https://www.echeat.com/ Have you ever wished you could go back in time to fix a situation you regret? Many young teenage women and adults suffer from unwanted pregnancy, which changes their lives for good or worse. When women decide to have sexual intercourse with their lover, they expect to have an enjoyable time and not a life changing decision afterwards. Some women have money and resources to deal with a mistake someone decided to make; others do not. Which means these women must suffer unwanted pregnancy, stress because they do not have the funds or the help to have the baby, pain because the person who decided to lay down with her does not want to commit anymore, some are still in school, and rumors going around about her and her life. However, women should not have to go through unwanted pregnancy, stress, and pain because of a man’s decision. It is true that it takes two people to make a baby, but people fail to realize that the man is in control, not the woman. As we all may know condoms, “Plan-B,” and birth control are the three number one most effective products to prevent pregnancy, but even condoms can break, there is an 89% chance that the pill does not work, and a 28% chance of women still getting pregnant on birth control, which means, women are still not 100% safe from pregnancy. It is unfair for women to have to go through so much pain because of a man’s actions or decisions. That is why abortions is a way for women to have free decision and a second chance for their life and future. There would be so much more successful women in the world if they had gotten that second chance, but because of men’s actions, they must settle for what they already have in life. When a woman becomes pregnant especially at an immature age like fourteen through sixteen years of age, their whole life is taken from them. For example, what if you had a daughter and she has been sexually active and she ends up pregnant, are you going to help her out, or are you going to kick her to the curb because you believe since she does adult things, she is considered as an adult now? Most parents would still care for their children after making a 2022-05-04T12:55:31.29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortions-45569.aspx Debra Acker Professor Earle SLS 1101 1 April 2015 Library Reference Assignment Topic: Abortion Beyond pro-life is a gift to all who want to expand their understanding of the religious, moral, and philosophical aspects of the abortion debate. Many women today are wanting kids, and are unable to have them. I know that it is the work of god, but the ones that are able to bear children and abort them should not be allowed to have children. Life begins at conception let’s make no mistake: As woman I strongly condemn any act of violence that hurts a woman. I am a mother, and carried my children full term and it was a blessing for me to be able to have children. This is why I don’t believe in abortion. In order to prevent young girls from having babies the very first thing to do is find out in their community are being taught about sex. Some parents may not even, realize that their children sometimes get misled information on some belief about having sex at a young age. (As Howard Phillips chairman of the Conservative Caucus, so succinctly put it. ”If personhood is declared and established. Roe v. Wade goes by the wayside.”) For those who are against abortion will have to answer to god, because, he made some women to bear children and to feel the amazing joy inside the stomach. My opinion on abortion is that I am not for it. I believe that it is a sin and goes against my religious beliefs. Life is precious and is what god gives to us, to give birth is one of the greatest things that life can offer. By taking the life of a child because of a mistake that you may have made is not fair, and if that is the case then you should have to suffer with the consequences of your decision. There are women in this world that want children and are not able to do so, so that to me is just being selfish and self-centered. Like any other different situation abortion creates stress, yet the American Psychological Associations 2015-04-02T18:34:43.69-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-help-35099.aspx Only nine years old, young Katelyn was walking home from school(less than a mile away) and the next thing she knows someone grabs her painfully by the arms. He holds her at knifepoint as he violently rapes her. Young Katelyn has cuts and bruises all over her swollen body. She is traumatized. Just a couple months later, she discovers she's carrying the criminal’s baby. Tears rush down her innocent red cheeks. She doesn't want to experience pregnancy as it will be a constant reminder of the terrible incident she went through. She’s scared and lost with nowhere to go. Why would any human put Katelyn through this? There is a way out, but what if that path to sunshine was demolished? Abortion should remain legal because it reduces crime rates, outlawing it would be unconstitutional, and it’s a woman’s choice of what she wants to do with her body. No opinion should matter whether or not to make abortion illegal. If it keeps our nation a better and happier place to live, then it should stay. In the 1990’s crime dropped dramatically due to abortion being legalized 20 years before “on January 22,1973 legalized abortion was suddenly extended to the entire country with the us supreme court's ruling in rues v. wade”(pg. 137, Lev/Dev.) the most likely reason that abortion affects crime rates so greatly is because “researchers found that in the instances where the woman was denied an abortion, she often resented her baby and failed to provide it with a good home”(pg. 136, Lev/Dub) and sure adoption is always a choice but most mothers would say it’s hard it is to give up their baby, and if the baby was a result of a rape then the baby could easily grow up with the same mental problems the rapist(may or may not have had) and become a criminal themselves. Our forefathers came to America for many reasons but one of the most common was religious freedom. “fully 53% of those who say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases cite religious beliefs as top influence on their lives, compared with 9% of those who say abortion should be legal” so if we passed a law outlawing something because over 50% of voters who voted for it because of their religion then that takes away not only a woman's freedom but our rights promised to us in 2013-05-12T19:14:12.263-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-is-a-woman’s-right-34883.aspx “In the past two hundred years, over one million Americans have died for their country. Monuments have been built and speeches have been delivered, honoring these American heroes. America is now engaged in a war where there are no heroes, no monuments or accolades - only victims. Our society has declared war on its most helpless members - our unborn children. Since the war declared on January 22, 1973, there have been over 45 million deaths.” (National Right to Life) Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by various means, including (brutal) medical surgery before the fetus is able to sustain independent life. Abortion has also been very popular and debatable topic but I personally feel that abortions are wrong and I intend to defend the innocent human beings who are unable to defend themselves. I support women who give life not take it away, who despite the odds give birth and decide not to abort. My purpose today is to persuade you to support my cause because everyone should have the opportunity to live. The most significant case in the history of abortion in America was the Roe vs. Wade case. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all laws in every state that in any way had protected the lives of developing unborn children. It legalized abortion in all 50 states, for the full nine months of pregnancy, for health reasons. Abortion was legalized because of the following three reasons: 1. For health reasons? Or should we say mental reasons. What we have granted to one citizen is the absolute legal right to have another human being killed in order to solve their own personal, social or economic problems. Are these health reasons? I believe not. Health reasons are defined by when the mother is in a life and death situation as a result of her pregnancy. 2. Abortion was introduced because ignorance. The court ruled once and for all that unborn humans were not legal persons saying that “It isn't human until it looks human.” This was ignorance of the time but we cannot continue to live by these rules. Dr. Ancona, an embryologist specialist states that “Technology has evolved so much and has proved to us that conception marks the beginning of human life. Microscopes, ultrasonic movies, stethoscopes and genetic knowledge enables us to see the reality, all of which go far beyond 2008-12-10T19:19:17-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Persuasive-Essay-33907.aspx Thank you for providing such an intelligent and insightful service. I orders last week and followed your instructions. It helped me discover concrete evidence of my husband's year long 2008-08-14T11:21:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-to-catch-your-spouse-partner-cheating-with-you-33660.aspx Previously to the scientific breakthrough, fertilization, that is the fusion of the male and female gametes, was always known to be carried out inside the human body. But nowadays, our findings prove otherwise. This technique is called InVitro Fertilization with Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET). This type of fertilization takes place inside a petri dish in a laboratory. Ova are removed by means of surgical intervention and then are combined with sperm in a petri dish. This zygote then is transferred to the woman’s womb, yet unfortunately it is more likely not to be a success. Due to this, more than one ovum are taken and fertilized but only five or four get to be inserted inside the woman. The others are either disposed of or frozen for later use. But we ask, is this morally permissible to be done? Various argue that, from the moment of fertilization, zygotes already contain unique genetic individuality. The information inside the cells, which distinguishes a person from another, control the development of the zygote, yet its growth also depends on the right environment to develop. Given this co-ordination, it will continue to grow without interruption and therefore this continuity helps the zygote in gradually developing to its full potential, that of being a full grown adult. With this one can conclude that the zygote is in fact a new person and therefore has the same rights as a person. Empiricists in the tradition of John Locke say that to be a person one must possess self-conscious. Believing in such an idea one can understand that the new fertilized zygote does not own such a condition. Therefore, according to the Empiricists zygotes can be used for experimentation, or be frozen, as they are in stage of life where they are developing into a person with potential. Others disagree on such ideas, and state that what a person is now is only the product of what gave yesterday. Therefore, killing someone today would be as if he was killed yesterday. Since zygotes are going through the development of becoming a person with potential one cannot kill a zygote, as it deprives it of its future value. It is a continuing process and no one is entitled to stop this process. This potentiality argument is sometimes misleading and makes others present another argument which in actual fact does not have to do with the potentiality argument. They dispute that, if one should take 2007-05-13T14:27:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Identity-and-Moral-Status-of-the-Human-Embryo-33206.aspx A Woman's Choice for Abortion Since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that did away with all laws regulating abortion, it has become one of our nation’s most controversial issues. Outlawing abortion would have the effect of imposing one person’s moral values upon another. Can I prevent someone from drinking because I think it’s wrong? Can I insist that two people stay married because I’m against divorce? The answer to these questions is no. Not only is it unconstitutional, but it’s unrealistic to believe that we can control the lives of others simply because their beliefs differ from ours. Abortion is a personal issue and should be dealt with by the individual, not the courts. To more clearly understand this debate, consider a hypothetical situation. An 18-year-old single female is struggling to get her education so that one day she can be financially secure. She’s working to put herself through school, but there is no extra money and no extra time. One day, she hopes to marry and have children, but neither one of these events fit into her short -term plans. In fact, pregnancy right now could knock her totally off course and potentially ruin her life, as she now has it planned. So she takes the necessary precautions to prevent this from happening. But let’s assume Mother Nature pulls a fast one on her. No type of birth control is 100% effective, and she happens to fall into that small percentage that isn’t so lucky. She’s got quite a dilemma. She wants children, but not right now. To choose to have a child is a commitment and carries all sorts of responsibilities that she’s not ready to fulfill. Her chances of achieving her goals are significantly reduced with a child. She wants to provide her children with all the advantages she didn’t have, but that doesn’t look possible now. Not only does the quality of her own life seem bleak, but so does the life of the child. She struggles with her situation, carefully weighing all the factors, and in the end, she decides not to continue the pregnancy. But now she’s faced with a new problem. People she doesn’t even know are trying to override her decision. Who are they, and why should they have 2007-04-23T03:44:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Woman-s-Choice-for-Abortion-33088.aspx Moral Opposition to Abortion Abortion is the ending of pregnancy before birth and is morally wrong. An abortion results in the death of an embryo or a fetus. Abortion destroys the lives of helpless, innocent children and illegal in many countries. By aborting these unborn infants, humans are hurting themselves; they are not allowing themselves to meet these new identities and unique personalities. Abortion is very simply wrong. Everyone is raised knowing the difference between right and wrong. Murder is wrong so why isn’t abortion? People argue that it is not murder since the fetus being destroyed is living, breathing and moving. Why is it that if an infant is destroyed a month before the birth, there is no problem, but if killed a month after birth, this is inhumane murder? The main purpose abortions are immoral is how they are so viciously done. Everyday, innocent, harmless fetuses that could soon be laughing children are being brutally destroyed. One form of abortion is to cut the fetus into pieces with serrated forceps before being removed, piece by piece from the uterus by suction with a vacuum aspirator. Another form consists of bringing the fetus feet first into the birth canal, puncturing its skull with a sharp instrument and sucking out the brain tissue. The body parts, such as the head, are given letters, rather than refer to the parts as what they are. In my opinion this is for the doctors who cannot face the reality of what they are doing. The remains of the fetus or embryo, as the case may be, are put into everyday, plastic buckets and then sent to a dumpster where these precious bones and limbs are disposed. However, how and when an abortion takes place are matters of little importance to pro- abortionists and other defenders. Even former abortion practitioners from varying backgrounds and religions have a new view on abortion. These changes of heart were caused by psychological, religious and scientific reasons. One doctor, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, performed 60,000 abortions and supervised 10,000, before scientific evidence and the use of an ultrasound, convinced him he was promoting and participating what he now calls "the most atrocious holocaust in the history of the United States." Other doctors refuse to perform legal abortions, saying they should save lives rather than destroy them. Others have different opinions. Abortion clinics are not a "butcher’s place" where young babies 2007-04-18T15:14:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Moral-Opposition-to-Abortion-32993.aspx Reasons Abortion should be Illegal Abortion should be made illegal for the following reasons. At the very first minute of conception the baby is alive. Although it might not have a pulse or heartbeat is a living thing. Another reason is that no human being has the right to take another human being’s life. Murder is murder. One more reason is that the baby who is inside can not make any decisions and is being killed for something it can not prevent or help. These are some of the reasons why abortion should become illegal. The first point that will be discussed is that at the first minute of conception the baby is alive. It becomes a living organism as soon as the sperm has penetrated the wall of the egg. [Abortion, Encyclopedia Britainnica, pg.15] This means that even if an abortion happens very early in the first trimester it would still be killing a living thing. A common belief is that if you have an abortion before a certain amount of weeks then it is okay because the child is not alive yet, but this is not true. This is one reason why abortion should be illegal. Another reason why abortion should be illegal is that no human being has the right to take another human being’s life. Essentially this is what is happening when an abortion takes place. A human being (the mother) is taking another human being’s life (the child.) Why is it that in any other situation but this that would be called first degree murder? [http//:www.abortion.com, “Abortion is Murder “ pg.2] The mother should not be allowed to choose whether or not another person should die just because she wasn’t prepared. This is another reason why abortion should be made illegal. The final reason why abortion should be made illegal is that the child has no choice or voice in the matter at all. The child who is in the womb of the mother has not done anything wrong or deserving of death, but because of the situation that the mother is in the child has to die. The child is paying for what the mother has done and this is not fair. The child is at the complete mercy of the parents and should not have to be. In any case it is wrong to kill and abortion is murder. In 2007-03-19T13:45:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reasons-Abortion-should-be-Illegal-32820.aspx “In the past two hundred years, over one million Americans have died for their country. Monuments have been built and speeches have been delivered, honoring these American heroes. America is now engaged in a war where there are no heroes, no monuments or accolades - only victims. Our society has declared war on its most helpless members - our unborn children. Since the war declared on January 22, 1973, there has been over 45 million deaths.” (National Right to Life) I intend to defend innocent human beings who are unable to defend themselves and whose lives are being threatened. I support women who give life not take it away, who despite the odds give birth and decide not to abort. My purpose today is to persuade you to support my cause. Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by various means, including (brutal) medical surgery, before the fetus is able to sustain independent life. Roe vs. Wade was the most significant case in the history of abortion in America. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all laws in every state that in any way had protected the lives of developing unborn children. It legalized abortion in all 50 states, for the full nine months of pregnancy, for health reasons. Abortion was legalized because of the following three reasons: 1. For health reasons? Or should we say mental reasons. What we have granted to one citizen is the absolute legal right to have another human being killed in order to solve their own personal, social or economic problems. Are these health reasons? I believe not. Health reasons are defined by when the mother is in a life and death situation as a result of her pregnancy. 2. Abortion was introduced because ignorance. The court ruled once and for all that unborn humans were not legal persons saying that “It isn't human until it looks human.” This was ignorance of the time but we can not continue to live by these rules. Dr. Ancona, an embryologist specialist states that “Technology has evolved so much and has proved to us that conception marks the beginning of human life. Microscopes, ultrasonic movies, stethoscopes and genetic knowledge enables us to see the reality, all of which go far beyond the limited knowledge obtained by sight alone.” If we have such facts before us, how is it that we continue to deny the reality? We have 2007-02-05T04:55:38-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/My-Stand-on-Abortion--32591.aspx Abortion and Cultural Relativism Using the ethical theory of cultural relativism I will demonstrate why physician assisted suicide, or PAS, should not become legalized in the United States. One of the key principles stated in the theory of cultural relativism is that what is deemed right and wrong by a particular culture at a particular period in time is what is ethical for that culture at that time. In the case of PAS we need merely look at the current law concerning the matter to determine it’s ethical nature. The United States Supreme Court in the case of Washington v. Glucksberg stated, “In almost every state- indeed, in almost every western democracy- it is a crime to assist a suicide”(243). In our democratic society we elect officials whom we entrust to act and govern on our behalf, more or less they represent the beliefs and values for at least the majority of citizens in our culture. Taking that in mind, the Supreme Court states, ”Indeed, opposition to and condemnation of suicide- and, therefore, of assisting suicide- are consistent and enduring themes of our philosophical, legal, and cultural heritages”(243). The very fact that PAS is currently outlawed in our society means that it is not ethical in nature with respect to cultural relativism. Another argument, which supports not legalizing physician assisted suicide, is given in an article written by Paul Chamberlin. He claims that by legalizing PAS you are giving people a choice that creates an unneeded and potentially harmful burden. Having to make this choice forces people to make a drastic decision effecting not only their life, but also the lives of their family, at a time when they are feeling practically worthless. Chamberlin states it best when he says, “By giving them the choice to die, we will have also unwittingly placed upon these vulnerable people the added burden of having to justify their own continued existence, if not to others, at least to themselves, and this at a time when they feel useless, discouraged, and a burden to others”(271). Another controversial topic affecting the lives of many people is that of abortion. I will show that, according to cultural relativism, a women should have the right to an abortion at any time during the pregnancy prior to viability, that being the time when the fetus has the capacity of 2007-01-09T03:04:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-and-Cultural-Relativism-32320.aspx Abortion Case Study Paper The case that I chose to discuss is an article which assesses the argument of whether it is ethically right or wrong to have a prenatal diagnosis of the sex of a child, in order for parents to decide if they want to keep the child or not. Some questions are raised as to whether sex selection through abortion is moral or immoral, and if it were immoral, in what circumstances, if any, would it be justified. Prenatal gender selection through abortion is a legal practice in any country where abortion is legal and the technology is available to determine the sex of the fetus. When parents ask for prenatal diagnosis they are not breaking any laws. Even though it is not against the law, data suggests that physicians may or may not comply with prenatal sex selection. This shows that there is a moral decision being made here by both the parents of the child, and the physician performing the procedure. Skeptics see sex selection as a precedent for other genetic "tinkering" which could possibly arise with advances in genetics. There is also the possibility that pre-conceptual methods of determining your child’s sex will be available in the future. These two future possibilities also have to be evaluated when the decision is being made to perform the prenatal diagnosis. If the demand for this procedure becomes high, then it may give doctors more of a reason to try and take prenatal choice of characteristics to new levels. These are all relevant facts that both physicians and parents have to take into account when they are making their decision. There are ethical issues that arise from the possibility of prenatal diagnosis of a fetus. The one obvious ethical issue is whether it is right or wrong to abort a child simply because it is not of the sex that is desired. The parents and the physician performing the procedure have to decide whether or not it is ethical to abort a fetus in order for them to have a child of the sex they desire. This is the issue for them to decide on, assuming that the child is healthy and has no complications. If complications are present, a whole new set of ethical issues is opened up. One can make a case that it is not unethical to have an abortion in cases of 2006-12-29T18:20:41-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Case-Study-Paper-32170.aspx Study on the Use of the Abortion Pill Thursday, September 28, 2000, the Federal Drug and Food Administration approved the use of mifepristone, the abortion pill known as RU-486. This pill makes it dramatically easier for a woman to have an abortion. If pregnancy is detected within seven weeks of conception, this simple pill can abort the baby, making it unnecessary to go through with abortion surgery. I believe that the FDA’s approval of RU-486 was wrong and the pill should be banned. This pill is one of the worst things to come out of modern technology in recent years. This pill contributes to the lessening of the value of life. Pro-choice activists claim that removing a fetus is not wrong because it is not a living, breathing human being. While some women that just discovered they were pregnant might shy away from having abortion surgery because of the procedure, this pill is a new way to destroy a life. It is also far easier to just swallow a few pills than it is to have the fetus removed through a tube. The process is simple. First, three Mifeprex (mifepristone) pills are taken which go directly into the system. They block receptors of progesterone, a hormone needed to maintain pregnancy. It then softens and opens up the cervix. As a result, the fertilized egg is prevented from clinging to the wall. Then the fetus is expelled from the mother. Two days after the first three tablets are taken, the woman takes two misoprostol tables unless the doctor can confirm that the pregnancy has been completely terminated through ultrasound or a clinical exam. This procedure is incredibly easy compared to the inhumane process of a surgery which removes the brain of the fetus. It takes away from life’s value because now any woman who wishes to have it done and falls within the correct time frame can walk into a clinic, swallow three pills and be done within a week. This is a simple, carefree process of destroying a human life. The pill should also be banned because it has a very high risk of serious side effects. Some of these side effects include excessive bleeding, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and fainting. It may also include back pain, fatigue, 2006-11-02T15:44:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Study-on-the-Use-of-the-Abortion-Pill-31671.aspx Supporting Abortion as a Moral Act In order to fully understand the abortion issue, we must learn the information and inform ourselves what happens when one decides to have an abortion. In order to do this, we must ask ourselves simple questions. We will start with everyone’s favorite question, is it alive? Yes it is. Pro-Choice supporters who claim it isn't are lying to themselves. Of course it's alive. It's a biological mechanism that converts nutrients and oxygen into energy that causes its cells to divide, multiply, and grow. It's alive. Anti-abortion activists often mistakenly use this fact to support their cause. "Life begins at conception" they claim. And they would be right. The genesis of a new human life begins when the egg with 23 chromosomes joins with a sperm with 23 chromosomes and creates a fertilized cell, called a zygote, with 46 chromosomes. The single-cell zygote contains all the DNA necessary to grow into an independent, conscious human being. It is a potential person. But being alive does not give the zygote full human rights - including the right not to be aborted during its gestation. A single-cell ameba also coverts nutrients and oxygen into biological energy that causes its cells to divide, multiply and grow. It also contains a full set of its own DNA. It shares everything in common with a human zygote except that it is not a potential person. Left to grow, it will always be an ameba - never a human person. It is just as alive as the zygote, but we would never defend its human rights based solely on that fact. And neither can the anti-abortionist, which is why we must answer the following questions as well. The next question to be dealt with, is it human? Yes. Again, Pro-Choice defenders stick their feet into their mouths when they defend abortion by claiming the zygote-embryo-fetus isn't human. It is human. Its DNA is that of a human. Left to grow, it will become a full human person. And again, anti-abortion activists often mistakenly use this fact to support their cause. They are fond of saying, "an acorn is an oak tree in an early stage of development; likewise, the zygote is a human being in an early stage of development." And they would be right. But having a full set of human DNA does not give the zygote full human rights 2006-09-20T03:36:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Supporting-Abortion-as-a-Moral-Act-31452.aspx Allowing Abortions in Certain Situations When having unprotected sex you are taking a risk, a risk to conceive a child. Every action taken has a consequence, and when a couple has unprotected sex, they must deal with the consequences. A woman who is old enough to conceive a child should take the responsibility to raise the child: abortion should not be an option since she took the risk. A woman should not have an abortion because she wants to; she needs a solid reason to do it. A reasonable instance for a women to get an abortion would be if she were raped; the baby was conceived out of incest; or that the baby or mother was in danger. There are some other reasons that would make an abortion a reasonable decision. One of those reasons is that severe anomalies or chromosomal abnormalities with the fetus. Which can only be identified through amniocentesis. This is the test most commonly used to determine whether the child is abnormal or not. In a few cases the embryo lodges in one of the woman's fallopian tubes, and has to be quickly surgically removed in order to prevent an almost certain death from blood loss (Cook 63-68). Seventy-five to eighty percent of rape victims that become pregnant choose to let the baby live and do not get an abortion. They believe an abortion would be just another act of violence perpetrated against their bodies and their children(www.prolifeinfo.org). Some of the other pregnant rape victims believe that their child's life may have some meaning or purpose which they do not yet understand. The child was brought into their lives by a horrible, repulsive act. But perhaps God, or fate, will use the child for some greater purpose. They believe that good can come from evil. In the case of Roe vs. Wade (1973), the US Supreme Court held that the US Constitution protects a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy. Through the end of the first trimester, her decision, made in consultation with her physician, must be free from government interference (Cook 56). "We should overturn Roe vs. Wade and pass a Human Life Amendment to the constitution protecting the constitutional right of our posterity," said Presidential candidate Alan Keyes (www.yahoonews.com). Starting at the end of the first trimester, however, the states 2006-08-27T23:43:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Allowing-Abortions-in-Certain-Situations-31345.aspx Ethical Issues Surrounding Pro-Choice Abortion is one of the most controversial issues discussed in today’s society. Some people believe that abortion is a woman’s right, and that it is acceptable. These people fall into the category of pro-choice. The other group of people that believe abortion is completely wrong are people that are in favor of pro-life. Abortion is the act of destroying an un-born fetus in a woman’s womb. This issue has caused a great deal of turmoil in the world. Some protesters have even killed other people over this issue, which is ironic because killing human beings is exactly what those people are protesting. It is wrong for a woman to get an abortion, with the exceptions in cases of incest, rape, and when the mother’s life is in danger. It is wrong because women choose to have sex. They know the consequences of having sex could result in becoming pregnant. The women that have an abortion when they become pregnant, by their own choice, are using it as a method of birth control, which is wrong. Allowing a woman to have an abortion is immoral. The fact that a woman has a right to her own body is an idea that more women are starting to realize. Never has a state granted a citizen the right to have another person killed in order to solve a personal, social, or financial dilemmas. Pro-choice advocates argue that having an abortion is safer that the actual childbirth itself. It is true that childbirth can sometimes cause damage to a woman’s body. However, there is a great deal more problems and complications that can arise after a woman has an abortion. Doctors have reported that the occurrence of genital tract infection is a common complication. Infection of the womb and tube can cause the woman to have permanent damage. Another likely problem is the pelvic inflammatory disease. Even if treated promptly it is difficult to manage and can also lead to infertility. Bleeding can also easily become a dangerous factor, which result in 10% of woman having to receive a blood transfusion. There are several other problems that can show up due to having an abortion. The most severe of these problems, but less likely is death. After their abortions, many women have 2006-08-25T17:15:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ethical-Issues-Surrounding-Pro-Choice-31270.aspx Abortion From the Perspective of Judaism The issue of abortion has been debated for centuries and will surely continue to be a major topic of debate. Some see