Position Essay Assignment: Abortion
Abortion is a stern challenge in contemporary society. People have divided thoughts about abortion, which makes it attain increased recognition of whether it is ethically moral or immoral. Women often seek to terminate pregnancies for various reasons, which can be therapeutic or non-therapeutic. A woman can seek abortion in situations of economic instability, congenital abnormalities of the fetus, orofacial clefts or downs syndrome, pregnancy due to rape or incest cases, or health complications of the mother (Badruddin 1). Irrespective of deeming the mother’s autonomy, the society fails to consider that there are consequences associated with abortion, putting the mother in danger. Controversies exist in terms of abortion because it entails two parties, the mother who is threatening life and the fetus whose life is being threatened without any fault. Irrespective of the controversies existing in terms of abortion, this essay argues that except in unusual circumstances, abortion is incredibly wrong and should not be entertained.
Based on the reasons why a pregnant woman wants to conduct an abortion, it can be easy to tell whether the act is justifiable or not. Performing abortion due to therapeutic reasons can never be denied. For instance, in situations where a woman is suffering from an ectopic pregnancy, implying that her life is in danger will justify abortion. In cases where a mother’s life is at risk due to the pregnancy, it calls for the fetus’s termination to save a life. It is known that killing is regarded as immoral and unethical worldwide (Hendricks, 248). More so, every person has the right to live, and therefore, should not be denied the privilege of existence. However, where a mother’s life is at risk due to pregnancy, health professionals need to invoke pregnancy termination.
Consequently, there are instances where a mother finds out that the fetus is affected by congenital abnormalities and that there are high chances the child will suffer. Conducting abortion can be regarded as rational in such a case. Some genetic abnormalities may adversely affect a child upon delivery to the extent that it will be better for the mother to proceed with an abortion. When the health personnel cannot salvage a fetus’s situation due to congenital abnormalities and the mother is unwilling to keep the child, abortion can be conducted, founded on the mother’s autonomy (Hendricks 247). In such situations, the mother has a right to decide on behalf of the fetus as long as it is for the fetus’s best interest. However, giving women the liberty to determine for the fetus every time (devoid of weighing the fetus’s interest) may be regarded as unreasonable.
There are various reasons as to why abortion should be regarded as incredibly wrong. In the first place, the act of conceiving a child is not accidental. When a lady of sound mind engages involuntary sexual intercourse devoid of using contraceptives and becomes pregnant is like signing a contract with her fetus; that she will take care of it. In such an instance, the fetus has the right to live, and the mother has no authority to decide on its behalf (Badruddin 1). As noted earlier, a woman has a right to determine whatever is done to her body, implying the fetus’s existence depends on the mother’s choice. Nevertheless, it should be noted that a mother ought to make decisions in the fetus’s best interest.
Rationally, terminating a fetus based on the mother’s selfish reasons should be regarded as wrong and not tolerated. For instance, a mother claiming to terminate her pregnancy because she feels she is financially unstable to take care of it or preferably has issues with the partner who will not wish to care for the child should not be tolerated. One can argue that the fetus is not human; it is not against the laws to terminate it, and mothers know what is best for their children (Badruddin 2). However, I oppose the notion that if given time, the fetus can develop into a complete adult, and the abortion only denies the fetus a chance to become fully human and enjoy the privileges of life. It is time for both women and men to take responsibility for their actions, as tolerating such excuses makes it easy for women to use abortion as a family planning means.
Proponents of abortion claim that healthcare professionals need to deem patients’ autonomy, in this case, the pregnant women in need of an abortion. It should be noted that abortion is associated with lifelong complications and distressing psychological and physiological effects. Health professionals encounter a dilemma in terms of honoring the client’s autonomy and promoting the principle of non-maleficence (Badruddin 2). Keeping the client’s independence by complying with her demands results in harming the unborn child. The fact that the unborn child does not present any challenges that endanger the mother’s life or that might affect its life in the future means that it deserves a chance to live. In such a case, health professionals are vulnerable to violate the principle of non-maleficence to the fetus in favor of the mother’s autonomy.
Simultaneously, when healthcare practitioners note the mother is vulnerable to health complications due to abortion, they encounter an ethical dilemma as they have to convince her against abortion to save her life and that of the fetus. However, keeping the fetus’s life is often not in the mother’s best interest, which tends to breach her decision-making autonomy. In instances where abortion is not conducted professionally by quark individuals, there are high chances that a woman can suffer from health complications with adverse effects being barrenness (Carlsson, Breeding, and Larsson 158). Women resort to conduct illegal abortions when they have invalid reasons behind their decisions that affect their health in the long run. Irrespective of whether an abortion was safe or not, the process is always accompanied by a sense of psychological distress to the lady, especially when it is not therapeutic.
In situations where a woman may claim to conduct abortion because it is a result of rape, to some extent, it should be executed. However, women need to visit healthcare facilities after rape incidences as soon as possible to attain care that prevents them from getting pregnant. For instance, levonorgestrel medication is offered to rape victims within 120 hours after the incident to prevent ovulation and subsequent fertilization (Cataldo 213). In such scenarios, the case can not be regarded as abortion as the fetus is not formed. Opponents of abortion often claim that, immediately after fertilization, the fetus acquires a soul, making it equal to a wholly human and terminating it is equivalent to killing. Therefore, seeking medical attention immediately after rape saves women from being associated with abortion.
Regardless of whether a fetus is a person or not, I firmly claim that abortion is immoral, except for some situations, and should not be tolerated. Apart from medical issues that prompt a woman to terminate a pregnancy, what other women who seek abortion need are counseling and addressing the problems encouraging them to think that way. Although women have the right to autonomy, it should be noted that their decisions must consider the child’s best interest. The fetus has been diagnosed with congenital abnormalities that cannot be fixed and may result in more suffering, then terminating the pregnancy can be considered. Fighting abortion will encourage accountability among the population while encouraging it will make the vice to be regarded as a family planning method among the people.
Works Cited
Badruddin, Shrin. “Abortion and Ethics.” Journal of J Clinical Research & Bioethics. 7.6 (2016): 1-2.
Carlsson, Isabelle, Karin Breeding, and P-G. Larsson. “Complications related to induced abortion: a combined retrospective and longitudinal follow-up study.” BMC women’s health 18.1 (2018): 158.
Cataldo, Peter J. “Moral certitude in the use of levonorgestrel for the treatment of sexual assault survivors.” Contemporary controversies in Catholic bioethics. Springer, Cham, 2017. 197-222.
Hendricks, Perry. “Even if the fetus is not a person, abortion is Immoral: the impairment argument.” Bioethics 33.2 (2019): 245-253.
What Students Are Saying About Us
.......... Customer ID: 12*** | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Honestly, I was afraid to send my paper to you, but you proved you are a trustworthy service. My essay was done in less than a day, and I received a brilliant piece. I didn’t even believe it was my essay at first 🙂 Great job, thank you!"
.......... Customer ID: 11***| Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"This company is the best there is. They saved me so many times, I cannot even keep count. Now I recommend it to all my friends, and none of them have complained about it. The writers here are excellent."
"Order a custom Paper on Similar Assignment at essayfount.com! No Plagiarism! Enjoy 20% Discount!"
