Question

Topic in Medical Ethics: Abortion:

Explain both sides of the argument. Then, explore whose argument is more rationally rigorous and coherent.

Note, this is not the same thing as which side you already agree with! Decide which argument is more rational and logical, not which reading already says what you believe.  These may not be the same thing.

So, for instance, you might find that a reading has the best argument, despite the fact that your original opinion on the matter was different than the position that the author holds.

Answer 1

Abortion:

Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.

For:

Woman can make their own decisions with out the legal barriers

Each year 20 million unsafe abortions take place leading to an estimated 80,000 women dying

Carrying a pregnancy to term is more risky than abortion

10% of GPs refuse to grant abortionall women have the right to choose abortion for whatever reason

No women should be persuaded to either terminate or carry a pregnancy to term

The baby will be inside her for 9 months

70% of the people who voted against abortion in parliament were men. 100% of them will never be pregnant

No child should be unwanted - so if woman doesn't want the child and has it anyway it will be unwanted

The embryo/ foetus is just a clump of cells

a young girl is not ready for the responsibilities of womanhood

It's cruel for women to go through with pregnancy

It is better for everyone to abort a disabled foetus

The mother has the right to choose for herself - it is her body not anyone elses

adoption and fostering is really difficult for some as it is not actually your own blood who you are looking after, so they may not be treated the same as their own biological child

mother's health is more important

legal abortions prevent dangerous backstreet ones

woman's circumstances should be considered e.g. Rape victims should not be constantly reminded of their ordeal

the world already has too many people to cope with the resources

life does not really start until baby is born, woman is already a person with greater rights

Against :

The baby is a separate biological being

The mother only has to look after it for 9 months and can then give the baby up for adoption

Abortion is not a form of contraception

The baby does not have a voice

There are many alternatives to abortion meaning the baby would not have to be killed

No child should be unwanted- there are alternatives to abortion

Life begins at conception

something new comes into being

A young girl shouldn't have to deal with guilt after abortion

Shouldn't punish the child for what their father has done

woman's emotional state may cloud her judgement

If abortions are accepted and easy to obtain, people will use them as a form of birth control

if the baby was a 'mistake' then the woman should deal with the consequences for being irresponsible

Disabled children can live a happy fulfilled life

no one should have the right to take away another life

each person is unique and has something to offer in their life

disabled people can enjoy a happy, fulfilled life and would choose life over termination

abortion can be used selfishlessly to avoid responsibilities

unwanted children can easily be adopted

some medical evidence proves that the unborn child is a separate human being with feelings and intelligence from conception

depression and guilt may follow abortion

the united nations declaration of the rights of the child states that children need protection both before and after birth

Conclusion :

I think abortion should be allowed because the person that is going to be most effected is the mother, and the baby isn't even a proper human being yet so it cannot really think or feel for itself, thus it shouldn't really be given that much regard as to 'rights'. It's incorrect to force a human being to forcefully look after another being which it does not wish to have - may also lead to mistreatment of the unwanted child or poor quality of life