What does the law say about abortion?.

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Danielle Choyen

11 Miranda

G.C.S.E

Religious Education Coursework - Abortion.

By Danielle Choyen

11 Miranda

Introduction

Abortion is a major issue. It is an extremely controversial, complex and emotional issue because so many people have many different views on it. A person can have a direct and strong opinion on it, depending on their lifestyle and where about in the world they are. For example, if you are religious, your opinion would be what you are expected to think from the teachings of your church/synagogue/place of gathering. If you are in the Law, you should not allow personal life to come between the views you are expected to have to do your job correctly. There are many more social, moral and mental issues that might or can influence our opinions on abortion.

In this piece of coursework, I will explain what is meant by the term abortion. I will be going through the different types of abortion methods possible, including the infamous and usually fatal backstreet abortion. This will be going through what the Law says about abortion, and on to what Biblical and Church teachings might be used in a discussion about the subject, using discussed Biblical quotations, continuing to talk about the Church teachings on abortion which can be used to support my arguments. Pen ultimately, an explanation on how Christians might put their beliefs about abortion into practice will be discussed. Finally a discussion on the subject “Abortion is never justified” will be discussed using a for and against argument

Question ai; What is meant by the term “abortion”?

Abortion is the premature expulsion if a foetus from the womb. However, there are also many other ways in which one can describe the term abortion. These include “removal of the foetus before it is able to survive independently” or “destruction of a new human life” and “termination”.

This means abortion is when a foetus is extracted from the womb of a woman on purpose in order to prevent the foetus growing in the womb, forming a child. People do this for many reasons which will be explained in further detail further on in the essay.

However, abortion can be in two forms; natural abortion or operated abortion. Natural abortion is when a woman miscarries her child, leading the child to die in the womb and literally fall out of the woman.

Abortion Methods

Methotrexate Injection: Methotrexate is injected and begins to attack the cells surrounding the embryo. The embryo is deprived of food and oxygen, and eventually dies. Several days later, misoprostol is injected to trigger the expulsion of the embryo. This expulsion may not occur for as long as eight weeks, and the woman may bleed heavily3. The actual expulsion may occur at any moment and in any place.  In about 4% of cases, expulsion does not occur and surgery is required.
This is not a common form of abortion because Methotrexate is toxic and has many common side-effects, such as nausea, pain, diarrhoea, and increased chance of cancer, anaemia, and lung disease.

Suction Aspiration (vacuum curettage): The most common (98%) form of abortion during pregnancy. The cervix is dilated, and a powerful vacuum tube with a sharp cutting edge is inserted. The suction rips apart the body of the baby, and sucks out blood, amniotic fluid, tissue, and body parts.

The most frequent post-abortion complication occurs with this method. If any foetal or placental tissue is left behind in the uterus, infection can develop.

Dilatation and Curettage (D&C): The cervix is dilated or stretched to permit the insertion of a loop shaped steel knife. The body of the foetus is cut up and removed from the placenta.

Blood loss and likelihood of uterine perforation are relatively high in this form of abortion.

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): This is similar to D&C. Forceps are used to rip away pieces of the developing body and remove them from the womb. Because the skull has often hardened by this time, it may have to be crushed for removal.

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Bone fragments from the crushed skull can easily puncture the cervix, causing high blood loss.

Prostaglandins Injection: Prostaglandins, naturally occurring birthing hormones, are injected to prematurely induce labour. Oftentimes the baby is delivered alive.

Permanent placental, cervical, and cardiovascular side-effects are common. Even death is possible.

Saline Amniocentesis (Salt Poisoning): This method, first used in Nazi concentration camps and now common in America. A needle is injected into the abdomen, and 50-250ml of amniotic liquid is removed. This is replaced by a concentrated salt that burns away and deteriorates the baby's skin. Within three days the mother goes into ...

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