abortion as murder of an innocent child, others believe that the fetus is not yet a human and therefore can be aborted. Most of the world religions have a view of abortion, some religious laws allow it while others condemn the act. Abortion in the eyes of religion is a major conflict that is closely related to God and his sole ability to create and destroy life. Judaism is one of the religions that does not see abortion as murder, rather they see it as a necessity if the mother’s life becomes endangered by the pregnancy. The Jewish law, although approving of abortion, does not let it happen freely. If abortion were to be murder then it would be prohibited in the Jewish community states Feldman.1 But according to the Talmud, Jewish law does not equate it with murder, and there are circumstances under which Jewish law would permit, or even mandate, an abortion.1 The welfare of the mother is the most important thing It is her welfare, avoidance of her pain, that comes first.1 Jewish law indicates that if abortion was murder then one could not have an abortion because it would then be considered a cardinal sin.1 Hence if abortion were declared murder, a mother would not be allowed to have an abortion even to save her life, which is obviously not the case.1 In Jewish law the fetus is not considered a person, in this, if the fetus is removed through abortion it is not killing a person. The fetus is a “part of its mother”1 and not separate. This further asks, “whether feticide is or is not homocide.”1 To answer this we look to the Torah where the law of homicide states “he who smites a man”, or “any human person” is punishable by martyrdom. The fetus on the other hand is not a person until it comes into the world. The nefesh adam, or any human person, is thought to exclude the fetus.1 The author uses Rashi, a known Bible and Talmud commentator, who states the fetus “is lav nefesh hu, not a person, until he comes into the world.” Therefore feticide is not homocide.1 The fetus is thought to be a rodef, an aggressor, one 2006-08-07T08:13:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-From-the-Perspective-of-Judaism-31105.aspx Anti Abortion Opinion Abortion is the ending of pregnancy before birth and is morally wrong. An abortion results in the death of an embryo or a fetus. Abortion destroys the lives of helpless, innocent children and illegal in many countries. By aborting these unborn infants, humans are hurting themselves; they are not allowing themselves to meet these new identities and unique personalities. Abortion is very simply wrong. Everyone is raised knowing the difference between right and wrong. Murder is wrong, so why is not abortion? People argue that it is not murder if the child is unborn. Abortion is murder since the fetus being destroyed is living, breathing and moving. Why is it that if an infant is destroyed a month before the birth, there is no problem, but if killed a month after birth, this is inhumane murder? The main purpose abortion is immoral; they are viciously done. Everyday, innocent, harmless fetuses that could soon be laughing children are being brutally destroyed. One form of abortion is to cut the fetus into pieces with jagged forceps before being removed, piece-by-piece from the uterus by suction with a vacuum aspirator. Another form consists of bringing the fetus feet first into the birth canal, puncturing its skull with a sharp instrument and sucking out the brain tissue. The body parts, such as the head, are given letters, rather than refer to the parts as what they are. The remains of the fetus or embryo, as the case may be, are put into everyday, plastic buckets and then sent to a dumpster where these precious bones and limbs are disposed. Abortion should not be allowed because it is morally wrong. "There is no morally relevant difference between deliberately killing a human being who has been born and deliberately killing a human being who is still inside his mother" (Foster 32). Abortion has become morally acceptable to some simply because it is currently legal. Legality does not necessarily imply morality. The taking of an innocent, defenseless human life is unacceptable and morally wrong. Killing innocent people is immoral and illegal in the United States; therefore, to be consistent, abortion should also be illegal. The moral aspects of abortion are clear. It is time for society to truly consider what it is doing to other humans. Abortion is a horrible atrocity that should be illegal unless the mother's life is endangered by the 2006-07-27T15:17:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Abortion-Opinion-30734.aspx Issues Surrounding Abortion Abortion means expulsion of a fetus from the womb before it is able to survive. It is generally illegal. It is an issue that evokes, on all sides, very strong feelings and judgments and very heated recriminations. The most radical formulation of the anti-abortion or "pro-life" side of the debate views abortion as the murder of unborn children, and so as the equivalent of out and out infanticide, making the legal use of abortion. Legal abortion is an abortion that allowed by the law. Some country contended that the right to life generally accrues earlier than birth and irrespective of whether the baby is strong enough to survive after birth. This broad standard leaves plenty of room for special rules and exceptions in order to allow some late abortions for the life of the mother, rape, incest, grave fetal deformity, maiming of the mother, et cetera. A doctor who was performing a legal abortion on a woman five months pregnant notice that the ‘aborted fetus’ actually was alive. If this happens, he or she is generally left to die. So, he held the fetus’s head inside the woman’s vagina canal until the fetus suffocated. The doctor’s thinking was that the fetus was intended to killed or born during the abortion, and that it’s being born alive was an error that could result in an unwanted child. Therefore, he felt that he had performed an act of mercy. That means to say he had taken a direct action to terminate one’s life without his or her permission. When abortions are carried out, no precautions are taken to prevent the unborn baby from feeling this pain. There are three main ways that abortions are performed, depending on the age of the unborn baby. If the baby is under thirteen weeks of age, a method known as Suction Curettage is used. First, a suction tube with a knife-like edge is inserted into the womb. Then the baby is literally drawn and quartered as the spine, the legs, the arms, and all other parts are sliced off and sucked through the tube. Lastly, the head is crushed with forceps, so it too can be sucked up into the tube. If the baby is over thirteen weeks of age, the "Salting Out! " method is used. A strong, sterile saltwater solution is injected 2006-07-26T23:21:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Surrounding-Abortion-30689.aspx Detailed Argument on Abortion being Legal The topic of abortion is one of the most controversial of our times. It has caused countless deaths and several violent confrontations between the two separate parties of opinion. The fight between pro-life and pro-choice supporters has been long and brutal. This is because, despite what several people may believe, abortion is neither right nor wrong. It is a matter of personal opinion. In this way, each side can say with certainty that the other is wrong. Therefore the question remains; should abortion be legal? Though some may disagree on this point, the fact is that legalized abortion is the only option that will protect the lives of American citizens. One only needs to look into American history to see the results of prohibiting abortions to women. The violence which occurs today because the of pro-choice/pro-life conflicts is minimal in comparison to the thousands of hopeless women who turn to the illegal abortions --either self-inflicted or preformed by the backroom "professionals"-- which result in infection, massive blood loss, and death. It is better now that they have a place to go where abortions can be performed cleanly and with minimal risk. Legalization of abortion is the only choice no matter what side one takes in the debate. Women will try to do what they think is necessary to live as they wish, no matter what the risk. In order to live as she chooses a woman may give up her freedom, her morals, her beliefs, her family, or even her life. Abortion has been around for thousands of years in every inhabited corner of the globe. It has always been accepted as a means to prevent the suffering of both woman and potential child. It has been practiced widely in every society for many reasons including famine, war, poverty, overpopulation, or simply because a woman felt she was not ready for a child (Whitney 40). No one ever questioned a woman's right to this procedure. After all, who but God has the right to judge what a woman does with her own body? This thought process lasted till the 1800's. During this era of change people began to turn their attention in a new direction, the fetus. They began to protest abortion as cruel, inhumane, and murderous. Filled with a new sense of purpose and the glory of a fresh, righteous cause to uphold 2006-07-25T13:03:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Detailed-Argument-on-Abortion-being-Legal-30636.aspx Legal Issues and Arguments regarding Abortion Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about adultery in The Scarlet Letter, but the "A" word these days is abortion. People often break off friendships, ostracize each other, and are intolerant of others having different opinions on this subject. This is sad, because we can all learn from each other. The rest of this abortion essay is divided into two parts. First is a general discussion mentioning some legal issues. Then the legal issues will be discussed in more detail. Be aware that some of the following material is personal opinion, although you will also find a lot of information (including links). General Discussion For thousands of years of western civilization, abortion was generally illegal after "quickening" (the point at about four months into pregnancy when a baby kicks). This tradition can be traced back at least to the Ancient Greeks. In his book "Politics," Aristotle said that "the line between lawful and unlawful abortion will be marked by the fact of having sensation and being alive." [1] Aristotle thus contended that the right to life generally accrues earlier than birth and irrespective of whether the baby is strong enough to survive after birth (i.e. viability). This broad standard of Aristotle leaves plenty of room for special rules and exceptions in order to allow some late abortions for the life of the mother, rape, incest, grave fetal deformity, maiming of the mother, et cetera. [2] Quickening usually occurs at least two months before viability. Many people, including myself, advocate drawing a line between lawful and unlawful abortion no later than four months after conception but no earlier than the end of the embryonic stage. This happens to be what the vast majority of people generally believes. [3] Because the abortion pill RU486 is only effective on an embryo up until the ninth week of pregnancy, I have loudly supported its legalization for many years. If we are to face facts, we must acknowledge that the human experience does not suddenly begin the moment each of us is born. All medical experience shows that a fetus has sensation (e.g. taste, hearing, touch, smell, and sight). More importantly, a fetus can think, and has been proven to remember things (like the voice of its mother) after it is born. We are all human beings, 2006-07-23T13:14:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Legal-Issues-and-Arguments-regarding-Abortion-30500.aspx Essay on a Woman's Right to Choose Abortion The topic of abortion is a hot subject among the people of America today. Some say yes, women should be able to have abortions no matter if the fetus is in the first trimester or well in to the second trimester of gestation. On the other hand the other people say that it is murder of a child no matter the stage of development. Many of the people that believe that the fertilized ovum is a human and has a soul at the conception are the pro-life people. They believe this because of their religious beliefs. The pro-lifers have been taught through their religion that as soon as the sperm connects with the egg, the soul enters the body and the egg is then a human, even though is has no ability to move, think, speak, listen, or smell. The concept of the soul entering the body at conception is a religious belief. It has no way of being detected through scientific means. Pro-life individuals are generally conservative people who are against the idea of abortion. Morals teach us that an individual conceived is alive and to endanger an individual in a mother’s womb is against the moral teachings that they have been taught. They usually believe in Christian principles. They believe that the government does not have the right to allow a person to abort a fetus. Famous conservatives and activists for pro life include Jesse Helms, George W. Bush, and Pat Buchanan. There have been many debates and even some television shows that refute this topic. One specific person that always goes against it is Pat Robertson. He has donated a whole television program to anti-abortion and anti-liberalism. As in all debates there has to be a pro side, unfortunately these close-minded people have made a wrong decision. Pro choice is anyone who feels women have the individual right to choose abortion as an option. We live in a democracy, where we have the right to choose how we live. It is a woman’s right to choose to have a child or to abort it. It is not as if women get pregnant for the specific reason to have an abortion. Some people feel there is always a legitimate reason behind her actions. Who is to say that if all children ever conceived were born they would 2006-07-17T12:49:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-a-Woman-s-Right-to-Choose-Abortion-30282.aspx Argument in Favor of Making Abortion Illegal Abortion is a very controversial subject that has been continually argued over for years the past few years and probably many years to come. Abortion as defined in the Webster Dictionary is the premature expulsion of a fetus. Abortion stops the beating of an innocent child's heart. There are two sides to the controversial subject, abortion. PRO-LIFE who are the people that are against abortion and the PRO-CHOICE or the people who believe that a woman has every right to do anything she wants with her body. It is her body and she can do anything with it. If she chooses to have an abortion, it’s her decision and as a woman, everyone should respect it. These two groups offer different solutions to the problem. The pro-life solution is what it sounds like. The pro-life is for life and the only solution is to have the baby and to live with it. Abortion is not an option to the pro-life activists. The pro-choice solution is abortion because they strongly believe in freedom and if they feel that abortion is the way to solve the problem, then so be it. Although abortion is morally and ethically wrong should it be legal for victims of rape or incest who have no other alternative? People must no longer have sex, you should be ready to take care of the responsibilities. Abortion could be a good thing to some extent but the main point is, we are killing innocent children if we keep on going through with it. Abortion is very common to people, it’s trivial. Abortion happens very often and people see it as a way to escape the responsibility of taking care of a child they had consumed. The people can no longer ignore the medical and emotional problems an abortion causes women. People must stop denying the facts about the procedure and start hearing the silent screams of unborn children. I believe that killing unborn babies is unacceptable. If you are ready to have sex, you should be ready to have children. Taking care of children are the responsibilities we have to face when we have sex. Sex and conception of a baby are two very connectable terms. All human beings are given some 2006-07-02T17:18:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argument-in-Favor-of-Making-Abortion-Illegal-29891.aspx Abortion Objection Essay In the midst of many different positions on abortion encompassing the world today Don Marquis in his paper “Why Abortion Is Immoral,” hits sound reasons why he believes that abortion is morally wrong. He starts with an assumption that he believes that everyone will in fact agree with, stating that it is morally wrong to kill us. Marquis explains that the reason that murder is wrong is not because of the effect that will placed on the family and friends of the person that is killed, but because the person will be deprived of a viable future. They are then deprived of the experiences that life has to offer, activities and the enjoyments that life could have brought them. Under the same circumstances it would be morally wrong to kill a child because they are identically capable of having a fulfilling future, and killing them would deprive them of any such activities. Murder is also said to be wrong if the person is biologically human. However, Marquis does not disagree with active euthanasia because any person who will be subjected to a life of unbearable pain will not be losing anything if in fact they are killed. So if killing them would help them to avoid further suffering and pain, and they have nothing to live for in life, then euthanasia should be acceptable. When this all comes together towards the end of the second section of Marquis’ paper he explains that if a fetus were to be killed, then that fetus would be deprived of a valuable