
There are other reasons such as to prevent birth of a child with severe abnormalities/complications or to prevent a birth for social or economic reasons But as this paper will show, these reasons takes much for granted, such as more importance is given to the ‘life’ of the mother than the fetus.
SCIENTIFIC / BIOLOGICAL ISSUES:
“When does human life begin?”
A sperm can fertilize an egg but it cannot make another sperm. Nor can an egg make another egg. So we have eggs and sperm that cannot reproduce. Each needs the other to be ‘unified’. Additionally, in every human there are 2 strands of DNA, without the presence of both the DNA ‘life’ won’t initiate. As before, neither the egg nor the sperm contain both the strands. But this occurs only when the sperm couples with the egg, thus initiating ‘life’. I have to stress here that, if this is NOT the initiation of human life then it would be equal to advocating that over a course of time (usually in context to age and size), that some-‘blob’ converts into some-‘life’ as it gets older and/or bigger. When really the only constant variable is nutrition to grow/develop in a suitable environment; Co-incidentally variables all ‘life’ require. Oddly enough, the blood groups (of the mother and ‘blob’) are also different, albeit a few months down the line. So how do people manage to pin-point when the two bodies are the same versus when they are separate? Many medical texts agree with Ashley Montagu, who has written: "The basic fact is simple: life begins not at birth, but at conception."
MEDICAL PROBLEMS
Direct Complications of abortion techniques
Suction aspiration,
Akin to other medical operation, Extensive care must be taken to prevent the uterus from being punctured. It can cause hemorrhage and will require further sugery. On the other hand, if any placental tissue is left behind in the uterus, it can also be a cause for later complications.
Dilatation (Dilation) and Curettage (D&C)
Blood loss from D&C, is larger than for suction aspiration, as is the likelihood of uterine perforation and infection.
RU 486/prostaglandin
There are several serious well documented side effects associated with RU 486/prostaglandin abortions, including prolonged severe bleeding, vomiting, pain, and rarely death.
There are a number of indications that RU 486 affects not only a woman’s present pregnancy, but also her future pregnancies, once again inducing miscarriages or causing severe malformations in later children.
Hysterotomy
This method offers the highest risk to the health of the mother, because the potential for rupture during subsequent pregnancies is appreciable.
Physical Complications*
Even with the availability of anesthetics, majority of women aborting, have reported acute pain during the procedure. The relationship between the anesthetic dose and the risk of cervical injury is directly proportional.Even the risk of death amplifies with relation to the length of pregnancy and the abortion methodology employed. Various other complications include menstrual disturbance, inflammation of the reproductive organ and life-threatening infections, to even breast cancer.. Additionally after two or more abortions, there is a HIGH likelihood a miscarriage further on
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES
The initial feelings of ‘liberation’ after abortion are regularly followed by a time-frame psychiatrists ascertain as emotional "paralysis," or post-abortion "numbness" . 30-50% of aborted women give an account of experiencing sexual dysfunctions, of both short and long duration, beginning immediately after their abortions.
Another really indicative statistic is as follows:
“Within 8 weeks after their abortions, 55% expressed guilt, 44% complained of nervous disorders, 36% had experienced sleep disturbances, 31% had regrets about their decision, and 11% had been prescribed psychotropic medicine by their family doctor” .10% was classified as having developed "serious psychiatric complications."
RIGHTS OF THE MOTHER VERSUS RIGHTS OF THE ‘Human’ BABY
Having established that the fetus possesses ‘life’, more importantly ‘human-life’. It is entitled to rights just as equally as a woman’s innate right to control her own body. The latter’s right does not cover the right to kill a fetus, which too has his/her equal rights. Among which include the right of protection by the state to prevent its own preventable, death. Besides, contrary to popular thought the baby is not part of the mother’s body, just momentarily residing in her. Neither does this dependency (for a period of 7-9 months) inherently give a woman additional rights to end the fetus’ life. Attempting to prove the legality of abortion by arguing that the fetus does not possess its equal set of rights is discriminatory (perhaps based on time-elapsed/age).
A Pro-Choice would here argue that, that right comes from their autonomy to oversee their own bodies. Now consider this, if everyone has autonomy, then autonomy for all purposes is a morally objective principal. Moving onwards:
Premise 1: Killing an innocent human being without proper
Justification is morally wrong.
Premise 2: The unborn is an innocent, fully human being.
