Introduction
Abortion is one of the most controversial medical processes in many nations today. Different laws have been passed in some countries to legalize the procedure. However, in most jurisdictions, the act is prohibited by law. The process of medically ending a pregnancy may either be unethical or ethical depending on the legislation in place and the reasons for termination (ESHRE Task Force on Ethics and Law, 2003). For example, the undertaking may be regarded as ethical if it defends the moral principles of society. On the other hand, it may be labeled as a crime if it goes against social norms. Whichever the case, the termination process is risky if not performed by a professional. Many women have died due to poor and careless medical procedures. It is important to note that abortion and miscarriage are two different things. In the case of the former, the pregnancy is ended unwillingly without the consent of the woman. It may occur due to some conditions surrounding the event.
In this paper, the author will analyze abortion as an ethical issue in contemporary nursing. To this end, the author will discuss how nursing practitioners approach abortion and miscarriage within the context of legal and professional ethics.
Induced Abortion as an Ethical Issue in Nursing
One of the moral issues associated with induced abortion involves informing the woman about the medical procedure. The intervention should not be carried out without the consent of the female bearing the pregnancy. Abortion is considered illegal by some religious teachings. It is believed to be a form of murder as it terminates the life of an innocent being (Robertson, 2003). Consequently, the religious views show that even with the consent of the woman, abortion is unethical. Nursing professionals have differed with the religious views by stating that the procedure can be done ethically under different circumstances.
Personal Circumstances and Morality in Relation to Abortion
Personal situations among pregnant women have been taken into consideration when making decisions on whether to terminate a pregnancy or not. The events may involve, among others, rape and unwanted pregnancies. Cases of rape are rampant in modern society. The act can lead to pregnancy. In such a situation, some jurisdictions give the woman the right to choose whether to keep the pregnancy or not. Most people do not like carrying such pregnancies to term. As such, they opt for termination (Robertson, 2003). The procedure is performed at different stages of the pregnancy. According to nurses, it is important for the woman to report the case early enough. Induced abortion is safer when carried out in the initial stages of the pregnancy. It is noted that 7 to 12 weeks is the best time within which to terminate the pregnancy (Fergusson, Horwood & Ridder, 2006). However, it is risky if the process takes place out of a hospital or medical setting. Induced abortion can be done using pills or surgical procedures. The use of medications depends on the stage of the pregnancy. According to nursing practitioners, there are stages within which medical interventions cannot be used. Various surgical procedures can be used. One of them involves suction curette.
There are different ethical issues informing the conduct of nurses with regards to the termination of pregnancy. One of the most recent moral principles stipulates that no induced abortion should be done outside a medical center. The reason for this is to enhance the safety of the procedure to reduce the chances of death (Alex & Hammarstrom, 2004). Most of the people who assist women with this intervention outside a medical setting are not qualified. A majority of them lack the right equipment and medications needed to carry out the procedure safely (Alex & Hammarstrom, 2004). Lack of adequate preparations poses a risk to the women. The risks of death, infections, and damage to the womb are some of the dangers faced by the patients. The main reason women opt to go to these centers is because of the associated cost. The procedure is cheaper than in certified medical facilities. As a result of the unethical issues surrounding the cases, all terminations done outside approved settings are prohibited.
Health Risks to the Mother
When termination of pregnancy was illegal in many states, the health condition of the woman bearing the pregnancy did not matter to the nursing practitioner. The woman and the unborn child were both important to society in relation to ethical standards. However, after deliberations and discussions between stakeholders, the situation was found to be in itself unethical. As a result, the health of the mother was prioritized over that of the unborn child. Today, nurses are allowed to assess the pregnancy during the different stages to ensure that the health of the mother is stable (Alex & Hammarstrom, 2004).
There are other factors that can put the health of the pregnant mother at risk. They are divided into four categories. They include age, lifestyle, underlying health conditions, and the status of the pregnancy (Jong, Dondorp, Die-Smulders, Frints & Wert, 2010). Nurses should take these issues into consideration when dealing with cases of induced abortion.
Existing health conditions
Some underlying health conditions can pose a danger to a pregnant woman. Ethical standards in the nursing profession outline that the prevailing conditions should be taken into consideration during pregnancy. If the woman has kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or HIV, they should be monitored carefully (ESHRE Task Force on Ethics and Law, 2003). Obesity and thyroid disease should also be factored in. If the health conditions put the pregnant woman at risk, abortion should be considered. However, such conditions are difficult to deal with within a short period during the pregnancy.
Age
Age is also critical when terminating a pregnancy. Nursing ethics allows for the termination of teen pregnancy if the condition puts the bearer at risk. Many situations may affect the teenager and put the pregnancy and their health at risk. Some of the situations include sexually transmitted infections and going into labor earlier than older women. Such complications can put the pregnancy at risk and, as a result, measures should be put in place to terminate. The aim of such an undertaking is to avoid death (Jong et al., 2010).
Most women who have children when they are over 35 years face many complications during delivery. Most of them deliver through cesarean section, which leads to excessive bleeding. Some of these mothers conceive babies with Down syndrome. The genetic disorder can lead to the death of the unborn child. It is acceptable to induce abortion and save the life of the mother to avoid these complications (Robertson, 2003).
Condition of the pregnancy
The state of the pregnancy can pose risks to the woman. If the mother is expected to deliver twins, triplets, or more (usually referred to as multiple gestations), she might be at risk. Such babies are delivered by cesarean section. In most cases, they are born prematurely. Such babies are also at risk of being born with complications. Scans should be carried out regularly to determine the position and condition of the unborn babies (Jong et al., 2010). It is ethical to terminate the pregnancy if the mother is at risk. In most cases of induced abortion, the safety of the mother is put first. The welfare of the unborn child is put into consideration during delivery. The case is especially so where the chances of survival of the mother are small. If a pregnant woman experiences preeclampsia and eclampsia, it is ethical to terminate the pregnancy. The two syndromes cause an increase in blood pressure, which may lead to death. A woman suffering from the condition should be allowed to terminate the pregnancy at the right time (Fergusson et al., 2006).
Ethical standards in nursing allow practitioners to terminate a pregnancy if it is determined that the unborn child is likely to have a severe medical condition. The birth of such a baby can be a problem for the family and society as a whole (Robertson, 2003).
Conclusion
The ethical issues associated with abortion are aimed at protecting the health of the mother in a professional and legal manner. The factors affect, among others, women with poor lifestyles. Such habits include smoking and taking alcohol. Legalizing abortion under certain circumstances has reduced the chances of death among pregnant mothers.
References
Alex, L., & Hammarstrom, A. (2004). Women’s experiences in connection with induced abortion: A feminist perspective. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 18(2), 160-168.
ESHRE Task Force on Ethics and Law. (2003). 6 ethical issues related to multiple pregnancies in medically assisted procreation. Human Reproduction, 18(9), 1976-1979.
Fergusson, D., Horwood, L., & Ridder, E. (2006). Abortion in young women and subsequent mental health. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(1), 16-24.
Jong, A., Dondorp, W., Die-Smulders, C., Frints, S., & Wert, G. (2010). Non-invasive prenatal testing: Ethical issues explored. European Journal of Human Genetics, 18(3), 272-277.
Robertson, J. (2003). Extending preimplantation genetic diagnosis: The ethical debate-Ethical issues in new uses of preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Human Reproduction, 18(3), 465-471.