future. “The future of a standard fetus includes a set of experiences, projects, activities, and such which are identical with the futures of adult human beings and are identical with the futures of young children (Marquis, 192).” In clear words he explains that the fetus has a right to life and a right to the possibilities of it’s future, therefore abortion, the massacre of this fetus, would be morally wrong. Marquis does not only say that because it would be wrong to kill us it would be wrong to kill the fetus, in fact he infers that it is based on the fact that any human with a viable future like ours deserves the chance at that future. Marquis believes that to conclude that abortion is prima facie seriously 2006-06-20T17:04:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Objection-Essay-29709.aspx A Woman's Right to Abortion A woman’s right or murder? The topic I chose was abortion a woman’s right or murder? I set out to interview a various range of citizens and professionals about this topic and to listen to their views. Abortion is a very personal and controversial topic especially in today’s society. I did not expect to get an accurate answer to my topic, but rather two or even more very different sides to this study. I do not have a particular view on this issue, so I did aim to see if my mind could be made clearer from my interviews. I was expecting the communication to be very formal and hard to find people who knew exactly what their views are and able to comment on them easily. I did a lot of research regarding my topic before I set out to interview people and I learnt a lot more about abortion because of this. I discovered that there is a lot of risk before and after abortion. There could be infections, retained products of contraception, continued pregnancy, cervical or uterine trauma and bleeding, which are all short term post - abortion complications. The procedure also puts a lot of emotional and mental stress and trauma on the mother which is something she has to live with for the rest of her life. This occurs in 90% of all abortion cases. The woman is harmed after the abortion because it increases her chance of miscarriage and breast cancer, and may cause her to have painful menstrual cycles for the rest of her life. 25% of abortion cases report serious medical problems after their abortion and over 75% lose the relationship they were trying to save. From the interviews I got a different perspective on a woman’s right and that was that the unborn child is fully alive just not yet ‘birthed’ ad God has a unique plan for that unique life that can not be filled by another. The law which was passed in 1972 to make abortion legal, was based upon perjury and the gaining of a ‘legal’ right that did not exist before and was due to the bending of the constitution and legal system. The justices made their decision because the pre-abortion crowd used false statistics, faked crisis situations and scenarios that never existed, rather than the fact of the law. I asked interviewees 2006-06-16T15:43:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Woman-s-Right-to-Abortion-29636.aspx Abortion as a form of Ethnomethodology Ethnomethodology is a technique for studying human interaction by deliberately disrupting social norms and observing how individuals respond, the idea is that the disruption of social norms helps one discover the normal social order. To my beliefs abortion is murder and that is disrupting social norm. A norm is a specific cultural expectation for how to behave in a given situation. Abortions many people believe abortion is a moral issue, but it is also a constitutional issue. Do you consider something with a beating heart a living creature? If you didn’t know a babies heart forms and starts beating in the fifth week of pregnancy, therefore that would make abortion murder. Abortion debate is raging in America. Different sides argue are “pro-choice” there theory would say that abortion is up to the women, “pro-life” theory is abortion is murder no matter what the situation. The opposing sides argue about abortion. Also that say it’s a woman’s right to choose what she does with her body, and it should not be altered or influenced by anyone else. The right is guaranteed by the ninth amendment, which contains the right to privacy. The ninth amendment states: “ The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” The “pro-choice” also say woman has the right to privacy and choice to abort her fetus. A fetus is not yet a baby but it does not possess the criteria derived from our understand of living human beings. The “pro-life” people argue that a woman who has an abortion is killing a child. They also argue that abortion is the taking of innocent human life, which is wrong under virtually any circumstances. An unborn baby is more that potential life, an unborn baby is a meaningful human that should not be considered. Human life begins with conception. A middle-aged person, a teenager, and an unborn baby are all in stages of human life. Killing the unborn is no more justifiable than killing the two other people. Abortion is a practice that should be prohibited by law because it basically amounts to murder. An unborn baby’s right to life should have priority over a woman’s right to choose. No woman or man should have the power to decide if a baby is allowed to live. A woman’s right over her 2006-06-13T19:00:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-as-a-form-of-Ethnomethodology-29459.aspx Defending a Woman's Right to Abortion In an essay entitled “A Defense of Abortion” author Judith Jarvis Thomson offers a number of considerations that would justify abortion in almost all cases without denying the personhood of an unborn child. Thomson’s argument is not based on the distinguishing comparison between human beings classified as members of a species, namely homosapiens, who possess the human genetic code and the actual human person who possesses cognitive consciousness or the ability to know what is going on around him/her. Instead, her argument is based on the assumption that every person has a right to life. Although Thomson herself does not believe that the life of a human person begins at conception, for arguments sake, she is willing to admit this. Thus it is granted that every fetus is a person, and every person has a right to right to life. In Thomson’s view, abortion remains justifiable. Thompson begins by giving an example of a violinist with a fatal kidney disease. Suppose you wake up one morning, in a hospital bed, and find yourself attached at the back to a famous violinist. Upon talking to the doctors, you learn that you were kidnapped by “The Society of Music Lovers”, who in a desperate attempt to save this violinist, have plugged in his circulatory system with yours, turning you into a human dialysis machine. The doctors later inform you that they are sorry that this has happened to you, but it will only take nine months for the violinist to recover, at which point he can be “unplugged” from you, but to unplug him from you now would cause him to die. Since violinists are people too, and since every person has the right to live, Thomson uses this to point out that no matter how long the violinist needs to get better, even if it takes him nine years you are expected to lie there because he has a right to life, and thus you have no right to take his life from him by “unplugging” him from you. The violinist example is merely a strategy that Thomson uses to point out the major flaw in the pro-lifer’s view. Since Thomson previously establishes the pro-lifer’s view to be: “…a person’s life is stronger and more stringent than the mother’s right to decide what happens in and to her body…” (740). In using the situation described 2006-06-13T17:58:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Defending-a-Woman-s-Right-to-Abortion-29424.aspx Abortion Alternative: The Abortion Pill What is abortion? The Webster’s Dictionary defines abortion as the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus as a spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus, or an induced expulsion of a human fetus. Some people think abortion is murder. Others do not see anything wrong with it. Abortion has been around for many years, and until recently women would always have to have a surgical procedure to end a pregnancy. Now women can end a pregnancy with the new FDA approved abortion pill. What is the abortion pill? The abortion pill is called Mifeprex or RU-486. Mifeprex followed by the drug misoprostal is approximately 92-95% effective. The FDA has only approved this drug to be used up to forty-nine days from the beginning of a womans last menstrual period. They determine the age of the fetus using ultrasoumd. (Mifeprex) How does Mifeprex and misoprostal work? Mifeprex blocks the naturally produced hormone progesterone. Women produce this hormone, when they are pregnant, to help maintain the pregnancy. Without this hormone the lining of the uterus softens and breaks down. Misoprostal causes the uterus to contract to help complete the abortion. (Mifeprex) What is the process of ending a pregnancy with the pill? The woman makes three visits to the doctor’s office. On her first visit she is provided information on how the pill works, she is counseled, and she signs a statement saying she has decided to end her pregnancy. She also has an ultrasound to determine the fetus is under seven weeks old. She takes three Mifeprex pills and goes home. She comes back two days later and takes two misoprostal pills. (Mifeprex) About two weeks after her first visit she comes back for a follow-up exam and an ultrasound to be sure the pregnancy has ended. (Abortion Pill:…) What are the advantages? When one ends a pregnancy with Mifeprex, they can avoid surgery. They can also take Mifeprex as soon as they know they are pregnant. Mifeprex also provides women with a more private option. (Mifeprex) What are the disadvantages or side effects? Women will experience bleeding and cramping. That is a normal part of the process. 2006-06-12T02:55:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Alternative-The-Abortion-Pill-29288.aspx Pro and Con Arguments for Abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. Abortion has been an intensely debated issue in the United States today. It is very difficult to find someone who doesn't have an opinion about abortion, and probably a strong opinion at that. Our country remains divided over what many consider the most conflict-ridden American issue since slavery. There are usually two sides. The pro-life side and the pro-choice side. Both sides make a good case. An agreement exists among pro-lifers and pro-choicers that when human personhood starts the person must be protected. The endless debates on the topic usually go nowhere, leaving the rivals even more committed to their positions and the open-minded observers confused. One reason the debate goes nowhere is that each side focuses on a different topic. They make no progress because they are not talking about the same thing. The pro-abortionist prefers to discuss choice, and to stay on all of the social problems important in an unwanted child. The anti-abortionist is interested mainly in protecting the life of the fetus. In simple terms, the pro-abortionist focuses on a woman's rights and the anti-abortionist focuses on a fetus' rights. Though interconnected , these are basically different topics. Though neither side realizes it, there is actually much more agreement than disagreement between the opposing views. The majority on both sides would agree that social problems like child neglect and urban overcrowding are serious issues. Most would also agree that the life of a child is a precious thing that deserves the full protection of the law. There would be general agreement that it is a woman's exclusive right to make decisions concerning her body. The disagreement is if the fetus is a human being. If you believe it is not a person, then it is simply part of the woman's body and subject to her complete control. From this point of view, any attempt to belittle that control is a malicious infringement upon a woman's rights. If, however, you believe the fetus is a person, then you are obligated to protect it, even to the point of restricting the actions of the woman carrying it. The objectives of both groups are the same, it is to reduce the number of abortions, and to make any needed abortions safe. However, they have very 2006-06-11T20:19:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-and-Con-Arguments-for-Abortion-29243.aspx Social and Psychological Lessons from Teen Abortions For teenagers facing abortion, it is a psychological, social, and philosophical dilemma that must be encountered. After the Roe v Wade case in which the court decided that a woman should have the right to choose, limited abortion rights were granted to minors. As a result, numerous states enacted various forms of parental notification and consent laws. “In most states, the law requires that parents of teenagers provide written approval of the minor's decision to terminate her pregnancy, or that they be notified by a physician” (McDonagh 21). An on going debate has continued regarding the notification of parents on abortion. Even though many psychologists believe that parental notification can have a long-lasting impact on the teenager's physical and psychological well being, decision making capability, and family relationships, opponents believe that such notification laws are unnecessary because a significant portion of teenagers confide in their parents about pregnancy and would seek their advice on pregnancy options and alternatives. Therefore, parents are already involved in providing emotional and psychological support and assisting her in the decision making process. Also, a small percentage of teens are living in abusive and unstable situations at home and the laws would cause them to delay seeking termination of their pregnancy because of the fear of the parental reaction. On the other side, those who believe that parents should be notified argue that if parents are notified, they will be there to provide support in dealing with the psychological impact of abortion. They also argue that teenagers are not experienced at making decisions for them and therefore will not make the decision that is best for themselves and for their family. “Information must be obtained on the psychological effects of abortion on teenage mothers before any federal law goes into existence on teen abortions” (Schwarz 43). Statistics show that in the United States abortion is committed by many teenage mothers. A bill was passed requiring a teenage girl to notify her parents before having an abortion. The problem the bill faces is that there is a Privacy Amendment in the Constitution that protects women's rights to choose abortion. Sponsors of the bill argue the fact that in any other surgical procedure, other than an emergency, doctors are required to notify the parents before they do surgery. However, in many economically and education deprived sections of the US, many teenagers are living 2006-06-11T19:53:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-and-Psychological-Lessons-from-Teen-Abortions-29231.aspx Responses on the Ethics of Abortion #1) "Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!" Susan B. Anthony, 1 The Revolution 4, 4 (July 8, 1869). #2) "[T]here were certain crimes where requests for leniency merely made me angry. Such crimes were, for instance, rape, or the circulation of indecent literature, or anything connected with what would now be called the "white slave" traffic, or wife murder, or gross cruelty to women and children, or seduction and abandonment, or the action of some man in getting a girl whom he had seduced to commit abortion. I am speaking in each instance of cases that actually came before me, either while I was Governor or while I was President. In an astonishing number of these cases men of high standing signed petitions or wrote letters asking me to show leniency to the criminal. In two or three of the cases, one where some young roughs had committed rape on a helpless immigrant girl, and another in which a physician of wealth and high standing had seduced a girl and then induced her to commit abortion - I rather lost my temper, and wrote to the individuals who had asked for the pardon, saying that I extremely regretted that it was not in my power to increase the sentence. I then let the facts be made public, for I thought that my petitioners deserved public censure. Whether they received this public censure or not I did not know, but that my action made them very angry I do know, and their anger gave me real satisfaction. The list of these petitioners was a fairly long one, and included two United States Senators, a Governor of a State, two judges, an editor, and some eminent lawyers and business men." THEODORE ROOSEVELT, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 305 (1913) (emphasis added). #3) "[I]t seems to me as clear as daylight that abortion would be a crime." M. GANDHI, ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS: THE LIFE AND THOUGHTS OF MAHATMA GANDHI AS TOLD IN HIS OWN WORDS 165 (1958). #4) "It is to be deeply regretted that the American people 2006-06-07T19:01:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Responses-on-the-Ethics-of-Abortion-29127.aspx Moral and Ethical Grounds on Topics of Abortion Legality The topic of abortion is one of the most controversial of our times. It has caused countless deaths and several violent confrontations between the two separate parties of opinion. The fight between pro-life and pro-choice supporters has been long and brutal. This is because, despite what several people may believe, abortion is neither right nor wrong. It is a matter of