...Background Information Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy. Induced abortion has long history, and can be traced back to civilizations as varied as China under Shennong, Ancient Egypt with its Ebers Papyrus and the Roman Empire in the time of Juvenal. There is evidence to suggest that pregnancies were terminated through a number of methods, including the administration of abortifacient herbs, the use of sharpened implements, the application of abdominal pressure, and other techniques. Introduction The ethics of abortion is a highly controversial issue that had been going continually argued over for the past few years and probably many years to come. Usually, debates about abortion focus on politics and the law: should abortion be outlawed and treated like the murder of a human person, or remain a legal choice available to all women? Behind the debates are more fundamental ethical questions which aren’t always given the specific attention they deserve. Some believe that the law shouldn’t legislate morality, but all good law is based upon moral values. A failure to openly discuss those values can obscure important discussions. The labels “Pro-life” and “Pro-choice” imply that...
Words: 2642 - Pages: 11
...Ethical Issues of Abortion “Abortion is termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior viability” (Wikipedia). Abortions can occur spontaneously which is called miscarriage, or it could be induced. When people talk about abortion, they mostly refer to the induced abortion. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, approximately forty- two million abortions occur in this world per year averaging to 115,000 abortions per day. Eighty-three percent of these abortions occur in underdeveloped countries. In United States of America, one third of the women before the age of forty-five, have abortions. The average abortion per day in United States of America is 3,700. Eighty-eight percent of abortions are found in first trimester; fifty-nine percent of abortion is done in first eight weeks of pregnancy. Non-Hispanic white women had the largest percentage of abortions rate of (37.1%), followed by non-Hispanic black women (34.4%), Hispanic women (22.1%) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Whenever it comes to abortion, people talk about Pro-Life vs. Pro Choice. Pro-life is when a person believes that the “government has an obligation to preserve all human life regardless of intent or quality of life” (Head). Pro Choice is when “individuals have unlimited autonomy with respect to their own reproductive systems as long as they do not breach the autonomy of others” (Head). Whatever side a person takes, it...
Words: 1945 - Pages: 8
...effects of abortion on the women who have this procedure. For many cultures abortion is a horrible act. It is considered murder of an unborn human being. In today`s society many people still consider abortion to be an unethical practice and dangerous procedure. It is a typical conflict theory argument of social problems in today’s society. It is a conflict in society because it comes down to peoples ethical and religious stand point that is what makes up the conflict. Ethical is either it right because the fetus is in the women’s body and its her choice to choose if she wants to be a mom or not. The other side of the ethics argument czn stem from religious as well it is a life and murdering an unborn baby is wrong. There are two groups of people who fight to sway the law makers to their side the pro abortionist group and the antiabortion group (Henslin, J. M. 2011). These are commonly known as the prolife and prochoice groups. Many people though when you use these terms don’t take the group seriously they considered these people radicals. There are protesters who believe they are standing up for the unborn by murdering abortion doctors and burning down abortion clinics. The vigil-anti`s think this is justifiable due to the fact that abortion doctors are taking innocent lives and without the clinic there would be no place to have an abortion. The pro-choice group believes that abortion is ethical and a upright...
Words: 4926 - Pages: 20
...is morally right and what is not right. Ethical theory defines what is perceived to be right and what is wrong, while ethical practice suggest that one’s environment and cultural beliefs determine who one will react in any given situation. The question how do we as a society decide what is morally right or wrong in moral “free choice” (Mosser, 2010)? Morals are unique to each person, culture, religious belief and environment. Ethical practice is defined by the diversity within each society, where no to people are alike. Morals don’t define ethics, ethics define morality. Abortion an age old ethical debate between moral right choice and wrong choice, why? To evaluate abortion with ethics, we must first understand the argument from all perspectives. What is the debate reason abortion is so fiercely argued in past and present generations? Abortion is the term to define the choice to terminate a woman’s pregnancy. Unitarian view, which is the view that relativist challenge. Utilitarian view suggest that abortion is not wrong because its selfish and benefits the mother not the unborn fetus, this is what Unitarians refer to as :ethical egoism”(Mosser,2010). Relativist view is just a little less judgmental, suggesting that some situations may be determined morally correct while others simply remain wrong. In this paper neither the argument that neither the Unitarian view nor the Relativist view are completely correct. The suggestion that Ethical Egoism is the foundation within all humans...
