Abortions

The topic of abortion has a long history and controversy behind it. The decision was controversial and remains a deeply divisive issue in U.S. politics. For us to understand the debate on abortion, we have to go back to the case of Roe v. Wade, which was passed on January 22, 1973, making it legal for women to have abortions and granting them the right to choose. Since this law was passed, there have been long debates about the rights and wrongs and the moral grounds, and as of January 2022, there has been an overturn in the Dobbs v. Jackson case, which returned the power to the states, giving each state the power to either abolish abortion or keep it legal.

 

There are many aspects of this debate: there are pro-choice people, who believe that abortion should be legal and an individual choice, and pro-life people, who advocate for the life of the baby and for making abortion illegal. Within these two perspectives, several factors influence people’s stances. Moral and ethical beliefs shape views on right and wrong, particularly regarding the value of life and individual choice, while religious and cultural perspectives reflect the influence of religious teachings and cultural values on views about abortion. Legal and political considerations encompass the laws and policies governing who has the right to make decisions about abortion. Health and safety concerns address the impact of abortion on physical and mental health, as well as the importance of safe medical options. Social and economic factors reflect how financial circumstances and social support influence the ability to raise a child or make decisions about pregnancy. Science and developmental biology provide knowledge about fetal development and the biological stages of pregnancy. Finally, personal autonomy and bodily rights refer to an individual’s right to control their body and make medical decisions without outside interference.

 

The medical and ethnic standpoint of “do no harm” is a fundamental tenet in healthcare, where physicians should not do things that could cause harm to patients. Pro-life physicians interpret this as a way of not only protecting the well-being of a mother but also the unborn baby as well. pro-life physicians operate under the “dual patient” model, where both the mother and unborn child are considered to have their own rights. In practice, this means that the fetus has as many inherent rights as the mother, and that right should be protected as much as possible. By doing this, physicians use medical solutions that reduce harm to the mother while ensuring the well-being of the baby; this is seen as an alternative to abortion. In medical ethics, Personhood is the status of having moral values and certain inalienable rights, such as the right to life and autonomy. Personhood has been attributed to people who are conscious, self-aware, or have the ability to interact with their surroundings. But people argue that it should also include unborn children because the potential growth and eventual consciousness should grant them the moral and legal right to live even in the early stages of pregnancy. There are some disagreements on when a baby should be considered a person with rights, some believe that personhood begins at viability, when a fetus can survive outside the womb for around 24 weeks, while some argue that it begins when the baby takes its first breath. In the medical field, professionals who see the fetus as a person often offer alternatives to abortion like adoption or perinatal care. The approach of the pro-life medical professionals ensures that fetal rights are being respected while ensuring the well-being of the mother. Professionals are always challenging the field to develop and promote policies that support the mother and the fetus.

 

Studies have shown that many women report feeling relief after undergoing an abortion, and the right to choose what to do with their bodies is often viewed as essential to their autonomy and well-being. These studies are significant because they highlight the importance of individual rights. The Turnaway study was conducted by researchers in San Francisco. This study followed a thousand women in a span of five years who either had abortions or were turned away. The study showed that a very large part of the sample felt a feeling of relief and those who were turned away from having an abortion were likely to experience anxiety and economic hardship. This study may have indications that being forced to endure unwanted pregnancy could hurt the mother. Another study done by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine reports that women who had an abortion did not have an increase in mental health issues not because of the procedures of the abortion itself, but pre-existing mental health; issues and social support. Many women feel that they should have the right to choose what they want with their bodies.