Both Sides of the Abortion Debate
Both Sides of the Abortion DebateDuring the past quarter century, abortion has joined race and
war as one of the most debatable subject of controversy in the United
States. It discusses human interaction where ethics, emotions and law
come together. Abortion poses a moral, social and medical dilemma that
faces many individuals to create a emotional and violent atmosphere.
There are many points of view toward abortion but the only two fine
distinctions are "pro-choice" and "pro-life". A pro-choicer would feel
that the decision to abort a pregnancy is that of the mothers and the
state has no right to interfere. A pro-lifer would hold that from the
moment of conception, the embryo or fetus is alive. This life imposes
on us a moral obligation to preserve it and that abortion is
tantamount to murder (Kolner 5).
In the United States about 1.6 million pregnancies end in
abortion. Women with incomes under eleven thousand are over three
times more likely to abort than those with incomes above twenty-five
thousand. Unmarried women are four to five times more likely to abort
than married and the abortion rate has doubled for 18 and 19 year
olds. Recently the U.S. rate dropped 6 percent overall but the rate of
abortion among girls younger than 15 jumped 18 percent. The rate among
minority teens climbed from 186 per 1,000 to 189 per 1,000.
The most popular procedure involved in abortions is the vacuum
aspiration which is done during the first trimester (three months or
less since the women has become pregnant). A tube is simply inserted
through the cervix and the contents of the uterus are vacuumed out.
The most commonly used type of second trimester abortion is called
dilation and evacuation. Since the fetus has bones, bulk and can move,
second trimester is not as simple. When as much of the fetus and
placenta are vacuumed out then tweezers are used to remove larger
parts. After this, or the beginning of the fifth month abortion is
serious and actually induced as childbirth. That is, the mother is
given substances which puts her into labor and delivers the fetus as
she would a full-term baby. About 40 percent of Americans believe that
abortion should remain legal and 40 percent believe it should be
banned except when the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother or
is the result of rape or incest. Also 15 percent b eveit should be
illegal in all cases. Although abortion is regarded as a women's
right, it should be banned with exceptions because it's considered
murder, has many psychological side effects and there is an
alternative.
Abortion is a women's own right and choice. In 1973 the Roe v.
Wade decision proved this by recognizing abortion as a fundamental
constitution right and made it legal in all states. The law now...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.