Words: 1698 - Pages: 7
...This paper is a discussion of the possible ethical dilemmas that may arise in abortion. The author provided a well develop information about abortions and gives some key points on abortion. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service is primarily a provider of abortion services. The issue of abortion is the most controversial issue. Ethical issues in abortion involve a constant battle between freedom and life. Abortion has become legal as part of British life. Ethnics of Abortion Joan Greenwood begins his article providing information ethical abortion issue. The researcher mentions that “The British Pregnancy Advisory Service is primarily a provider of abortion services”. There are a range of moral and ethical issues which may arise about unplanned...
Words: 983 - Pages: 4
...Is abortion ever ethical? ‘Is abortion ever ethical?’ This is a highly debated question, which has just as many arguments for than it has against. Abortion in the U.K is legal from up to 24 weeks, but even though that is the law, many people still today debate against this, as they believe strongly that abortion is never ethical in any situation. In my opinion abortion is ethical in certain situations such as; if a woman has been raped and as a result became pregnant from that action, if a mothers life is in great danger from carrying out the pregnancy or if the mother has become pregnant from such a young age that she could not financially support that child or give that child the love it needs for it to have a good life (pro-life). However, I do not believe that legally being able to have an abortion of up to 24 weeks is at all ethical. In my opinion I believe that an abortion should only take place up to 9 weeks from fertilization, this is because it is at this point when the embryo/zygote becomes a foetus, which in my opinion is when it changes into an actual human being. 9 weeks is also a reasonable amount of time for a woman to make a choice of whether or not to have an abortion. I am highly against the fact that an abortion is made legal of up to 24 weeks, when it is scientifically proven that a baby can be born at 24 weeks and live, whereas if a child were born at 9 weeks it would be impossible for it to survive. In conclusion I believe that abortion is...
Words: 341 - Pages: 2
...Abortion is a topic that has become one of the biggest issues debated in the United States and in other countries today. Different schools of thoughts have different ideas and opinions regarding abortion, some ideas are pro-abortion and some argue for the abolishment of it. Abortion is one of the most complex problems dividing America with either side being so passionate about their stand it has been known to cause a lot of hate the other side. Abortion is the removal or the expulsion of an embryo or the fetus from the female’s uterus resulting to the termination of pregnancy. Abortion may occur spontaneously through a miscarriage or may be artificially induced through chemical or by surgical means. An induced abortion refers to any induced procedure that is performed at any point during the pregnancy period which will lead to the termination of the pregnancy before the point of viability. The most common abortion method today is artificial and medically induced. Abortion in the United States was illegal in most states until it was made officially legal throughout the country following the United States Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade on January 22, 1973. The case involved a single, pregnant woman named Jane Roe who wanted to have an abortion. During that time, the only way to get an abortion was through illegal and unsafe means that could endanger her life. Jane Roe wanted to have an abortion which would be performed by a licensed physician so that it would be under...
Words: 2403 - Pages: 10
...Abortion An abortion is a medical or surgical procedure that ends a pregnancy. It is a highly controversial issue in the United States. Although the procedure has been legal in the country since 1973, the abortion rights battle rages on with supporters and opponents struggling to gain ground in public opinion, legislatures, and the courts. Behind the battles are divergent views on when human life begins, the rights a woman has over her own body, and government interference in the private lives of individuals. Medical Issues Some of the issues concerning abortion are related to the safety of the procedure. Despite the fact that abortion was illegal in the United States before 1973—except in extreme circumstances involving the health of the mother—many women were able to find someone who would help them end their pregnancy. Often performed by untrained individuals in unsanitary conditions, these illegal abortions harmed women physically, increased the risks associated with future pregnancies, and even resulted in death. Complications are possible with any type of medical or surgical procedure. The most common medical issue associated with abortion is infection, a potentially serious and life-threatening problem. Abortion can also cause excessive bleeding and damage to the uterus, the female organ in which the fetus develops. These dangers are greatest when abortions are performed by untrained individuals, but they are rare when performed by professionals under proper conditions...