personal opinion. In this way, each side can say with certainty that the other is wrong. Therefore the question remains; should abortion be legal? Though some may disagree on this point, the fact is that legalized abortion is the only option that will protect the lives of American citizens. One only needs to look into American history to see the results of prohibiting abortions to women. The violence which occurs today because the of pro-choice/pro-life conflicts is minimal in comparison to the thousands of hopeless women who turn to the illegal abortions --either self-inflicted or preformed by the backroom "professionals"-- which result in infection, massive blood loss, and death. It is better now that they have a place to go where abortions can e performed cleanly and with minimal risk. Legalization of abortion is the only choice no matter what side one takes in the debate. Women will try to do what they think is necessary to live as they wish, no matter what the risk. In order to live as she chooses a woman may give up her freedom, her morals, her beliefs, her family, or even her life. Abortion has been around for thousands of years in every inhabited corner of the globe. It has always been accepted as a means to prevent the suffering of both woman and potential child. It has been practiced widely in every society for many reasons including famine, war, poverty, overpopulation, or simply because a woman felt she was not ready for a child (Whitney 40). No one ever questioned a woman's right to this procedure. After all, who but God has the right to judge what a woman does with her own body? This thought process lasted till the 1800's. During this era of change people began to turn their attention in a new direction, the fetus. They began to protest abortion as cruel, inhumane, and murderous. Filled with a new sense of purpose and the glory of a fresh, righteous cause to uphold 2006-06-01T19:17:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Moral-and-Ethical-Grounds-on-Topics-of-Abortion-Legality-28990.aspx your paper is amazing and i love it!!! I agree 2006-03-08T02:21:15-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion--28535.aspx Today in America those supporting and opposing abortion engage in very heated debates. I am for abortion for many reasons that I strongly believe in. Without legal abortion many women in this country would be killing or mutilating themselves. We would also have unwanted children, which leads to huge problems for families and society. Also I believe that the outlawing of abortion violates the separation of church and state. The choice to have an abortion or not, should be left up to the woman bearing the child instead of the government. Most women who want to have abortions will not be stopped by a law. Pro-lifers say that the women that desire abortions should opt for adoption instead. These women are usually young girls who are uneducated, frightened, vulnerable, and embarrassed of their situation. They are not ready to publicly recognize their pregnancy to their parents or families to go through their entire term and then give the child up for adoption. 74% of girls who had sex before age fourteen, and 60% who had sex before age fifteen, report that it occurred involuntarily . A probability sample of women at least eighteen years old showed 84% of rape victims did not report the offense to the police. Although in both of these incidences the young woman is not consensual, they feel that they are responsible for these acts of sexual abuse. Therefore they are reluctant and ashamed to continue their pregnancy. If laws exist prohibiting abortion, many of these young girls will secretly find other ways to rid themselves of this child. These other options are either performing the abortions on one or going to an unlicensed, unregulated, abortionist. Often this leads to death or mutilation of the woman's body. If a woman decides to have the child and become a mother many problems may result. If the mother is a teen, she is 50% more likely to deliver a baby with a low birth weight than non-teens. If the baby survives birth that may not be the end of the dilemmas. Many times when a teen mother does not have an abortion, she will feel as though the child is a burden to her resulting in child abuse or throwing the child into the care of someone who is irresponsible or untrained. Every day in the U.S. between three and five children are murdered by a parent 2005-11-08T05:47:05-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-The-Right-to-Choose-28091.aspx Abortion Abortion, in its most common ways of usage, refers to the voluntary termination of pregnancy, generally through the use of surgical procedures or drugs. There are many points of view on this subject, some religious, and some more scientific. In Approximately three-fourths of America, abortion is legal, and there has been a few cases attempting to outlaw abortion, one of which is the Roe verses Wade case. Roe argued that making a woman carry a baby against her will is a govermental intrusion of a person’s rights and will not be made a law that abortions are illegal. In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from trained medical surgeons, that then led to large decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death. Now there is a new idea to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics, the government would be not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing the women who want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman by giving them no other choice but to have an abortion (if they want an abortion) in an unsafe and unsanitary enviroment that horribly threatens the woman’s health. By closing Abortion Clinics anywhere you are creating obstacles and enlarging the barriers of getting an abortion. By creating too many obstacles, you are lessening the chances a woman will have an abortion, therefore violating her right to privacy. In 1973 the American Supreme Court stated that Americans’ right to privacy included: "the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference". The Constitution states we are obligated to be able to express a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chances to make decisions about her body violates that right. “Every day, children’s lives are being terminated. The culprit; unwanted pregnancies. The main reason people are getting abortions is because they’re too irresponsible to make sure that they won’t get pregnant. Say a woman’s at a party, she gets drunk and then pregnant. Why blame the baby by killing it.” I have one answer to this; the mothers shouldn’t also be punished because she made a mistake. Who has the more pain and suffering? This is just like the Euthanasia 2005-10-12T03:57:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-the-Pro-Choice-Point-of-View-28044.aspx 1. (b) ‘Explain how Christians might put their beliefs about abortion into action.’ Many Christians have strong views on the topic of abortion. Many of these will feel strongly about the issue whether they are pro abortion or against abortion. In discussions about abortion, Christians against abortion may clearly show their views about abortion. They may use the bible reference ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations’ (Jeremiah 1:5). They may use this passage to show others the Christian belief in abortion. Those pro abortion may also make their views widely own and support it saying that God gave everyone free will to live their lives. They may join an organisation which campaigns for their belief. A Christian with a strong opinion against abortion may dedicate their time for an organisation such as ‘Life’ or ‘Spuc’ to help make the issue of abortion publicised. A Christians in favour may join a campaign such as ‘Pro- choice’ to encourage people to see the turmoil involved in abortion for the woman. Their view may affect the way they vote in an election. An opposing Christian may vote for somebody with a strong view against abortion also to help change the law to make abortion illegal. Similarly, A Christian campaigning for choice may vote for somebody trying to make abortion more readily available. Christians in support of abortion may join a counselling group such as ‘Open Door’ which offers counselling to women who have had an abortion. Christians who not back abortion may volunteer in local schools educating children on safer sex and the reality of abortion to ensure fewer pregnancies originally occur. They make donations to charities that offer this advice. Christians with a no clear view on abortion may pray to God asking for help in the direction they should follow pro or against abortion. Those opposing abortion may pray to God to save the foetuses. Those enforcing choice may pray to God that people will understand and not condemn women who have an abortion. Christians believing in the importance of choice in abortion may organise protests to make the issue and reality of the hardship of abortion on the women more widely known. They may organise demonstrations and carry signs displaying their views. Those opposing abortion may also hold protests 2005-09-06T11:24:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Christian-Beliefs-on-Abortion-in-Action-27926.aspx ii. What biblical and church teachings might be used in a discussion about abortion? The bible is used as the center of the Christian faith because it is the primary source of information about the life of Jesus and the world we live in. For Christians the bible is an important text for teaching about their faith. Many Christians believe it is the word of God and should be treated with the up most respect. Christians follow the bible and use it to solve any problems in their everyday lives. Discussions surrounding abortion faces many different issues as the topic of abortion is so widely based. The bible does not have any direct teaching on abortion because abortion is only a recent scientific discovery. Christians have to form their own view on abortion using quotes from the bible and church teachings and relating these to abortion. Christians believe in the Sanctity of life and may use this to approach the topic of abortion. The sanctity of life is the belief that life is special and holy. Christians believe that human life is set apart from other kinds of life. Christians may use this belief to say abortion is killing of life and life is ultimately sacred. A question to be considered is ‘Is Abortion murder?’ In the bible it quotes ‘You shall not commit murder’ (Exodus 20). Many Christians believe abortion is the murder of an innocent life so use this quote to support their argument to say abortion is wrong. They support this with ‘Anyone who kills a human being shall be put to death’ (Lev 24:17) They use this quote to say anybody that practises abortion is committing a sin. They also use this to say that the Mother’s are committing a mortal sin and killing an innocent human being. Many Christians feel that it cannot be called murder because the baby is not yet a living person. This proposes the question, Is it a potential human baby or a baby with potential? In 1974 the Roman Catholic Church released a document on Procured Abortion, The quote "From the time that the ovum is fertilised a new life is begun which is neither that of the father or the mother. It is the life of a new human being with its own growth. It would never become human if it were not human already" has provoked many Catholics to 2005-09-06T11:23:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Biblical-and-Church-Teachings-on-Abortion-27925.aspx Abortion as a result of Rape Only 1% of abortions take place as a result of rape. This is still 460 000 abortions each year. The decision of whether to allow an abortion to take place on the grounds of ‘rape’ has been one that has been debated over for many years. A rape of a young girl in 1938 by British soldiers led to one of the first well known abortions by a doctor (Mr Aleck Bourne) on the grounds of mental health. At the trial he was acquitted and established the grounds for rape to be one of the fundamental grounds on the 1967 abortion act. The grounds of rape which the abortion act takes into consideration: 1. The act takes into consideration whether the unwanted pregnancy will continue the TRAUMA for the MOTHER but also for the existing FAMILY. 2. It may be argued that any CHILD born of rape may suffer extreme TRAUMA of learning their origins. The aim of this act was to exonerate the doctor from prosecution if two doctors could give their assent on at least one of the six grounds for abortion outlined in the act. Judith Javis Thomson’s (great name) argument (1971) justified ‘a woman who is pregnant through rape having an abortion primarily on the grounds of ownership rights over her body. This view was subject of much controversy and strongly followed the common feminist view at that time Thomson outlined the following justifications for having an abortion:  Self-defence – the strain on her body justifies the killing of the child e.g if the woman is old or has already had many children.  Ownership - the body belongs to the woman so she can remove the child whenever she wants to. This follows the view that the child is part of the woman because she is inside her and that a woman wouldn’t have a problem removing a toenail if it was causing her emotional pain thus, she can remove the child if it is also causing her distress.  Order of Rights – The possible rights of the foetus are acknowledged but these are seen to be of less importance than the Mother during pregnancy. This view is of much controversy by Christians and Roman Catholics- we are all important in God’s eyes so how can one person be more important than another regardless of age.  Consent – The child has no rights 2005-09-05T23:11:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-as-a-Result-of-Rape-Factual-27910.aspx What is abortion? Abortion is a way to end pregnancy. Sometimes, an embryo or fetus stops developing and the body expels it. This is called spontaneous abortion or "miscarriage." A woman can also choose to end a pregnancy. This is called induced abortion. There are two ways it can be done ¡X surgical and medical. Who chooses abortion? The chances are high that a woman will have more than one unplanned pregnancy in the course of her lifetime. Nearly half of all women will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old (NAF, p.26). About five million women in the U.S. become pregnant every year. Half of those pregnancies are unintended. And 1.2 million end in abortion. The most common reasons a woman chooses abortion are - She is not ready to become a parent. - She cannot afford a baby. - She doesn't want to be a single parent. - She doesn't want anyone to know she has had sex or is pregnant. - She is too young or too immature to have a child. - She has all the children she wants. - Her husband, partner, or parent wants her to have an abortion. - She or the fetus has a health problem. - She was a victim of rape or incest. Can anyone help me decide if abortion is right for me? Most women look to their husbands, partners, families, health care providers, clergy or someone else they trust for support as they make their decision. Specially trained counselors at women's health clinics can talk to you in private. You may bring someone with you. You will discuss your options ¡X adoption, parenting, and abortion. Your counselor will try to make sure that no one is pressuring you to have an abortion. Does my partner or a parent need to know? Many women go to the clinic with their partners. However, you don't have to tell your partner. Either way, the clinic ensures complete privacy. If there are complications during the procedure, however, parents may be notified. More than half of the teenagers who choose abortion talk about it with at least one parent. But telling a parent is only required in states with mandatory parental involvement laws. Such laws force a woman under 18 to tell a parent or get permission before having an abortion. In most of these states, if she cannot talk with her parents ¡X or chooses not to ¡X she can appear before 2005-08-15T08:57:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-is-Abortion-27688.aspx Both Sides Of The Abortion Issue During 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 2005-08-15T00:30:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Both-Sides-Of-The-Abortion-Issue-27637.aspx 91 percent of Australian respondents said there were too many abortions. The Health Minister Tony Abbott has claimed that heath insurance statistics show there are 100,000 abortions performed in Australia each year- about one for every three live births. But this figure is misleading as it includes tens of thousands of dilatation and curettage procedures, commonly known as D and C, carried out after women spontaneously abort- that is miscarry. Obstetricians say the real abortion figure could be as low as 25,000. This is because the same Medicare item number is used for all abortions and medical procedures undertaken as a result of miscarriage or foetal death. As the uncertainty about matter as fundamental as whether termination rates have risen or fallen in the past decade suggests the abortion debate is factually undernourished. There are those who say we need to normalise the level of abortion in Australia but what needs to be normalised is the distribution of non-corrupted statistics. Late-term abortions represent less than one percent of all terminations, according to the Health Department, The majority of these are performed either because the mothers life is at risk or the baby is likely to be severely impaired- or still born. A number of late-term abortions occur after women have an amniocentesis, which is usually performed at 16-20 weeks. In Abbott’s