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 labour and delivers a dead, burned baby.
This concentrated salt may cause severe haemorrhage, cervical injuries, or side effects to the nervous system such as seizures or coma.
Urea Injection: This is performed just like Salt Poisoning, however it is not as strong.
Though not as dangerous as Salt Poisoning, Urea Injection increases the chance of a failed abortion, which usually results in surgery. Almost 2% of Urea Injection patients must be hospitalized for side-effects.
Hysterectomy: This is usually performed if other forms of abortion are unsuccessful. Incisions are made in the abdomen, and the baby, placenta, and amniotic sac are removed. Babies are often removed alive during the operation.
The risk to the mother's health is greatest in this form of abortion, and the chance of complications during later pregnancies is greatly increased.
Partial Birth Abortion: Using ultrasound, the abortionist grasps the baby's leg with forceps, and partially forcefully delivers all but the head. Scissors are then jammed into the back of the babies skull and the wound is pried open. A powerful vacuum tube is inserted and sucks out the baby's brain.
What does the law say about abortion?
Before 1967 Abortion was illegal; if women wanted an abortion it was done illegally. About 30 women on average died each year due to back-street abortions. Between 40,000 and 200,000 back-street abortions took place each year.
In the UK abortions must be carried out in a place approved by the Department of Health and licensed by the National Care Standards Commission, which carefully monitors the outcome and has the right to withdraw a license for termination of pregnancy if the regulations are not strictly adhered to.
A woman faced with an unplanned pregnancy is entitled to the help of expert counsellors and medical advice. Two doctors have to agree that her reasons for wanting to end her pregnancy comply with the 1967 Abortion Act. However, this act does not include Northern Ireland, where abortion is still illegal, though Irish patients have the right to seek information and travel elsewhere for the procedure.
However, 2 doctors had to agree on one of the two conditions stated below:
- If keeping the baby would cause physical or mental damage to the mother or if her life was in danger through continuing with the pregnancy or if keeping the baby would cause any mental or physical damage to the already existing children (if any).For example, if the mother had no money or nowhere to live this would allow her to abort her baby.
- If there was a high risk that the baby was going to be physically or mentally handicapped following tests.
Question a.ii; What Biblical and Church Teachings might be used in a discussion about abortion?
There are several Bible passages that make reference to abortion.
In Genesis 1: 26-27, it says “God created man in the image of himself”. This means that God created us in order for us to be like him, we should therefore treat it as sacred, holy and as a great privilege. It is God’s own divine right to determine when our life both begin and ends. Abortion denies the divine right of God and destroys his creation of life which is his gift to us. Through abortion, we are denying God’s power.
Psalm 139:13-15 tells us that “it was you, Lord that created my inmost self, and put me together in my mother’s womb”. Both these show that all life is a gift from God and we should respect it. The Catholic Church teaches us that from the moment of his existence human life should be respected.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 tells us that “before you came to birth I consecrated you” and that 'I have appointed you prophet to the nations'. This teaching is very significant as it tells us that God has a purpose for each and every one of us.
All of these references express how sacred human life is and how wrong it is to interfere with the gift of life through abortion. Children are a sign of God’s love for us and his desire to see his kingdom grow. Therefore the bible represents abortion and morally and religiously wrong.
Abortion may be carried out if the child will be handicapped, although the Roman Catholic Church is against it.
Jesus died on the cross for us, he did this to save everyone form sin. Jesus did not discriminate by race, gender etc and taught us to do the same. The Roman Catholic Church teaches us that we are made in Gods image and therefore all equal. This even applies to the unborn child, as “from the moment of conception it must be defended in its integrity and cared for, like any other human being”. Doctor’s predictions about the health of the child, are not always accurate and they have been known to abort healthy babies. This undermines the Christian Teaching, which states that 'All life is a gift from God'.
Different Christians hold different views on abortion, as they are influenced by society around them as well as their faith. Some Christian denominations today, do not give clear teaching on abortion.
The Church of England states that “the foetus is to be specially respected and protected” but “the life of a foetus is not sacrosanct if it endangers the mother’s life”.
This shows, that the Church of England take a middle view on abortion.
Evangelical Christians base their views on the bible and so are “firmly opposed to abortion”.
The Roman Catholic Church says that abortion is a “serious sin in all circumstances.”
Question b; Explain how Christians might put their beliefs about abortion into practice?
Christians might put their beliefs about abortion into action by turning to sanctity of life, when Christians say this, they mean that they believe there is something special and holy about life and try to follow the meaning of sanctity of life by doing good to themselves and good to others. This means that Christians try to treat all kinds of human life with respect.
One of the most important things that Christians are supposed to remember when they are making moral decisions is their belief that God is love, and that they should love on another like God has loved us.
When Christians are making moral decisions, they might think about how they would feel if they were the other person, and then try to imagine how they would feel like to be treated. The Christian concept of love is known as 'agape', which is a Greek word for 'unconditional love', which means loving someone else regardless of what they look like, and regardless of how they behave. It basically means being concerned about the other person without thinking you like them or they like you.
Many Christians follow the example of Jesus and try to put the principle of agape into practice. Christians put their beliefs about abortion by helping woman who are thinking about having an abortion by suggesting that the baby could be adopted, as many couples who would love to have a child but are unable to conceive, other Christians may join a pro- life organisation. There are many groups, which are for or against abortion. Both LIFE and SPUC (society for the protection of the unborn child) are anti-abortion. LIFE helps single mothers raise their children and provide security and counselling. SPUC are similar but have a more radical approach. By offering help to other Christians they feel as if they're doing the good for the Christian community and carrying forward Jesus' views and teachings to a wider spread of Christians.