Words: 1085 - Pages: 5
...Ethics of Abortion Destiny Vazquez SOC 120 Instructor Slack Monday, April 16, 2012 Abortion, one of the most ethical issues debated today. It has been a widely controversial debate for many years dated back to even before it was made legal in the United States. Like most ethical issues, there are two sides as to what is the right thing to do. Some people think that abortion is completely and utterly wrong. Some people think that abortion is right when and only when the mother’s life is at risk. And others think that there is a range of different circumstances that make abortion morally acceptable. In this paper I will present the issue of abortion, explain the three classical theories of utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics on how to solve the issue and contrast this response with the perspective brought to the issue of abortion by ethical egoism. I will also present you with my personal opinion as to why I believe abortion should be in fact morally accepted by society. The issues that arise when debating about whether abortion is ethically wrong or right are many. There are two sides to this debate and they call themselves, “pro-life” or “pro-choice”. Pro-lifers say that it is morally wrong to end pregnancy because you are in fact killing an innocent human being, and the pro-choicer believes that the choice should be made by and for the impregnated woman and that under certain circumstances, abortion is in fact acceptable. Many questions are being asked to...
Words: 1945 - Pages: 8
...uncomfortable with abortion. She seeks some advice from Richard, an influential professor of evolutionary biology who has spent his career seeking to further human potential and minimize human suffering. When Susan asks Richard if she should abort the fetus or give birth to a baby with Down syndrome, Richard replied that human beings should increase happiness and decrease suffering in this world, and therefore he would suggest that she abort, though he also stated that she must make this choice for herself. Richard emphasized the lifelong suffering of both the child with Down syndrome and Susan as the child’s caretaker and stated that it may be immoral to bring a baby into the world if she knew the kind of suffering the child would experience. In fact, Richard suggest that perhaps the most ethical course of action would be to prevent this baby from living a life full of suffering. How would Susan respond? What decision should she make if her baby would suffer with Down syndrome, yet she wants to have a baby? Abbreviated Abortion Ethical Dilemma Essay Ethical dilemmas are complicated situations where people have to choose alternatives of two moral principles that are in conflict, which constitute the sense of what is right and what is wrong. All over the world, people face ethical dilemmas whether these dilemmas are described as personal or professional dilemmas or whether these dilemmas are minor or serious that results in negative consequences. Upon facing ethical dilemmas, people...
Words: 2110 - Pages: 9
...Running Head: THE ETHICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING ABORTION The Ethical Isues Surrounding Abortion Lynette Freemer Kaplan University HU 245-03 Professor Kashani December 21, 2013 Abortion is when you terminate a pregnancy by having the fetus removed from the uterus. Abortions can be the result of a complicated pregnancy, or they may be induced. An induced abortion is referred to as an elective abortion, and an abortion due to pregnancy complications is called a therapeutic abortion. The cultural views on abortion are different around the world. People who are against abortion are referred to as pro-life, while everyone else is referred to as pro-choice. Many parts of the world have a current controversy with the ethical and legal aspects of abortions. Abortion is currently a legal operation in the United States. Women's abortion rights in the United States appear straightforward since abortions have technically been legal in the U.S. since 1973 (Krasemann & Thiroux, 2012). When examining the issue more closely, however, the status of a woman's right to abortion is far from static. Depending on location, age, and stage of pregnancy abortion rights are currently a complex and varied situation for American women. Before 1973, there was no national law on abortion in the United States. Many women sought illegal, unsanitary and potentially lethal abortions at the hands of unlicensed practitioners. The Roe v. Wade case changed this, allowing abortions to be practiced...
