Abortion: Pro Life Arguments, Pro Choice Arguments and Analysis of the Opposing Arguments
Few topics in contemporary times have evoked as much heated debate and controversy as the topic of induced abortion. It is a complex issue having moral, ethical and legal dimensions with seemingly compelling arguments both for and against abortion. Unfortunately, both the "pro-life" advocates and the "pro-choice" proponents have taken extreme positions on the issue supporting them vigorously and at times violently1. In my opinion, it is inappropriate to take an extreme stand on the issue. I support the view that a woman should have the right to abortion in the initial stages of the pregnancy, but the right should be exercised only in exceptional circumstances when the fetus is sufficiently developed to qualify as an unborn baby. The US Supreme Court, in the landmark Roe v Wade decision in 1973, also took such a position. In this essay, I shall examine both sides of the issue by presenting the main arguments for and against abortion, and analyzing the arguments.The basis of the "pro-life" position on the issue is that the embryo becomes a human being from the moment of its conception2 and, therefore, has a right to life that cannot be taken away, even by the mother. According to this argument, abortion is
The "pro-choice" advocates also point out that while the "pro-lifers" express insincere concern for the life of the embryo and the fetus, they are prepared to oppose abortion in complete disregard for the health and lives of women.7 The 'partial birth abortion' procedure does seem gruesome, especially if it is described in the graphic terms the pro-life lobby uses in order to condemn the practice. Making the procedure illegal, as is done by the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003," which declares: "...[the procedure] is never medically necessary and should be prohibited" seems to be intruding in the territory of the expert doctors who, in my opinion, should have the right to decide whether such a procedure was necessary to save a mother's life. Not using a technique to save a living person in order to spare a "future life" is more grotesque than the technique itself. In theory, the argument that every innocent person is entitled to the protection of society against the deliberate destruction of its life by another person has its merits. It is, however, difficult to decide at what point exactly, a fetus can be considered another person. There is no doubt, of course, that a fetus at conception is a "potential human being." But so are millions of sperms; hence if we recognize abortion as murder, male masturbation leading to ejaculation could be considered murder too! The "pro-choice" argument regarding the woman's right of control over her own body (therefore, the right to terminate unwanted pregnancies) is rejected by opponents of abortion who argue that an unborn child is a distinctly separate individual and no one has the right or 'freedom' to end the life of another individual. Hence, restriction on abortion should not be considered a violation of 'fundamental rights' of a woman. ("Legal Abortion: Arguments Pro & Con.") as murderous an act as the murder of any other living human being. The argument finds crucial support from the orthodox Christian belief that life starts from the moment of conception, and the Fifth Commandment which says: "thou shalt not kill." Such a religious belief about abortion is further cemented by the fact that Mary chose to give birth to Christ in the face of adversity, thus making giving of life a sacred duty. (Terwilliger, para on Abortion) Another abortion issue that has evoked considerable controversy is the "partial birth abortion"4 procedure, in which a physician delivers a baby to the point where only the head remains inside the womb but then punctures the back of the skull and removes the brain before completing delivery. ("What is Partial Birth Abortion?") The procedure was banned in November 2003 whe
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Approximate Word count = 1802
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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