tidy world of wishful thinking, contraception works perfectly. That way, those who fail to use it can be written off as reckless, narcissistic or plain stupid. Suzanne Dvorsk, managing director of reproductive healthcare provider Marie Stopes international states “Politicians should ensure that women have access to unbiased information, support and the highest medical care when making this decision” In February of this year it was revealed that right-to-life pregnancy counselling services run by the Catholic Church received nearly $1 million in federal funding this year – as apposed, for example, to the secular immigrant women’s health counselling service who receive an eighth of that sum. Some agencies provide information that is misleading. Women are told often that abortion causes breast cancer, where there is absolutely no evidence of that. The commonwealth government needs to increase resources into improving sex education for teens, collecting move accurate abortion statistics, increasing access to sexual health services and addressing the issue of contraceptive failure. In Victoria, the crimes act prohibits any person from wilfully destroying a child, who otherwise be born alive, of a woman who is greater than 28 weeks pregnant. Common 2005-08-12T10:05:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-The-True-Statistics-27598.aspx Abortion is Morally and Ethically Wrong Abortion is the ending of a life whether the unborn child is one week old or three months old. Many activist have stated that is wrong for a women to have an abortion because the rights of the child are not taken into consideration. But is it wrong for people to decide what one women can or can not do with her body? It is a very hard topic to decide what is right or wrong. Is it wrong for people to consider the rights of an unborn child, or is it wrong to allow a woman to decide what she should do with her body? I personally could never have an abortion unless there was a problem with my health or the baby's, or if the baby was the result of a rape. To me there should be no other reason. However, that is what I believe and I feel that it wouldn't be fair of me to push what I believe on to any one else. It's a women right to chose; not hundreds of strangers to choose for her. If people want to decide for a woman they should just take away the right to think to, whether or not a women should have an abortion is a belief. If you take away a person beliefs if it's a man or a woman, you take away part of their rights. Even though I think a woman should have the right to choose, I think that she should also consider adoption. There are so many people in the country today that are unable to have children, and who are on waiting list to adopt. I know that giving a baby up after carrying it for nine months is very hard for a woman to do, but at least the baby would have a chance. I know that having an abortion is not an easy decision for a women to make, I also know that some people think of it as an easy way out. I would hope that these people would understand that this is a decision that a woman must live with for the rest of her life. Knowing that she got rid of something that was a part of her, and wondering what it would have been like to have the baby are things she must think about every day of her life. I will never 2005-08-07T07:13:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-is-Morally-and-Ethically-Wrong-27578.aspx Abortion: A Life or Death Decision In life, everybody makes choices, choices whose effects can be temporary or choices that may make waves in one’s life permanently. In my opinion, abortion should be a choice that one is able to make. It may make permanent or temporary changes, but if one is ultimately ready to deal with these changes and can make the adult decision to abort, it the right given to us as American women. Many people believe that this issue of abortion rights is moral, but it is also a Constitutional issue. By the grace of the 9th amendment, women have had the right to legal abortions since 1789. This amendment not only gave these women a needed right, but also made life safer for the practitioners of abortion. Before this amendment was passed, doctors feared for their lives. They practiced in hiding for fear of “pro-lifers” coming to kill or harm their families. If these people are so “pro-life” how can they kill these doctors or hurt their families? It’s all a big hypocrisy. A hypocrisy also seen in many religions. Many of these religions disapprove of abortions as well. I have never been one with the church. A baptized Catholic, I have never really agreed with the teachings of the Catholic church either, their teachings on abortion, being one of the main issues that I disagree with. The church teaches that abortion is a sin and a moral evil. One who commits this “sin” will be excommunicated and could never have been a “true Catholic” if they have even considered abortion. This religion is truly merciless with their accusals and judgments. I completely disagree with this as well as many other points brought about by the Catholic church, but that is another paper altogether. The bottom line is that one’s views on abortion should not be based on how much one has been brainwashed by their church, but by the thoughts concocted in their very own mind. I do not believe that abortion is murder in it’s true sense. Murder, as defined by Merriam Webster’s dictionary is: [i:d9c23d0d35]murder: (n) the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought [/i:d9c23d0d35] Abortion is not a crime and it is not usually done with malicious intentions. Don’t get me wrong, I do not believe 2005-08-04T07:02:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-A-Life-or-Death-Decision-27548.aspx Abortion Laws in the UK Why we need reform - Whose Choice? It is a popular misconception that the current law allows for abortion at the request of the women concerned. In fact, abortion is legal only if two doctors certify that it is necessary under the terms of the 1967 Act; unwanted pregnancy is not one of these terms. Some doctors accept that an unwanted pregnancy is potentially harmful and will support her request for this reason They are legally permitted to do this Other doctors may be judgemental, obstructive and unhelpful, delaying women or turning them away in circumstances where another doctor would consider an abortion to be warranted They are legally permitted to do this By allowing doctors to exercise wide discretion and make personal judgements over women, the 1967 Abortion Act creates a climate of uncertainty and potential for unfair and arbitary discrimination. It places and additional, unjust emotioanl burden on women who may already be facing one of the most difficult and traumatic decisions of their lives The law must be amended to recognise that the only person capable of deciding whether or not a pregnancy should continue is the person most affected by that decision - the woman herself Why we need reform - Barriers to access Recent studies in the United Kingdom have demonstrated the wide disparity in the provision of NHS abortion services in various parts of the country; the level of NHS provision ranges from more than 90% of local demand to less than 60% in some health authority areas. And, of course, in Northern Ireland, where the 1967 Abortion Act does not apply, both NHS and private sector provision is non-existent. Some health authorities do not consider abortion services to be particularly important and accord them low priority for funding, which means they fail to meet the needs of local women. A woman with an unwanted pregnancy cannot expect to be referred for an NHS abortion in the way that a woman with a wanted pregnancy can expect NHS ante-natal and maternity care. Lack of provision may have grave implications for women's health, since inadequate local NHS funding tends to result in long waiting lists, or arbitary restrictions, such as refusing women who have previously had NHS abortions or are beyond a certain number of weeks of pregnancy. Women in low income groups are particularly vulnerable, as they cannot resort to the private sector in the event that local NHS providers 2005-08-01T01:56:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Laws-in-the-UK--27470.aspx Should it be legal for women to have abortions in the state of Georgia? This has been a controversial question for many years now. Some people don’t even think twice about having an abortion. Others have a lot to say about the subject. For instance, not only is abortion murder, but it is also a sin despite the current law in Georgia. One reason why abortion should be illegal in Georgia is that the Bible says that it is wrong. Abortion is killing a human being. The Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex. 20:13 KJV). This is one of the Ten Commandments. The Bible also explains, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb. I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jer. 1:5 KJV). This statements shows that a baby inside of a womb is a human being. This contradicts what some doctors have said about a baby in a womb being just a fetus. Altogether the Bible clearly states that killing a human being is morally wrong. Abortion is killing a human being. So, indirectly the Bible says that abortion is wrong. Some things change over time. For example, the stock market changes just about everyday. Morals do not change over time. For instance, killing a human being is wrong. Abortion is morally wrong. It is like killing someone. Abortion used to be considered a felony and people were hung for this crime. It is no different today. Roberts 2 Like the Roe vs. Wade case, abortion has become a part of our society. The Roe vs. Wade case made abortion a constitutional right. In fact, this constitutional right is not even based in the constitution. The Court’s decision is riddled with contradictions. After hearing all this, Roe stated to change her mind. Roe used to be pro-choice-for abortion-she is now pro-life-against abortion. Even she, who used to be for abortions, has now changed her mind after hearing many people’s stories and seeing numerous horrifying pictures. Many women state that they have an abortion because they have been raped. The state funds abortions for women who have been raped. This could be a point that a woman would 2005-07-31T06:20:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-it-be-Legal-for-Women-to-have-Abortions-in-Georgia-27460.aspx Abortion equals Murder It is my belief that abortion is in no way protected by the constitution. Back when the constitution was written, the issue of abortion was not a problem. Since then, there have been no specific amendments protecting the rights of those who wish to kill their unborn baby. Every year in Canada, over 100 000 murders never reach the courtroom. They never reach the courtroom because they are completely legal. Although abortion continues to grow, it is immoral, harmful, and actions must be taken to stop it. When a woman aborts, she is not only killing her child but is also harming herself. Legal abortion is the fifth leading cause of maternal death. Ten percent of women undergoing abortion suffer immediate complications, and one fifth of those are considered life threatening. By having an abortion, a woman doubles her chances of getting breast or cervical cancer. Aborted mothers will also suffer many psychological effects as well. These include nightmares, hysterical outbreaks, feelings of immense guilt, and fear of punishment from God. Abortion may seem like a quick fix at the time, but there can be many and harsh consequences. Even if a mother is willing to accept the consequences, she is taking away a human life. It is undeniable that a fetus is a human, and an individual. at the moment of conception, the fetus has a DNA that is different from his or her mother. By three weeks, the baby's heart is pumping its own circulatory system with a blood type different from its mother. Doctors measure the end of life by brain death. It is then reasonable to say that the beginning of life should be at least measured by the beginning of brain life. By six weeks, an unborn baby's brain waves can be recorded by an electroencephalogram (EEG). Between six and seven weeks, the unborn baby will respond to external stimuli, such as touching his or her face. While many people believe that a fetus is merely a mass of flesh, and is not nearly as complex as a human, this is completely untrue. By eight weeks, all of the body systems are present, and by eleven weeks, still in the first trimester, all of those body systems are functional. In fact, the body of an unborn baby is more complex than ours. He or she has extra parts, such as an amniotic sac, his 2005-07-18T06:28:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Equals-Murder-27325.aspx Judith Thomson's take on Abortion, It is the Woman's Choice Abortion is an extremely complex and highly debated public issue that has consumed much of the American social and political arena in the late twentieth century. People on both sides of the debate present strong arguments that establish valid points. Society clearly states that child abuse and the murder of one's child is illegal, but does allow abortion. Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, the fine line that exists between abortion and murder will be discussed and debated for decades to come. In Judith Thomson's article, "A Defense of Abortion," she argues that abortion can be morally justified in some instances, but not all cases. Clearly, in her article, Thomson argues, "…while I do argue that abortion is not impermissible, I do not argue that is always permissible" (163). Thomson feels that when a woman has been impregnated due to rape, and when a pregnancy threatens the life of a mother, abortion is morally justifiable. In order to help readers understand some of the moral dilemmas raised by abortion, Thomson creates numerous stories that possess many of the same problems. Thomson begins her argument by questioning the validity of the argument proposed by anti-abortion activists. Thomson explains that "most opposition to abortion relies on the premise that the fetus is a human being….from the moment of conception" (153). Thomson thinks this is a premise that is strongly argued for, although she also feels it is argued for "not well" (153). According to Thomson, anti-abortion proponents argue that fetuses are persons, and since all persons have a right to life, fetuses also posses a right to life. Regardless, Thomson argues that one can grant that the fetus is a person from the moment of conception, with a right to life, and still prove that abortion can be morally justified. In order to prove this argument Thomson proposes the example of "the sick violinist." According to this story, Thomson explains, imagine that one morning you wake up and find yourself in bed surgically attached to a famous unconscious violinist. The violinist has a fatal kidney ailment, and your blood type is the only kind that matches that of the violinist. You have been kidnapped by music lovers and surgically attached to the violinist. If you remove yourself from the violinist, he will die, but the good news is that he only 2005-07-11T06:30:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Judith-Thomson-s-take-on-Abortion-It-is-the-Woman-s-Choice-27294.aspx Beyond Comprehension "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."(United States Declaration of Independence) Roe V. Wade, January 22, 1973. A split 5-4 decision forever changed and prevented many lives. Now, because of this monumental decision, abortion is legal, on demand, whenever the woman wants one. Did the court make an educated and reasonable decision? Or did they overstep their bounds? On July 9, 1968, the 14th Amendment was passed into law to protect freed slaves in their quest for "liberty." In his opinion in Roe v. Wade, Justice Blackbum stated, "This right of privacy, whether it be founded in the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action, as we feel it is, or, as the District Court determined, in the Ninth Amendment's reservation of rights to the people, is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy." In the 14th Amendment, section 1, it states, "...nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The 9th Amendment states, "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." In the dissenting opinion of Roe v. Wade, Justice White wrote, "With all due respect, I dissent. I find nothing in the language or history of the Constitution to support the Court's judgment. The Court simply fashions and announces a new constitutional right for pregnant mothers and, with scarcely any reason or authority for its action, invests that right with sufficient substance to override most existing state abortion statutes." He continued, "The Court apparently values the convenience of the pregnant mother more than the continued existence and development of the life or potential life that she carries." Upon reading this paper, you have reviewed the exact wording of the portion of the United States Constitution pertaining to the abortion issue. You have now also read portions of both opinions of the court. So how do you decide which side is right? Consider the Pro Abortion stance. As Justice White also included, "At the heart of the controversy in these cases are those recurring pregnancies that pose no danger whatsoever to 2005-07-10T04:57:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Beyond-Comprehension-27278.aspx Abortion: A Position Paper The controversy of abortion in the United States is unique because there seems to be no grounds of compromise between two completely polar sides. That is mostly because either a living human is or isn’t being killed. This is a case between life and liberty, but the ambivalence of the complexities of abortion make it hard to settle the two sides. There is much debate whether this is an action of life or death, and the difference is rather large. Yet both sides to the abortion dispute share a common goal: that abortions should become safer, and the number of abortions should decrease. Abortion is defined as the inducing of premature delivery in order to destroy offspring. It is a chosen miscarriage. Within abortion there are many different questions. Does the constitution defend an individual’s right to abortion? Does this include confidentiality? Is a developing fetus a being? Should the law allow abortions for rape or incest cases? The constitution does allow abortion. The right to privacy and reproductive rights, although not directly mentioned in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, is an enumerated right. The Supreme Court Decision in 1973, Roe vs. Wade, legalized abortion in the first trimester. Since then, over 35 Million women have had legal abortions (Cozic/Tipp 53). In America, 24% of pregnancies end in abortion, and 41% of that is on teenagers. 