This essay examines the legal and ethical dimensions of abortion in the United States, arguing that abortion should be legal in specific circumstances: when pregnancy results from rape or incest, when maternal health is threatened, or when severe fetal abnormalities exist. The paper explores opposing viewpoints on abortion, considers how personal background and moral standards shape beliefs on the issue, and presents polling data on American attitudes. Through discussion of medical procedures and a personal case study, the author evaluates the conditions under which abortion may be appropriate while acknowledging the complexity and sensitivity of the debate.
Although this is America and women have rights, abortions should only be legal if a life is at stake, presenting threatening health issues, or if the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest. Some people feel that it is murder or inhumane to have an abortion, while others feel it is your body and you should have the right to decide whether or not to bring a new life into this world. It all comes down to the environment you were raised in, your background, and your moral standards. Abortions should be legal if there is a life-threatening situation, incest, or rape.
In California, marijuana is legalized, which has been proven to kill brain cells. You only have to be eighteen to buy cigarettes and twenty-one to drink. There are many cases where alcohol has killed people, whether intentional or not. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, drunken motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among those ages 5-34 in the United States. More than 2.3 million adult drivers and passengers were treated in emergency departments as the result of being injured by a drunk driver in 2009.
When someone engages in such a controversial topic culturally and ethically like abortion, many people may latch onto a specific idea. An example would be those in favor of abortion being legal who are not willing to go beyond the fact that a woman has a right to her body. Another example would be people that think abortion should be illegal, who would be reluctant to go beyond the thought that abortion is considered murder. People are confused on this issue because of one's tendency to reject or accept some basic moral principles without an examination of them and one being human.
There are many reasons why abortions should be left up to a woman to decide and also be legal. One reason may be in the case of incest and/or rape. Second may be when the health of the fetus is at risk. Third may be when the health or welfare of the mother is at risk. Concerning the reason that abortions should be legal if there is a health issue with the fetus, a woman should not be expected to bring a child into this world if there is something seriously wrong with them, such as severe intellectual disability or missing limbs. Some people may feel that this is not fair to the child to have to live life in such a way—not being able to tell someone when they are in pain or not being able to do for themselves.
A woman's life should be valued as more valuable than the life of the potential life of the fetus. Many people may feel this way because if something were to happen to the woman, the potential life of the fetus would not exist. Also, there is the possibility of medications due to other illnesses such as cancer and ectopic pregnancy. Furthermore, if there is a chance the woman decides to carry the fetus to full term, it might still be born dead. In such cases, both of them should not have to lose their lives. In the case when rape is involved, the woman did not ask to have a sexual relationship with the other person and should not be made to carry the child to term if she chooses not to.
In my opinion, abortions should be considered murder, even though the life has not yet formed completely. However, I can only speak for my beliefs. Women have a right to do whatever they choose to their bodies, but one may wonder: why did you get yourself in this situation, could it have been prevented, and how many times have you done this before? All of these questions should be considered when trying to pass a law that has so many informalities and technicalities.
Depending on the situation, an abortion may be appropriate. For example, if the doctor knows for certain that the child will not live due to some health reason, or if the baby will be drastically ill and has a very low chance of survival, then maybe this would be an exception. If a person has more than one abortion, then they are just being abusive and should be stopped in my opinion.
"Polling data on abortion legality preferences"
Regardless of this information, Americans are uneasy with the procedure of abortions. According to medical sources, abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is most commonly done by aspiration with anesthesia. General or local anesthesia is given to the mother and her cervix is quickly dilated. A suction curette (hollow tube with a knife-edged tip) is inserted into the womb. This instrument is then connected to a vacuum machine by a transparent tube. The vacuum suction, twenty-nine times more powerful than a household vacuum cleaner, tears the fetus and placenta into small pieces, which are sucked through the tube into a bottle and discarded.
I have a friend who recently had an abortion. Her baby was growing a tumor and the doctor could not be sure if the baby would survive. She had to proceed in order to determine the specific facts regarding the health issues of the fetus. She has only one child and has had three miscarriages in the past. When I asked her why she was getting an abortion, she stated she considers her baby girl a miracle and she knew in her heart that if she would have carried her baby to term, it would not have been healthy and might not have survived. She further told me that she cannot handle it mentally. She believes her little girl is at an age where she can handle her and will not stress her out.
Maybe if someone came up with a less invasive way for abortions, people would warm up to it. If your health is an issue, then I believe an abortion would be within your rights. I would not suggest having abortion after abortion, as then you are just being abusive. Though many people still believe abortion is murder, if you are of age and in your right mind, you have the ability to decide whether or not to bring a life into this world. As I stated previously, there are several sides that have many times expressed their views on this situation. It all should come down to whether the woman feels compatible or sure that she is able to care for this child in the condition it will be in. If the woman was raped or went through incest, then the same goes for her—she should decide if she wants to bring a child into this world.
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