Abortion
Many women find themselves pregnant with an unwanted potential newborn. After a woman has discussed her options with her physician or counsellor, and decides to have an abortion, should the law override her decision and prevent her from having an abortion? In the United States, women choose to end approximately 25% of their pregnancies through abortion. This is similar to the Canadian figure of 21%. Opposing sides on the issue have the same objective to reduce the number of abortions, and to make any needed abortions safe. However, they have very contrasting views on when an abortion is justifiable and different methods of consummating their goals. Somewhere during the nine months between the ovum-spermatozoa stage and the newborn baby, human personhood begins. When human life begins, an abortion should not be allowed, except under very unusual circumstances.Many different points of view can be presented advocating both sides of this moral issue. The debate over legalized abortion is a good example of the conflict between public and private morality. Public morality is the appropriated criterion or standard of ethical behaviour codified in law. Private morality deals with our personal set of attitudes and values, un-obstructed
There are ways to protect the rights of the fetus, which are less intrusive on woman's rights. Balancing the emulated interests of the mother and the fetus should be the key objective. The recognition of certain new facts and realities are challenging, sabotaging and transforming traditional ethics. Abortion is a concern which remains social, religious and of ethical reasoning. Murder is un-ethical, illegal and un-constitutional in Canada. When is terminating a fetus considered murder? This question will only be answered when there is a consensus on the beginning of human personhood. In the meantime, it is key to reduce the rate of abortions and protect the individuals involved. A woman's decision to end a pregnancy is included in those things protected under the right to liberty in section 7 of the Criminal Code. Women have many reasons for not wanting to be pregnant, and thus wish to obtain an abortion. Age, marital, career and economic status often quell a woman's ability to sustain a child. She may be a rape or incest survivor and does not wish to bear a child that was conceived in violence. A small minority of abortions are sought for medical reasons. The fetus may have been hurt by exposure to high levels of toxic chemicals, medications, alcohol or drugs. Occasionally the fetus has a gene
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Approximate Word count = 878
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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