88% of abortions are performed during the first trimester. When a fetus is actually living is hard to define. Factually, the heart begins to beat after 18-25 days, but the brain function after 40 days. Some people claim you are a person directly after conception, while others believe that a grouping of 46 chromosomes does not make you a human, but a potential life. Whether or not they are a living human being depends on whether they are protected by the right to life. Abortions for rape or incest victims is another controversial topic. Babies born of these acts are not intended at all, as the sexual act was forced and no contraception or precaution could be taken. Killing the babies from these actions is penalizing them for something they had no choice in the matter of. This dispute is the link between two groups; Pro-Choice and Pro-Life. Naturally, each side is the absolute reversal 2005-06-17T09:04:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Position-Paper-on-Abortion-26894.aspx Abortion Kills Children Do you consider something with a beating heart a living creature? A baby heart forms and starts beating in the fifth week of pregnancy; therefore, that would make abortion murder. The baby that is growing inside of the woman is depending on her, so when she makes the choice to end that baby's life, they are making the choice to murder another person. Someone that believes in the pro-choice theory would say that the decision is up to the woman, but the person with the pro-life theory would say that it is murder no matter what the situation. Most people consider it murder to kill a baby the day after it is born. Then why would it not be murder to kill it before it is born? There are many abortions performed each year in the United States. Seventy-five percent of all abortions in the U.S. are performed on women over twenty years of age, but the lawmakers try to concentrate on the 186,000 teens that have an abortion each year. In 1990, there were nearly 400 abortion bills were that were introduced to forty-one legislatures. So far, as many as twenty states have passed laws that requires a teenager to have a parents consent before having an abortion. This may help reduce the number of abortions each year. The people that passed these bills feel that maybe the parents will feel differently about the situation and be able to talk their child out of it. Twenty percent of teens that are sexually active do not use any form of birth control. These are the teens that end up getting pregnant and getting an abortion. If these girls would use some kind of contraceptive it could stop a lot of the abortions performed each year. If people think about it, it is so much easier to take a pill then it is to be pregnant and have to decide on the life of another person. When someone feels that they are responsible enough to participate in sexual activity, they should also feel that they are responsible enough to deal with the consequences that follow. Abortions are often considered "the easy was out." I feel that abortions are just selfish. There is no easy way out. I could not imagine living with the guilt of taking another's life, especially the life of something that I created, and that is 2005-05-15T08:05:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Abortion-Essay-26617.aspx Anti Abortion Essay Since the Darwinian Revolution of the 19th century our society has turned upside down. Everything under the sun had become questionable, the origin of life, how we came to be, where are we headed and what to do in the here all became questions in life. But one of the greatest impacts of this new age thinking is its effect on our Old World values. Western societies values, morals and ethics became debatable, with some people striving for change and others clinging for stability. Battle lines had been drawn and the Liberals and Conservatives were ready to duke it out on a number of issues. One of these debates centers on a woman's right to have and abortion. According to the Webster's dictionary and abortion is defined as a miscarry, something misshapen or unnatural. An abortion is a procedure in which an embryo or fetus is prohibited from developing by artificial means. One could argue that this is next to murder. How can we as a society sanction the murdering of developing babies? Also it can equally be stated that abortion is unnatural and a health hazard to women who have undergone the procedure. Whatever the case, abortion should be outlawed because it is immoral and mothers should face the responsibilities of their actions. Many arguments can be used in order to put an end to abortion or at least in order to establish dialogue. One of the oldest arguments against abortion is the religious standpoint. Western society (Canada & U.S.A.) is historically a Judeo-Christian culture with Judeo-Christian values. Although in recent times we have become an increasingly pluristic society the Old World thinking is still at the heart of our social relations and laws. The Bible says "Thou shalt not kill" thus prohibiting people from harming others or themselves. Abortion and its advocates violate this law. They seek to change one of the most fundamental values of our society. Pro-choice under this stance is equated with murder and "playing God". One may raise the question, how can a minority inflict its views of the majority? According to Francis X. Meenan, this is a false assumption. He goes on to claim that those who favor abortion on demand are the real minority (Bender & Leone, 97). He also 2005-05-15T02:01:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Abortion-Argument-Paper-26607.aspx Analysis of Various Articles on Abortion, Pro vs. Con Abortion has been a vastly debated topic. There are many things to consider and two sides to choose from. Does a woman have the right to abortion? The stage at which a fetus becomes a person would justify when abortion is morally accepted. But where do we draw the line? What factors come into play to determine such a time? Judith Jarvis Thomson, the author of the article “A Defense of Abortion,” argues that even though a fetus is a person from the moment of conception a woman still has the right to abortion (1.Thomson, CC2005, p 0046). She gives a hypothetical situation in order to help rethink the morality of abortion. She uses this hypothetical situation to conclude that aborting a fetus is not murder and it does not follow that it should be in any way be considered murder. Where to draw the line is also a highly debated topic and she states the most people would draw the line at the moment of conception but this conclusion does not follow. She continues on about how the same thing could be said about an acorn turning into an oak tree and that the two things are nothing alike just as an embryo is not a person (2.Thomson, CC2005, p 0046). Suppose a normal person was suddenly kidnapped one day and put in a hospital bed where she has been linked to a stranger. She is the only person with right blood type to help. The stranger is a famous violinist who is having kidney failure and needs the kidneys of this innocent woman. If she chooses to save the life of this violinist she must stay in the hospital next to him for nine months. (3.Thomson, CC2005, p 0048) Thomson relates this situation to the case of rape. The innocent woman would be the victim of rape and the violinist is the fetus from the result of rape. This puts the woman in the situation of deciding whether or not she should stay in bed for nine months to save this violinist. Pro-life argues that she should stay in bed and save this man’s life because she can and it would murder is she unplugged herself from him. Thomson 2005-04-24T08:35:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Discussion-of-Various-Articles-on-Abortion,-Pro-vs_-Con-26568.aspx Abortion Clinics Should Not be Closed in the USA In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical surgeons, and therefore led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death (“abortion”). Now there is a new proposal to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the privacy rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics the government is not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing those whom want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman. Abortion clinics allow thousands of women every year to have abortions. Having the abortion should be woman’s personal choice. By closing these clinics, there will be no providers to perform the operation, so the choice has already been made for them. Closing the clinics will increase the barriers of having an abortion. When there are too many obstacles, the right to make their own choice is taken away from them. In 1973 the American Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ right to privacy included: “the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference” (“abortion”). The Constitution says we have a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chance to make decisions about her own body violates that right. The American Civil Liberties Union defends the Constitution and peoples’ rights. ACLU has protected the rights of abortion for women, and in recent years has argued mayor cases opposing restrictions that deny woman access to reproductive health care (“ACLU”). Policy 263 states: “The ACLU holds that every woman, as a matter of her right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and privacy, should be free to determine whether and when to bear children.”(The American Civil Liberties Union) The closure of abortion clinics will be done with the purpose to reduce the number of abortions. This raises the question whether this will be an effective method or not. Before 1973 abortions were illegal yet the number of women who sought abortions did not decrease (“abortion”). Before 1973 many thousands of women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to perform their own abortions, or going to untrained doctors who performed cheap abortions with uncivilized methods or in unsanitary conditions (The Abortion Law Homepage.). If clinics are closed, women 2005-02-02T06:50:05-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Choice-Abortion-Clinics-Should-Be-Closed-in-the-US-26226.aspx The argument of abortion has been raging since the Supreme Court case, Roe vs. Wade, in 1973. This court case has divided the country into two factions: pro-choice and pro-life. Pro-life advocates argue that abortions are murder and extreme levels of child abuse. While pro-choice advocates believe abortions are a justifiable means to end pregnancies. The pro-choice argument is that the fetus is not yet a human being and its rights should not override that of the mother’s. An importance on what defines a human is very important. Is a human the result of sperm fertilizing an egg? At this point of fertilization the human is composed of a single cell with a unique DNA structure. Killing this unique cell would be wrong, however does this single cell constitute for a person? If being human is defined through having a certain level of self awareness and acknowledgment of your person, then the fetus is not yet a human being so aborting it would be as immoral as destroying a malignant tumor (Shrage 127). Should emphasis be placed on intelligence and awareness when interpreting what a human being is? A fetus is not a form of intelligent life because it has not yet had any experience, so therefore probably hasn’t had thoughts. In his essay, Rene Descartes, argues that we truly exist because we can doubt our existence. He states, “If I completely stop thinking, I would completely cease to exist”. In this sense of existence is it possible for an unborn child to doubt their existence, or truly think? (Kessler 325). “It could be said that a person should have an interest in their own future before they earn the right to it” (Shrage 8). Even if a fetus is defined as a human being because it has a potential life, if the fetus does not yet aspire to live. It is impossible to argue that the fetus values its future yet, so why should it have a right to it? It could be argued that as the child could not possibly survive independently of the mother, at least before approximately four months into the pregnancy, it is not yet an independent human being, but an attachment of the mother, therefore she should be allowed to terminate it, if this is what she wants to do to herself, as opposed to when the child is physically independent of the mother, when any potentially 2005-02-02T03:57:52-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Arguments--26216.aspx Abortion In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical surgeons, and therefore led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death (“abortion”). Now there is a new proposal to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the privacy rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics the government is not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing those whom want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman. Abortion clinics allow thousands of women every year to have abortions. Having the abortion should be woman’s personal choice. By closing these clinics, there will be no providers to perform the operation, so the choice has already been made for them. Closing the clinics will increase the barriers of having an abortion. When there are too many obstacles, the right to make their own choice is taken away from them. In 1973 the American Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ right to privacy included: “the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference” (“abortion”). The Constitution says we have a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chance to make decisions about her own body violates that right. The American Civil Liberties Union defends the Constitution and peoples’ rights. ACLU has protected the rights of abortion for women, and in recent years has argued mayor cases opposing restrictions that deny woman access to reproductive health care (“ACLU”). Policy 263 states: “The ACLU holds that every woman, as a matter of her right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and privacy, should be free to determine whether and when to bear children.”(The American Civil Liberties Union). The closure of abortion clinics will be done with the purpose to reduce the number of abortions. This raises the question whether this will be an effective method or not. Before 1973 abortions were illegal yet the number of women who sought abortions did not decrease (“abortion”). Before 1973 many thousands of women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to perform their own abortions, or going to untrained doctors who performed cheap abortions with uncivilized methods or in unsanitary conditions (The Abortion Law Homepage.). If clinics are closed, women will still continue to attempt, and succeed, 2005-01-30T01:17:07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Research-Paper-and-Commentary-on-Abortion-Controversy-26176.aspx Today in America those supporting and opposing abortion engage in very heated debates. I am for abortion for many reasons that I strongly believe in. Without legal abortion many women in this country would be killing or mutilating themselves. We would also have unwanted children, which leads to huge problems for families and society. Also I believe that the outlawing of abortion violates the separation of church and state. The choice to have an abortion or not, should be left up to the woman bearing the child instead of the government. Most women who want to have abortions will not be stopped by a law. Pro-lifers say that the women that desire abortions should opt for adoption instead. These women are usually young girls who are uneducated, frightened, vulnerable, and embarrassed of their situation. They are not ready to publicly recognize their pregnancy to their parents or families to go through their entire term and then give the child up for adoption. 