Abortion

Abortion

Section A- What is meant by Abortion?

An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or destruction of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. An Abortion can refer to the premature death of a baby, although this is usually called a miscarriage; but is usually the termination of an unwanted baby whilst in the wound.

There are 3 main types of abortion, which are:

  • an abortion pill which is taken by mouth or injected and is used in early pregnancy. This then produces a miscarriage. This type of abortion can be used in the first 7 weeks of pregnancy and it is safer the earlier a woman has an abortion.
  • intra-uterine device, which is put in the uterus within 5 days of sexual intercourse
  • Vacuum aspiration abortion. In this method, a tube is gently inserted into the womb through the cervix and the contents are sucked through the tube.

Abortion law is legislation which pertains to the provision of abortion. Abortion has at times emerged as a controversial subject in various societies because of the moral and ethical issues that surround it, though other considerations, such as a state's pro- or antinatalist policies or questions of inheritance and patriarchy, also dictate abortion law and regulation. It has been regularly banned and otherwise limited, though abortions have continued to be commonplace in many areas where it is illegal. Almost 2/3 of the world’s women currently reside in countries where abortion may be obtained on request for a broad range of social, economic or personal reasons. In Britain, women are allowed to have an abortion up to 24 weeks however there is still discussion to whether the time should be put down to 20 weeks as a baby can survive up to 20 weeks.

After 24weeks of pregnancy a procured abortion is illegal; this is because if the child was to be born premature, there would be a chance of survival.

There are many different reasons for a woman opting to have an abortion; these include:

  • The pregnancy may just come at the wrong time for the woman; she may be young, still studying, in important stages of her career, or she may simply think the timing is not right.
  • The pregnancy may be the result of a rape.
  • The woman may not be in a serious relationship and does not want to bring the child up alone.
  • Tests may show that the foetus is not developing normally, and could have serious health problems once born.
  • The pregnancy could put the woman’s health at risk if she continues with the pregnancy.
  • The pregnancy may have been accidental
  • The woman may just not want the child, feeling as though she wouldn’t cope with it.

In 1967, the “abortion act” came into place, before which abortion was illegal. This meant that registered practitioners could perform abortions, and that they were available for free on the NHS (National Health Service). Before this abortion was illegal in Britain, so women had to have a “back alley” abortion. Whoever carried this out tended to be unskilled and used unsterilised equipment so the abortion could go badly wrong and puts the women’s health at risk.

“The Act provided a defence for Doctors performing an abortion on any of the following grounds:

  • To save the woman's life
  • To prevent grave permanent injury to the woman's physical or mental health
  • Under 28 weeks to avoid injury to the physical or mental health of the woman
  • Under 28 weeks to avoid injury to the physical or mental health of the existing child(ren)
  • If the child was likely to be severely physically or mentally handicapped

The Act required that the procedure must be certified by two doctors before being performed.”

In 2006, the total number of abortions carried out for women resident in England and Wales was 193,700.

Women between the ages of 20 and 30 had the greatest number of conceptions and abortions.

Women of 19 and under and women of 40 and over ended a higher proportion of pregnancies in abortion than women between 20 and 29.

When are women having abortions?

89% of abortions are carried out within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
1262 abortions (less than 0.7% of all abortions) were carried out after 22 weeks.
Women under 20 have a disproportionately high number of later abortions.

 

There is no mention in the Christian Bible about abortion, and at different times Christians have held different beliefs about abortion. The Catholic Church has held the same teachings on human life and abortion for 2,000 years. The Catechism reads, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. … Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law."

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). This shows that in God’s view everyone has the potential for life before they are born and that it is wrong to take this away from anyone.

Here is how a baby grows in the period of pregnancy:

1) Conception

A human life begins when sperm from the father fertilises the egg from the mother, usually in the fallopian tube.

2) 5 or 6 days

The baby is connected to the placenta by the umbilical cord and, from this point on, develops very quickly.

3) Around 15 days

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The beginnings of the child’s nervous system appear in the form of what is known as the primitive streak, which develops into the spinal column.

4) Around 18 days

Before the unborn baby’s mother knows she is pregnant, the child’s heart starts to beat.

5) Seven weeks

The outer ear is present and the inner ear, with hearing and balancing mechanisms, is well established. The skeleton begins to change from cartilage to bone.

6) Eight weeks

All of the child’s organs are present at least in a basic form, including the retina of the eye and the ...

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