Conclusion: Abortion takes the life of an innocent human being without proper justification. Therefore, abortion is morally wrong.
THE NEED FOR ETHICAL / MORAL BEHAVIOUR.
Ethics is primarily concerned with attempting to define what is good for the individual and for society. It also tries to establish the nature of obligations, or duties, that people owe themselves and each other.
This does not mean that there exist governing rules that apply to everyone.
John Dewey, claimed “moral problems arise out of a conflict of impulses or desires, and the goal of moral deliberation is to find a course of action that will turn this conflict into harmony. Each individual problem must be viewed in the light of the actions necessary to solve it, with some understanding of the consequences that follow the actions. A choice is right if it leads to a solution of the specific conflict, but there is no absolute right or good, as every successful solution gives rise to new problems that must be evaluated on their own terms.”
Now, any action that hampers the intent of life (survival), is ethically irrelevant only if answered with ways to avoid that action. Anything short of that stance is unethical and immoral.
The human has a choice in behavior, he/she possesses the intellectual ability to comprehend ‘instinct’ and then modify (if required) to bring his/her behavior in accordance with a dependable system of ethics and morality. Correspondingly; a human’s actions CAN be classified in terms of morals, ethics and their relative degrees.
If a human applies his/her intellectual control above his/her instincts then he / she is in accordance with moral behavior. In sharp contrast, if he / she fails to do so and falls prey to his / her instincts then he / she is more ‘inhuman’. If applied therefore, any human behavior may be intellectually deciphered and if it is in accordance with the path to the human species survival it is ethical and moral, otherwise it is suspect.
RAPE
Rape is a very sensitive topic. It often brings forth among the society feelings of revolt; People have a tendency to back off from such topics, even some Pro-Life will accept abortion, perhaps due to ignorance, fortunately consider the following:
Is it true that abortion would somehow help the victims recover from their ordeal? A defense of the fetus might appear to be giving the “needs of the victim” more priority over the sacredness of life. Although, is it not true that the welfare of the victim and the fetus are not at odds? An alternative is not undergoing the procedure and helping both mother and child by conserving life versus perpetuating violence.
Naturally victims of rape become more reflective. They own a heightened view of/for life. After-all they have been victimized, so in turn wouldn’t the thought of victimizing their own child be an even more horrendous action? On the other hand, by going through with nature’s course, it is possible to overcome her mislaid self-esteem. Giving birth, especially when conception was not desired, is a totally selfless act, a generous act, a display of courage, strength and honor. It is proof that she is better than the rapist. While he was selfish, she can be generous. Rape will not dictate my life; should be the motto of all rape victims. It provides at outlet to show their valor and liberalness. While he was destroying, she can be nurturing. Abortion does not help the victims of rape; in turn it merely set as rivals both mother and child, hardly a desirable situation.
It is not hard to think about these issues, unfortunately many a Pro-Choice are confusing the general public and advertising for abortion for their own social engineering ambitions.
CONCLUSION:
I have in this paper tried to stay away from a few aspects such a law and religion.
Both are derivatives of human interpretations, in contrast to morality and science.
The law, as with religion, has on more than one occasion made several mistakes and acknowledged them. Legislations are different in different countries Religions are different in different countries. Many groups across the globe live without religion and some without law (instead they have a more primitive tribal system) with different guidelines. However, Morality is a human-essence, we are fortunate enough to be born with it, it is equal throughout the human race (to different extents). Science is a tool we have used to come to where we are and what we are going to use to go where we direct by our actions. Science too is coherent throughout the world.
By focusing on Science and Ethics, this paper has proven that from the conception of the fetus, to abortion, methods of harmful abortion, and from a morally viable perspective established that in pretty much all the circumstances abortion is not ( almost never ) the proper-choice.
Finally, in an attempt to once more establish a humane contact with the reader, this excerpt
“Babies are cute, they cannot be mistaken for globs of cells, and there is a natural human instinct to protect them. Other cultures may not have treated them so tenderly, to be sure. But that could never happen here. We're nice people.”
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition .
The primary focus of this paper
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Any of a group of potent hormone-like substances that are produced in various mammalian tissues, are derived from arachidonic acid, and mediate a wide range of physiological functions, such as control of blood pressure, contraction of smooth muscle, and modulation of inflammation.
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Economics should never be used to justify ‘life’
Note: The inauguration of human life is not a religious, philosophical nor moral issue.
Note: Individually they do not constitute ‘life’.
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