Christians try to put their beliefs about abortion for the benefit of women thinking to have an abortion and to explain to people the right way before jumping in without thinking first, Christians may join a group which campaigns for the right to choose abortion they may also support organisations which offer counselling for people who have had abortions.
There are various Christian adoption agencies, and a Christian who is against abortion may support these by encouraging women to go through with their pregnancies and give the baby to a couple who will provide him/her with a loving home. Christians that are against abortion may approach the situation with different activities and try to help other Christians by organising organisations, talks and meetings where people can come to talk about what's on their mind and take advice from a group of people. There are various Christian adoption agencies, and a Christian who is against abortion might support these, encouraging women to go through with their pregnancies and give the baby to a couple who will provide with a loving home.
Some Christians work as foster carers, and look after the children of parents who find it hard to cope. There re many other ways in which Christians may try and help other Christians around the idea of abortion such as praying for others and the good of others, supporting MP's to take the debate about abortion to the Government and have it made less easier to get reach of also many Christians and people from other religions may feel strong towards the idea of abortion that they go on non- violent marches, protests and campaigns to try and put their point across to people.
Christians do all this to offer help to other people because they feel that they have to put their beliefs across by action and help others in their faith to choose the right decision for them.
Question c; “Abortion is never justified” Do you agree or disagree?
With this statement, I both agree and disagree with both sides of the argument.
There are many situations in life when an abortion is a necessity or is crucial for the well being of the pregnant woman and/or the developing child. If, for example, a young 12-year-old girl falls pregnant as a result of rape or incest then I do not believe that influencing her to keep the child against her own will I the right thing to do. In this situation if the baby is kept it is very likely that it will grow up in an insecure and possibly unloving environment that is not healthy and not a good basis for which the child should begin life.
I think it is very important for a child to grow up in safe and sound surroundings so that it can get the best out of life later on. In this situation it is important to remember the significance of the woman herself who may have to finish her education, and would not be able to do so if carrying a child for nine months and then looking after it.
There may also be the risk of psychological, physical and emotional problems which may occur if a baby is kept. By keeping the baby, the mother may become extremely ill and this may cause a sense of delusion, putting not only the foetus at risk, but herself also.
With an “unwanted” child, there is always the alternative of continuing with your pregnancy and thereafter giving your child up for adoption or alternatives.
The main points for the arguments for abortion are:
- The decision to have an abortion is never easy, but no one is better suited than the women concerned to make that decision.
- Taking control of your own fertility is everyone’s right, but there is no such thing as 100% safe and certain contraception, so women still need abortions.
- Because opinion differs as to when life begins, a minority has no right to impose it’s views on the rest of us.
- A foetus is only a potential human life, but there can be no argument about the humanity of the woman.
- Doctors have no special moral or ethical training which makes them fitter then pregnant women to make these sorts of decisions.
- There will always be women who don’t want children at all and we should respect that choice.
- No society has ever been known where abortion has not existed in some form, whatever the male, secular and religious leaders have said.
- The argument is not whether abortion exists, but whether it should be legal, safe and dignified or illegal, unsafe and furtive.
- Every child has the right to be a wanted child. Abortion saves thousands of children from being unwanted, thus saving society thousands of problems.
- It’s more of a trauma for women to give a child up for abortion than abortion as the baby is in front of the mother.
- Even if abortion were made a crime, thousands of women would still risk their lives and health in back street abortion clinics.
- If a woman is raped and becomes pregnant, then offering an abortion is a humane and practical ay of helping her.
However, there are arguments against abortion, which I also agree with:
- Modern science proves that the unborn child is a separate human being from contraception. It is never just a part of his or her mother’s body.
- By allowing abortion, society is taking the easy way out. It should concentrate on improving the quality of life in society.
- Even in the womb the unborn child has the right not to be killed.
- People with the most awful handicaps can lead happy, creative and fulfilled lives.
- Unborn babies are unique, different, they have potential personalities.
- Every aborted foetus was a potential human being.
- Abortions can go wrong. They can leave terrible mental arid physical “scars” on a woman.
- Killing is killing; whether done in back-streets or openly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I feel that abortion has a strong significance with churches, especially the Christian churches where the Roman Catholic Church believe that abortion is a sin, no matter what the circumstance.
I believe that abortion is both justified and not so. But depending on the situation and the confidence the parent/s have, they do not necessarily have to keep the child.
An example of this is the story of a father fighting to keep his baby alive. A college student found that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant and that she was planning to have the baby aborted. She was determined to have the abortion and so the father took the case to court. SPUC (The society for the Protection of the Unborn Child) raised forty thousand pounds for the father's legal fees. The case was presented to the House of Lords but all the fathers legal attempts failed and his ex-girlfriend was given permission to have the abortion on health grounds. However, the girl was so impressed by the father's attempts to save the baby that she decided not to go ahead with the abortion and instead hand the baby over to the father after the birth. The father left Oxford University, raised the baby boy and later went back to complete his studies.
However, as I have explained in my coursework, the most important issue when dealing with abortion is the mother’s well-being. If she is at risk by continuing the pregnancy and having the child (such as suffering from psychological, physical and emotional problems), then the baby should in this case sadly be aborted.