Introduction
Abortion is a medical procedure used to terminate a pregnancy by removing the embryo or fetus from the mother’s womb. Suction aspiration, a method that uses gentle suction to remove the fetal tissue and placenta from the uterus, is the most often used medical procedure for abortion. This type of abortion is most commonly performed during the first trimester of pregnancy; however, it can be done up to the twentieth week. Further procedures, such as dilation and evacuation, are performed during the second trimester.
Abortion has long been a contentious issue with numerous points of view. On the one hand, some argue that a woman has the right to choose whether or not to continue with a pregnancy. Some, on the other hand, are vehemently opposed to the practice and consider it murder. However, there are many objections to abortion procedures in healthcare workers; it is the right of a woman to decide what to do with their body, hence making it ethical due to various reasons.
Abortion Supporting Arguments Perspectives
The pro-choice movement has long claimed that a woman’s right to choose what she does with her body should be respected and that abortion should be regarded as an act of self-determination. This fundamental principle has been expanded to encompass the notion that the woman should not be judged for her choice. The reasons why a woman may choose to have an abortion differ from person to person. However, they can be broadly classified into two categories.
The first is for practical reasons, and the second is for emotional reasons (Frederico et al., 2018). One of the practical reasons a woman could decide to get an abortion is financial concerns. Without enough money, a mother can feel helpless to give her child a safe, comfortable environment (Frederico et al., 2018). Additional financial strains like rent, bills, and other living expenses may exacerbate that. In certain situations, a woman could feel unqualified to parent and decide to get an abortion.
Other practical considerations may include a woman’s age or relationship status. If a woman is still in the early stages of her career or is not in a committed relationship, she may feel she is not in a place to raise a child. Similarly, if a woman is older, she may feel that she does not have the physical or emotional energy required to care for a child.
In addition to practical considerations, emotional considerations may also play a role in a woman’s decision to have an abortion (Frederico et al., 2018). Sometimes, a woman may feel that she is not emotionally prepared to raise a child. That could be due to past trauma or abuse or simply the fear of not being able to provide a safe and loving environment for a child. In these cases, a woman may decide to have an abortion to protect herself and any potential offspring.
Furthermore, some women may be in abusive relationships, making it difficult to care for a child. For those in an abusive relationship, the decision to have an abortion can be an especially difficult one. In an abusive relationship, a woman can feel powerless and unable to make the best decisions for herself and her unborn child (Frederico et al., 2018).
Therefore, the decision to have an abortion can help protect her from further emotional and physical harm. Women facing serious health concerns can also benefit from having an abortion since that makes it difficult for a woman to care for a child. Moreover, several medical disorders can worsen during pregnancy, posing even greater health hazards to the mother and the fetus.
Lastly, a woman’s decision to undergo an abortion might be advantageous for various reasons. A child may not meet everyone’s lifestyle or professional aspirations (Frederico et al., 2018). Therefore, in some situations, abortion may be a wise decision that enables a woman to achieve her goals.
In addition to the moral argument for a woman’s right to choose, there is also a legal argument. The legal argument for a woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion is based on the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade (Cohen et al., 2021). In this landmark decision, the court ruled that a woman’s right to privacy encompasses her right to decide on her own body, which includes the right to have an abortion (Cohen et al., 2021).
In other words, a woman has the right to decide whether or not she needs to terminate a pregnancy, and the government and all other parties should respect this decision. Moreover, the right to privacy is an important and integral part of American law. It is based on the ultimate principle that individuals should have the right to make decisions regarding their bodies and lives without interference from the government or other institutions (Morris, 2020). This right is enshrined in the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which guarantees individuals’ right to be secure in their persons and possessions.
The right to privacy is not just a legal concept but a cornerstone of American culture. It is a fundamental belief that individuals should be allowed to live as they see fit, free from government interference or other outside influences. That has been reflected in the Supreme Court’s decisions, including the right to privacy in marriage, contraception, and abortion (Morris, 2020).
The freedom to access medical care and have an abortion falls under this right. That implies that people have the freedom to make decisions about their health, including whether or not to seek healthcare services, the kind of treatment they want to receive, and the timing and mode of that care. That includes the freedom to decline medical care or to select non-traditional therapies like acupuncture or herbal medicines (Frederico et al., 2018). It also entails the freedom to decide on issues relating to reproductive health, such as using contraception or ending a pregnancy.
Abortion Counter-Arguments Perspectives
The debate over abortion has been a long and contentious one. Some individuals believe that conducting an abortion is a form of murder since, according to them, life begins at conception. In support of their argument, it is generally accepted that sperm and eggs combine to form a single-cell human zygote whose genetic individuality and uniqueness stay unaltered throughout normal development (Colgrove, 2021). It is assumed that the zygote must already be a human adult because it has the potential to do so.
The identical zygote develops into an embryo, a fetus, a child, and an adult. According to this argument, the zygote is an actual human being and not just a potential one, similar to how an infant is an actual human being with the capacity to develop into an adult and not simply a potential one (Colgrove, 2021). Therefore, bearing in mind that a zygote has life, terminating the pregnancy will kill it, which is termed murder.
On the other hand, fertilization can result in a tumor, hydatidiform mole, or chorioepithelioma. Despite the fact that the mole is living and of human origin, it is not an individual or human being (Liu, 2020). It is born without a human personality and has no innate potential to start human development.
For instance, a teratoma is a clear example of cells developing improperly as a result of fertilization, but it cannot be called a true human individual with human essence (Liu, 2020). It has no chance of developing into a full-fledged fetus or child. Obviously, the fetus with the teratoma would be a human being, but not the associated teratoma. Evidently, not all of the live cells that emerge from the idea, the early embryo or the fetus, are essential to the development of a human being. Therefore, following the above argument, each woman has a right to terminate a pregnancy at any level without being accused of killing a life object.
Conclusion
The pro-choice movement has successfully provided women with the right to make decisions regarding their bodies. That includes the right to decide to have an abortion. Women should not be judged for their decision to have an abortion, and their reasons for making the decision should be considered.
Ultimately, the choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. While financial hardship may be a leading factor in a woman’s decision, there may also be a range of emotional considerations. It is essential to remember that no two women’s decisions are the same and that any woman’s decision should be treasured and supported.
Furthermore, the right to privacy should be respected and protected, as established in Roe v. Wade. Therefore, regardless of which side of the debate one takes, it is clear that the issue of abortion is complex and emotionally charged. Hence, it is important to remain open to the opinions of others and to understand the complexity of the issue.
References
Cohen, I. G., Adashi, E. Y., & Gostin, L. O. (2021). The supreme court, the Texas abortion law (SB8), and the beginning of the end of Roe v Wade? JAMA Networks, 326(15), 1473-1474. Web.
Colgrove, N. (2021). Miscarriage is not a cause of death: a response to berg’s “abortion and miscarriage.” The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy: A Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy of Medicine, 46(4), 394–413. Web.
Frederico, M., Michielsen, K., Arnaldo, C., & Decat, P. (2018). Factors influencing abortion decision-making processes among young women. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2), 329-335. Web.
Liu, J. (2020, February). The “life code”: A theory that unifies the human life cycle and the origin of human tumors. In Seminars in Cancer Biology, Vol. 60, pp. 380-397. Academic Press. Web.
Morris, C. F. K. and J. B. (2020). Framing a privacy right: Legislative findings for federal privacy legislation. Web.