74% of girls who had sex before age fourteen, and 60% who had sex before age fifteen, report that it occurred involuntarily . A probability sample of women at least eighteen years old showed 84% of rape victims did not report the offense to the police. Although in both of these incidences the young woman is not consensual, they feel that they are responsible for these acts of sexual abuse. Therefore they are reluctant and ashamed to continue their pregnancy. If laws exist prohibiting abortion, many of these young girls will secretly find other ways to rid themselves of this child. These other options are either performing the abortions on one or going to an unlicensed, unregulated, abortionist. Often this leads to death or mutilation of the woman’s body. If a woman decides to have the child and become a mother many problems may result. If the mother is a teen, she is 50% more likely to deliver a baby with a low birth weight than non-teens. If the baby survives birth that may not be the end of the dilemmas. Many times when a teen mother does not have an abortion, she will feel as though the child is a burden to her resulting in child abuse or throwing the child into the care of someone who is 2004-12-12T16:04:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-as-a-Right-25837.aspx In Roe et al. v. Wade District Attorney of Dallas County (1973), one of the most controversial cases in recent history, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state laws that limit a woman's right to an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy. Justices Rehnquist and White dissented. Mr. Justice Blackmun delivered the opinion of the Court.... This Texas federal appeal and its Georgia companion, Doe v. Bolton, post, p. 179, present constitutional challenges to state criminal abortion legislation. The Texas statutes under attack here are typical of those that have been in effect in many States for approximately a century. The Georgia statutes, in contrast, have a modern cast and are a legislative product that, to an extent at least, obviously reflects the influences of recent attitudinal change, of advancing medical knowledge and techniques, and of new thinking about an old issue. We forthwith acknowledge our awareness of the sensitive and emotional nature of the abortion controversy, of the vigourous opposing views, even among physicians, and of the deep and seemingly absolute convictions that the subject inspires. One's philosophy, one's experiences, one's exposure to the raw edges of human existence, one's religious training, one's attitudes toward life and family and their values, and the moral standards one establishes and seeks to observe, are all likely to influence and to color one's thinking and conclusions about abortion.... The Texas statutes that concern us here are Arts. 1191-1194 and 1196 of the State's Penal Code. These make it a crime to "procure an abortion," as therein defined, or to attempt one, except with respect to "an abortion procured or attempted by medical advice for the purpose of saving the life of the mother." Similar statutes are in existence in a majority of the States. Texas first enacted a criminal abortion statute in 1854. Texas Laws 1854, c. 49, Sec. 1, set forth in 3 H. Gammel, Laws of Texas 1502 (1898). This was soon modified into language that has remained substantially unchanged to the present time.... Jane Roe, a single woman who was residing in Dallas County, Texas, instituted this federal action in March 1970 against the District Attorney of the county. She sought a declaratory judgment that the Texas criminal abortion statutes were unconstitutional on their face, and an injunction restraining the defendant from enforcing the statutes. Roe alleged that she was unmarried and pregnant; that she wished to terminate her pregnancy by an abortion 2004-07-05T22:21:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Opinions--25488.aspx Many have pondered upon the meaning of abortion. The argument being that every child born should be wanted, and others who believe that every child conceived should be born (Sass vii). This has been a controversial topic for years. Many people want to be able to decide the destiny of others. Everyone in the United States is covered under the United States constitution, and under the 14th Amendment women have been given the choice of abortion. In 1973, Harry A. Blackmun wrote the majority opinion that it's a women's right to have an abortion. Roe v. Wade legalized abortion. Even though these people have been given the right, the case is not closed. Pro-life activists carry a strong argument, and continue to push their beliefs. They feel so strongly about these beliefs that violence has broken out in some known instances. Pro-choice activists, on the other hand, also carry very strong points. They believe that the child inside them is their property and it's life doesn't be until birth. In 1973, the United States Supreme Court decided that as long as the baby lived in the womb, he or she would be the property of the mother. Because of this decision almost every third baby conceived in America is killed by abortion, over one and a half million babies a year (Willke vii). Many countries have followed our decision on the abortion issue and some of these include Canada, England, and France. Other countries still believe abortion should be illegal, they include Germany, Ireland, and New Zealand. Although many believe that abortion is a women's choice, abortion should be banned because its immoral and life begins at conception. Abortion is the choice of a women whether or not she want's to receive one. Under the 14th Amendment's "personal liberty" women are given the right to receive an abortion. The 14th Amendment's concept of "personal liberty" and restrictions on state action is enough to allow a women's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. The right to choose to have an abortion is so personal and essential to women's lives that without this right women cannot exercise other fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution (Paltrow 72). The state can't interfere in the private lives of a citizen. Without the right to choose an abortion the 14th Amendment's guarantee of liberty has little meaning for women. With the right to 2004-07-05T22:20:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Thoughts--25487.aspx Abortion is a very controversial subject that has been continually argued over for the past few years and probably many years to come. The main controversy is should abortion be legalized? First before we get into the many sides of abortion we must first define abortion. Abortion is the destruction of the fetus or unborn child while the child is still in the mothers womb. This can be done by almost anyone from the mother herself to back alley abortions and even to abortions by clinics set up especially for this purpose. There are two sides to this abortion topic the PRO-LIFE which is those who are against abortion altogether and the PRO- CHOICE or those who believe it is the womans right to choose if she wants to have an abortion. These two groups offer different solutions to problem. The pro-life solution is to have the child and basically live with it. They believe abortion is not an answer. The pro-choice solution is abortion because of reasons they feel are appropriate. Although abortion is morally and ethically wrong should it be legal for victims of rape or incest who have no other alternative? There is no real answer to this controversy, there are two sides to it though which have been arguing for many years over the subject. The first is the pro-life group. This group does not believe in the abortion factor. To understand where the pro-life stands we must first understand its beliefs and reasons for its beliefs. Then we can discuss what their solution to the abortion topic is. Pro-life believes that rape and incest are very emotional topics. "They often elicit throughout the population feelings of revulsion; people draw back from the issue of rape and incest. People don't know how to handle a person who is in that much pain. There is no quick fix. That is why it is difficult for even pro-life people to come to grips with the argument over abortion in cases of rape and incest." Some of those who are pro-life will allow abortion in these cases because they don't know what else they can do for the victim and except it as a rare case. But it is known that allowing abortion in these cases usually does not help the victim, instead it only worsens the problem because the victims needs are not being met. But what the facts suggest 2004-07-05T22:20:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Ethics-of-Abortion-25486.aspx Every day, an overwhelming amount of human beings’ lives are terminated. The culprit: unwanted pregnancies. Many woman are (not by choice), becoming pregnant as a result of unsafe sex, rape, and other things. So what is one to do when they discover that they’re pregnant? They have some alternatives: (1) have the child and raise it (2) have the child, then give it up for adoption (3) get an abortion. Sadly, many women choose alternative three, unaware of what they’re getting themselves into. Abortion is very cruel to the baby and even harms the mother. It is murder! There are many different procedures for abortions, all gruesome and pain inflicting on the baby. Suction Aspiration (vacuum curettage) makes up for 98% of first trimester abortions. The cervix is first dilated. Then a suction tube with a sharp cutting edge is inserted which rips the baby to pieces. It then sucks out all the remains. If the mother waits until the third trimester (when the baby is more developed), then she must have Partial Birth Abortion. Using Ultra-sound, the doctor grabs the baby’s legs and forces out all but the head. Scissors are then jammed into the back of the skull and opened, creating a larger hole. A suction tube sucks the brains out, causing the skull to collapse. Then the dead baby is removed. Believe it or not, the mother is also harmed. In Suction Aspiration, if any tissue is left inside, it’ll become infected. For Methoxotrexate Injection, another type of abortion, Methoxotrexate can produce ill side effects such as anemia, nausea, cancer, lung disease, and heavy bleeding. Just think of the mental trauma the mother is also feeling. She has the forever-guilty conscience of being responsible for her own child’s death. Many mothers say, "I’ll regret it for the rest of my life." "I feel like crawling into a hole and dying," says another mother after the operation. A common argument is that abortion isn’t murder because the baby isn’t alive. But on the contrary: life begins at conception. After only 18 days, the heart is formed, and after 20 the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system are developing. A mere four days later, the heart starts beating. Is abortion murder though? According to the Webster Dictionary, abortion is to terminate a pregnancy because the baby is not capable of living. Murder is to kill another human being. A human being is defined 2004-07-05T22:19:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Life-Vs-Abortion-25485.aspx In Roman times, abortion and the destruction of unwanted children was permissible, but as our civilization has aged, it seems that such acts were no longer acceptable by rational human beings, so that in 1948, Canada along with most other nations in the world signed a declaration of the United Nations promising every human being the right to life. The World Medical Association meeting in Geneve at the same time, stated that the utmost respect for human life was to be from the moment of conception. This declaration was re-affirmed when the World Medical Association met in Oslo in 1970. Should we go backwards in our concern for the life of an individual human being? The unborn human is still a human life and not all the wishful thinking of those advocating repeal of abortion laws, can alter this. Those of us who would seek to protect the human who is still to small to cry aloud for it's own protection, have been accused of having a 19th Century approach to life in the last third of the 20th Century. But who in reality is using arguments of a bygone Century? It is an incontrovertible fact of biological science - Make no Mistake - that from the moment of conception, a new human life has been created. Only those who allow their emotional passion to overide their knowledge, can deny it: only those who are irrational or ignorant of science, doubt that when a human sperm fertilizes a human ovum a new human being is created. A new human being who carries genes in its cells that make that human being uniquely different from any and other human being and yet, undeniably a member, as we all are, of the great human family. All the fetus needs to grow into a babe, a child, an old man, is time, nutrition and a suitable environment. It is determined at that very moment of conception whether the baby will be a boy or a girl; which of his parents he will look like; what blood type he will have. His whole heritage is forever fixed. Look at a human being 8 weeks after conception and you, yes every person here who can tell the difference between a man and a women, will be able to look at the fetus and tell me whether it is a baby boy or a girl. No, a fetus is 2004-07-05T22:19:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Life-or-Death-Who-Chooses-25484.aspx In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical surgeons, and therefore led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death ("abortion"). Now there is a new proposal to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the privacy rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics the government is not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing those whom want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman. Abortion clinics allow thousands of women every year to have abortions. Having the abortion should be woman’s personal choice. By closing these clinics, there will be no providers to perform the operation, so the choice has already been made for them. Closing the clinics will increase the barriers of having an abortion. When there are too many obstacles, the right to make their own choice is taken away from them. In 1973 the American Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ right to privacy included: "the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference" ("abortion"). The Constitution says we have a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chance to make decisions about her own body violates that right. The American Civil Liberties Union defends the Constitution and peoples’ rights. ACLU has protected the rights of abortion for women, and in recent years has argued mayor cases opposing restrictions that deny woman access to reproductive health care ("ACLU"). Policy 263 states: "The ACLU holds that every woman, as a matter of her right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and privacy, should be free to determine whether and when to bear children."(The American Civil Liberties Union) The closure of abortion clinics will be done with the purpose to reduce the number of abortions. This raises the question whether this will be an effective method or not. Before 1973 abortions were illegal yet the number of women who sought abortions did not decrease ("abortion"). Before 1973 many thousands of women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to perform their own abortions, or going to untrained doctors who performed cheap abortions with uncivilized methods or in unsanitary conditions (The Abortion Law Homepage.). If clinics are closed, women will still continue to attempt, and succeed, in ending unwanted pregnancies just 2004-07-05T22:19:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abortion-Clinics-Should-Not-be-Closed-in-the-U_S_-25483.aspx Pro-Choice Abortion Essay In 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision made it possible for women to get safe, legal abortions from well-trained medical surgeons, and therefore led to dramatic decreases in pregnancy-related injury and death (“abortion”). Now there is a new proposal to close abortion clinics. This proposal takes away the privacy rights of American women that are guaranteed by our Constitution. By closing abortion clinics the government is not only taking away women’s rights, but is also punishing those whom want to exercise their right of a pro-choice woman. Abortion clinics allow thousands of women every year to have abortions. Having the abortion should be woman’s personal choice. By closing these clinics, there will be no providers to perform the operation, so the choice has already been made for them. Closing the clinics will increase the barriers of having an abortion. When there are too many obstacles, the right to make their own choice is taken away from them. In 1973 the American Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ right to privacy included: “the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference” (“abortion”). The Constitution says we have a right to privacy, so taking away a woman’s chance to make decisions about her own body violates that right. The American Civil Liberties Union defends the Constitution and peoples’ rights. ACLU has protected the rights of abortion for women, and in recent years has argued mayor cases opposing restrictions that deny woman access to reproductive health care (“ACLU”). Policy 263 states: “The ACLU holds that every woman, as a matter of her right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and privacy, should be free to determine whether and when to bear children.”(The American Civil Liberties Union) The closure of abortion clinics will be done with the purpose to reduce the number of abortions. This raises the question whether this will be an effective method or not. Before 1973 abortions were illegal yet the number of women who sought abortions did not decrease (“abortion”). Before 1973 many thousands of women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to perform their own abortions, or going to untrained doctors who performed cheap abortions with uncivilized methods or in unsanitary conditions (The Abortion Law Homepage.). If clinics are closed, women will still continue to attempt, and succeed, in 2004-06-13T00:30:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pro-Choice-Abortion-Essay-25166.aspx