In this paper, I will be addressing contemporary ethical issues and concerns regarding abortion. Induced abortion is generally defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 20 weeks since conception (Niţă and Goga 283). The debate over this subject involves various underlying issues and ethical arguments. According to Niţă and Goga, induced abortion is “found in all countries, but the decision to interrupt the pregnancy involves a multitude of aspects of the medical, ethical, moral, religious, social, economic, and legal order” (283). While some people think that abortion is morally wrong and should be illegal, others believe that abortion is right when the mother’s life or health is at risk. At the same time, many support the idea that there is a range of circumstances in which abortion is morally acceptable. This research paper aims to discuss whether abortion should be a legal option for pregnant women.
The ethical issue surrounding abortion is important to address since the pro-life approach implemented by governments results in the infringement of women’s rights and unsafe abortion practices that lead to further negative consequences. Socioeconomic, political, and educational factors contribute to the stigma surrounding abortion and put additional pressure on women. Furthermore, unsafe practices that are facilitated by restrictive laws contribute to maternal mortality and morbidity. According to de Almeida et al., adverse consequences and risks of illegal abortion include “incomplete abortion, infection, genital hemorrhage, cervical laceration, uterine perforation, abdominal lesions, septicemia, anaphylactic shock, anesthetic, and surgical complications” (54). As McLean et al. report, abortion-related deaths can be “described as a “silent pandemic” and a neglected sexual and reproductive health issue” (1). The problem is especially serious in countries with restrictive laws and low socio-educational level that increases unwanted pregnancies.
To handle this ethical dilemma, it is necessary to discuss the two primary positions on this matter: pro-life and pro-choice. The audience supporting the pro-life approach argues that fetuses should be treated like human beings that are entitled to live regardless of the woman’s desire to carry to term or terminate her pregnancy (Scott 2). From this perspective, governments or religious authorities can dictate what happens to the woman’s body if human life is involved. In contrast, the audience supporting the pro-choice approach emphasizes that fetuses are not fully developed human beings, and thus it is up to the woman to decide whether she wants to continue her pregnancy (Scott 1). From this perspective, legal abortions protect women’s health, as well as prevent the increase in poverty and households with unwanted children.
Even though more countries legalize abortion, there are several issues and substantial stigma surrounding this subject which implies the severity of the problem. Currently, the idea of fetuses as human beings facilitates restrictive laws and unsafe abortion practices, in other words, prioritizing the fetus’ rights over those of the woman. With this paper, I aim to add to the conversation around this topic and support the thesis that abortion should be a legal option for pregnant women.
This paper supports the following thesis: abortion should be a legal and safe practice since governments and religious authorities have no moral right to interfere with a woman’s body, and illegal abortions result in adverse consequences. They include unwanted pregnancies and children, risks to the pregnant woman’s health and life, fatalities, poverty cycle, and economic deprivation (Niţă and Goga 283). Furthermore, no evidence exists proving that a fetus can be regarded as equal to a human being and therefore is entitled to the same rights. Fetuses are not actual persons, while at the same time, they can be described as potential persons. However, as noted by Nobis, “potential personhood doesn’t yield the rights of actual personhood” as potential judges, doctors, spouses, or criminals are not entitled to the rights of actual ones. Therefore, abortion should be legal since it does not violate the rights of a fetus by not letting it use a woman’s body without her consent.
To address the problem and answer research questions, it is essential to discuss the opposing perspectives on the ethical aspects of abortion. The background information about abortion and related moral issues will be collected by analyzing the articles by Niţă and Goga, and Scott. Research by McLean et al. and de Almeida et al. will provide insights into the consequences of illegal abortion on women’s health. Finally, the article by Nobis about potential personhood and the fetus’s right to live will be analyzed and cited to present a counterargument for the pro-life theory followers.
Works Cited
de Almeida, Natércia, et al. “Characterisation of Induced Abortion and Consequences to Women’s Health at Hospital Central do Huambo–Angola.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 40, no. 4, 2020, pp. 558-563. doi:10.1080/01443615.2019.1635096.
McLean, Emily, et al. “When the Law Makes Doors Slightly Open: Ethical Dilemmas Among Abortion Service Providers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.” BMC Medical Ethics, vol. 20, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-10. doi:10.1186/s12910-019-0396-4.
Niţă, Andreea Mihaela, and Cristina Ilie Goga. “A Research on Abortion: Ethics, Legislation and Socio-Medical Outcomes. Case Study: Romania.” Romanian Journal of Morphology and Embryology, vol. 61, no. 1, 2020, pp. 283-294. doi:10.47162/RJME.61.1.35.
Nobis, Nathan. “The Ethics of Abortion.” 1000-Word Philosophy, 2016.
Scott, Samantha. “The ‘Undue Burden’ of Restrictions on Abortion: A Feminist Bioethics Analysis.” Sound Decisions: An Undergraduate Bioethics Journal, vol. 3, no.1, 2017, pp. 1-10.