Introduction
There are multiple ethical issues relevant to medicine that trigger controversy in social, legal, and professional domains. One of the most frequently discussed and debated bioethical issues in medicine is abortion. Abortion is of such significant concern to medical ethics because this procedure is directly related to life termination. This essay will discuss the controversy behind abortion as it relates to laws and ethics of medicine.
Role of Laws, Ethics, and Bioethics in Abortion
The issue of abortion has long been at the center of discussion within the ethical and legal domains. According to Fremgen (2019), abortion is “the termination of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable, or able to survive outside the uterus” (p. 302). Since it relates to the deliberate termination of an individual’s life, although unborn, the federal and state authorities have an interest in preserving such life. The same concerns in the preserving of the life of the fetus determine the role of medicine and ethics. On the one hand, the ethical considerations behind the issue are controversial since both the interests of a pregnant woman and the value of the life of the unborn child is in conflict. On the other hand, the law tends to meet the needs of all populations by creating regulations that would mutually benefit the opponents of abortion and address the concerns of those who support this procedure.
Current US laws and regulations applicable to abortion are based on the Roe v. Wade United States Supreme Court case. The results of this case indicated that any woman has the right to privacy concerning her own body, which is why making abortion illegal is an intrusion into women’s privacy (Fremgen, 2019). Overall, abortion is legal in the USA with the regulations of particular states on the terms when it should be forbidden (Berer, 2017). Thus, the laws and ethics regulate the implementation of abortion operations, which are legal within the first trimester of pregnancy. Women’s rights are preserved with such laws, which is why it is a favorable legislative decision.
Reflection on Current Regulations of Abortion in the USA
The issue is complex and requires a deeper consideration of the interest and concerns involved. In my opinion, the current law regulating abortion is appropriate because abortion should be legal. The legality of such operations provides an opportunity for opening abortion clinics, which prioritize women’s health, safety, and the freedom to manage their life decisions. Since apart from social, ethical, and legal domains, religious beliefs are involved in the debate around abortion, the church’s opinion on the issue should be taken into account. However, these considerations should be taken outside the legal domain and must be subject to ethical decision-making only. The issues should be an international concern because human rights are involved, which should be preserved at all times and in all territories.
Conclusion
In summation, as the overview of the ethical and legal considerations behind abortion demonstrates, this life-related procedure involves high-level social and ethical issues. In particular, women’s rights are involved since the ban of abortion is viewed as an intrusion in women’s autonomy of regulating their bodies and life decisions. In addition, the bioethical concerns about the fetus’ right to live are particularly discussed. Importantly, religious beliefs are at stake when elaborating on the ethicality of abortion.
References
Berer, M. (2017). Abortion law and policy around the world: in search of decriminalization. Health and Human Rights, 19(1), 13-27.
Fremgen, B. F. (2019). Medical law and ethics (6th ed.). Pearson.