Abortion: Examining the Legal, Ethical, and Social Considerations

This essay delves into the complex and highly debated topic of abortion legality. It provides a comprehensive overview of the arguments both for and against the continued legality of abortion, exploring the ethical, social, and legal dimensions of the issue. The essay examines various perspectiv...Read More

Running head: ABORTION SHOULD/SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE LEGAL
ABORTION SHOULD/SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE LEGAL
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1ABORTION SHOULD/SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE LEGAL
Introduction
Abortion can be defined as the different types of ways in which one avoids pregnancy.
There are various forms and types of abortions, such as spontaneous abortion, medical abortion
and surgical abortions. Abortion has been a topic of arguments since decades. Abortion is
considered to be a synthetic manner of ending a pregnancy by removing embryo or extracting it
before it can live outside the womb. There are various reasons for abortions. In today’s context,
abortion is considered to be illegal in few countries even in the countries which are strict in
religious beliefs and traditions. During the year 1960’s and 1970s the government of many
countries relaxed the laws of abortions and makes it easier to terminate the wanted pregnancies
of the women’s (Sumner and Leonard Wayne). The purpose of this essay to provide arguments
based on whether or not abortion should continue to be legal.
Discussions
Every year there are around 5000 women died because of abortion and this takes place
because abortion has been legalized in the 19th century (Giubilini, Alberto and Francesca
Minerva). However, there are some women who get pregnant due to reasons like incest or rape.
Further, many are of the opinion that the traumatic events can negatively impact the health of the
women and even make them want to end their life. It is believed that pregnancy can remind
people of terrible behavior. Hence, many are of the opinion that the mental health of the women
is much more important than the life of the fetal. The Abortion is a kind of subject which cannot
be ignored. However, it does not receive much attention as much as it deserves.
However, it has been argued by Sedgh and Gilda, et al. that it is there moral right to
abortion as it questions gender equality. Abortion rights are highly essential for the women’s to
attain their full potential. It is believed by Poovey and Mary, that the right to abortion must be a

2ABORTION SHOULD/SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE LEGAL
part of a portfolio of pregnancy rights. This can enable the individual women to make a choice
on their own to end a pregnancy. (Ganatra and Bela, et al. ) There are arguments stating that the
women should be regarded as a person rather than a container for the fetus. Therefore, they
should be given certain consideration to her needs and her rights.
Therefore, abortion is considered to be an important element for the rights of the women
as they are the ones to be more affected than the male gender. Pregnancy has a high impact on
the women who is involved. It disrupts the body functioning disrupts the women from education
and disrupts her employability as well. Further it also disrupts their entire family life. It is one of
the basic and fundamental concerns to the women to give her a choice regarding the abortion.
(Ganatra and Bela, et al. ). There are various debates stating the right to control one’s own body
and thus abortion is a moral right of the individual. If abortion is made illegal than the women
involved is deprived of their rights. The women involved has the right to take decisions
regarding her own body, therefore, they have the right to abort the fetus. Therefore, it can be
said that abortion should continue to remain legal.
There have been arguments that the right of the women to end her pregnancy comes
under the freedom of choice in their family concerns (Upadhyay and Ushma et al. ). This
arguments lead to claim that abortion should continue to be legalized as it denies the women
concerned of their basic rights. However, it has been argued that people cannot have full control
of their bodies and it is subjected to various restrictions as there are laws against suicide and
euthanasia. Biblically speaking, abortion is killing someone. Therefore, it defies the word of the
Lord. Further, it has been argued by Gynecologists, that a prenatal beings must is nourished and
protected. There must not be any interruptions in the development stage of the fetus, baby or a
child (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). There are various religions which

3ABORTION SHOULD/SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE LEGAL
restrict and reject the idea of abortion. The decision about the process of abortion is but a
personal matter and it requires compassionate research and exploration of the various ethical
issues involved. There must a willingness of the concerned women or family involved as the
result of decision. It majorly depends on the situation in which the decision has been taken.
As per research and analysis, it has been identified that around 60% of women between
the age of 14 to 40 years experience unwanted pregnancy (Ganatra and Bela, et al. ). Majority of
the pregnancies often are the result of consensual sex, they become victim of rape. There has
been questions regarding whether a women getting involuntarily engaged in sex and be forced a
carry the burden of a child. The advocates argue that the women must never withdraw from
pregnancy whatever be the situation. However, it has been stated by Cockrill Kate, et al, that
abortion can emotionally and psychologically affect the women involved. The abortion is also
followed with physical side effects and led to serious complications in life such as depression. As
per the research and analysis, it has been identified that the women who went through abortion
had to face significantly higher rate of anxiety scores. It often leads to substance abuse, suicidal
behavior and anxiety disorders. There are around 42% of women approximately who had
experienced high rate of depression in the past four years (Poovey and Mary).
However, may are of the opinion that abortion must be legalized in cases such as incest
or rape. It can also be legalized in case the life of the women involved is at risk. In the opinion of
many pro life advocates, the right to life is more vital than the right of an individual to equality
and control of their body. It has also been argued that abortion does not free the women or does
not liberate them (Sumner and Leonard Wayne). There have been arguments that right to
equality does not given freedom to abortion but they must be provided with what is required to
survive both financially and socially as mothers.

4ABORTION SHOULD/SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE LEGAL
Conclusion
Therefore, the from the above analysis, it can be concluded that abortion must continue to
be legal in certain specific conditions such as in case the life of the mother is at risks or in case of
incest and rape. This way the women involved with not be deprived of their rights to their own
body or violate gender equality. It must continue to be made legal as unwanted pregnancy can
disrupt the life of the individual concerned and their employability. The abolishment of the
abortion rights can also take away the rights of the individuals. However, through research and
analysis, it has been determined that abortion is morally wrong according to the Bible. It is
actually killing of the unborn and it is destructive in all circumstances. However, women have
full rights of their body. It is the key moral right of the women and it can only be achieved if
abortion continues to be legal.

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References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "Practice bulletin no. 143: medical
management of first-trimester abortion." Obstetrics and gynecology 123.3 (2014): 676.
Boyle, Mary. Re-thinking Abortion: Psychology, Gender and the Law. Routledge, 2014.
Cockrill, Kate, et al. "The stigma of having an abortion: development of a scale and
characteristics of women experiencing abortion stigma." Perspectives on Sexual and
Reproductive Health 45.2 (2013): 79-88.
Ganatra, Bela, et al. "From concept to measurement: operationalizing WHO's definition of
unsafe abortion." (2014): 155-155.
Giubilini, Alberto, and Francesca Minerva. "After-birth abortion: why should the baby
live?." Journal of medical ethics 39.5 (2013): 261-263.
Poovey, Mary. "The abortion question and the death of man." Feminists theorize the political.
Routledge, 2013. 257-274.
Sedgh, Gilda, et al. "Abortion incidence between 1990 and 2014: global, regional, and
subregional levels and trends." The Lancet 388.10041 (2016): 258-267.
Shrage, Laurie. Moral dilemmas of feminism: Prostitution, adultery, and abortion. Routledge,
2013.
Sumner, Leonard Wayne. Abortion and moral theory. Vol. 285. Princeton University Press,
2014.
Upadhyay, Ushma D., et al. "Incidence of emergency department visits and complications after
abortion." Obstetrics & Gynecology 125.1 (2015): 175-183.

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