Words: 308 - Pages: 2
...Abortion: The Beginning and End of Life [Author] [University Affiliation] Abortion: The Beginning and End of Life Abstract In the United States, more than 6 million pregnancies are unwanted annually, with 40% of these opting for an abortion (CDC, 2012). Eight women die every hour worldwide due to unsafe and illegal abortions. The women who go for the unsafe abortions are normally from very poor backgrounds and have no relevant know-how regarding the various family planning methods available. Half of the pregnancies reported annually are unplanned for, and if a woman decides to abort, then the damage is mild. However, making abortions legal worldwide helps reduce the total number of lives of the women who die as a result of unsafe abortions. When a woman dies from undergoing an unsafe abortion, it is a double loss to society because both the mother and the fetus are lost. An abortion carried out by doctors when the woman’s life is at stake has no effect on the society, as it is both ethical and legally accepted within the societal framework. 1.0 Issue- Introductory Analysis It is after a life is lost that abortion begins to intrigue various essential variables. Abortion is a bioethical issue with the attached effects affecting the society at range, in every perspective. Many lives been lost by the women and the fetus; however to be able to synchronize the issue requires analyses of the factors surrounding it. There are some factors that...
Words: 2152 - Pages: 9
...Running head: ANALYSIS OF ETHICAL DILEMMA Analysis of Ethical Dilemma Deanna Romain Grand Canyon University Ethical Decision Making in Health Care NRS 437V Jennifer Wood August 28, 2011 Analysis of Ethical Dilemma Is gender selection of a fetus ethical? With new advances in reproductive technology, parents can not only find out if their embryo has genetic abnormalities, they can also find out the gender of their embryo. The ethical dilemma is whether or not one should be able to choose their child’s gender before implantation. Some compare this method of gender selection to human cloning. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is the testing of the chromosomes of the embryo to determine genetic abnormalities and gender prior to in-vitro fertilization (IVF). In the United States, gender selection by PGD is considered a violation of ethical practices for non-medical purposes (Akchurin, n.d.) CNN.com reported recently that a new blood test has been discovered which can determine the sex of a fetus as early as seven weeks gestation. This achievement was reported in the Journal of American Medical Association in August. This technology is already starting ethical debates fearing parents will use this technology for sex determination and abort healthy fetuses (Ravitsky, 2011). This new technology could also be beneficial in determining gender if their child is at risk for a sex-linked disease such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy or hemophilia. In China and India, there...
Words: 1122 - Pages: 5
...Abortion Essay “It is a mistake to reject religious principles in favour of secular/ethical principles for guidance in medical ethics” Examine and comment on this claim with reference to the topic you have investigated (50 marks) Abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy after the fertilisation of the human ovum and before birth. Abortion is debated because there are many different views with strong opinions and evidence for the pro-life and pro-choice argument. Pro-life is against abortion as they believe abortion should never be allowed and this is mostly religious people who believe with the pro-life argument, whereas pro-choice is where it is thought to be the mothers choice as it is her body so whatever she wants to happen to the baby can happen so the mother should always come before the foetus. Whether or not religious principles should be rejected in favour of non-religious principles is debated in Philosophy because there are a number of ethical issues which constantly surround this. In this essay I will comment on whether it is a mistake to favour non-religious beliefs over religious beliefs when looking at abortion, including those of Aristotle and John Paul II, and secular views which mean non-religious or spiritual views including those of Warren and Thompson. There are a number of types of abortion for example vacuum aspiration or suction termination which can only happen between the first 7 to 15 weeks of conception, this means that the foetus is...
Words: 1524 - Pages: 7
...Applying an Ethical Theory Moral or Ethical dilemmas are an everyday occurrence in our society. The situations present two options as solutions from which one is expected to choose. There is an expectation though that one will choose the option that is considered moral. Ethical questions or problems face every human being at some point in life. One such moral question is; “is it right for women to have abortions”. Abortion has been a major cause of controversy all around the world, with people having different views on whether abortion is good or bad based on their moral beliefs. The main issue that surrounds this ethical dilemma is whether the fetus should have rights to life. Another issue is whether there is justification for a woman to perform abortion based on the rights to her body considering the fetus also has rights to life (Tännsjö, 2008). The deontological theory is not in support of abortion; the objection though, is that women also have rights over their bodies. Discussion Deontological ethics is a moral theory that is in line with common sense intuitions, the scriptures, and natural moral duties or rules. The theory mainly focuses on compliance with moral duties or rules. The main principles of the theory include a task should be carried out for the sake of the obligation. For instance, there is a duty not to do certain things such as murder, lie or break promises since these acts are considered to be wrong. The expected consequences define what the duty is...
Words: 891 - Pages: 4
