Premium Essay

Legal Abortions

In:

Submitted By yuly03
Words 831
Pages 4
Legal Abortions

Abortion is it murder or not? There is a great controversy over many individuals on whether or not abortion should be legalized. After doing thorough research on the subject, I have come to the conclusion that the benefits of a woman having an abortion outweigh the causes. As a utilitarian, I believe that legalizing abortion will maximize happiness for the greatest number of people while minimizing their unhappiness.

Many people believe that a fetus is a parson who has feelings and is able to feel pain, but according to the philosopher Mary Ann Warren, that is not really the cause. Warren argues that in order for a fetus to be considered a being he must have certain qualities, such as: “ 1. consciousness and ability to feel pain, 2. a develop capacity for reasoning, 3. Self-motivated activity, 4. Capacity to communicate messages of an indefinite variety of types, and 5. Self-awareness. (The Moral of the Story, Nina Rosenstand, pp.640)”. Qualities that not even the most developed fetus has, therefore we can state that by a woman having an abortion she is not committing a murderous act. Furthermore, a woman should be given the right to decide whether or not she wants to go through with the pregnancy.

Having an abortion is a subjective decision. Most of the times woman have abortions because she is not ready to become pregnant, she cannot afford a baby, she

Name 2

does not want to be a single parent, she or the fetus has a health problem, or perhaps she is a survivor of rape. Whatever the situation, the woman will benefit more from the abortion than from having the child, since the abortion often helps to avoid serious medical complications from childbirth. If abortion is legalized fewer children will be born in single-parent households; fewer children will live in poverty; and fewer children will

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Abortion Be Legal

...Abortion Should Be An Option Christine Ouimet Informal Logic Aaron Novinger March 19, 2012 Abortion Should Be An Option Thirty- nine years ago the Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs. Wade to legalize abortion. It is a women’s right to have an abortion if she wants to. A woman should never feel like they are a killer because of the choice of going with abortion. Way too many teenagers are getting pregnant; not allowing them to get an abortion is saying that they have to raise their child as a single mother or in poverty (Jacob, Weisberg). Children or woman that are raped or woman who can’t cope mentally or physically with a baby should not be forced to go through the whole pregnancy. It is not their life we are talking about there are children being brought into the world and having to live in poverty and suffer. Abortion as an option would help the children being born to teenage mothers, the women that are raped not have to live with the rape their whole lives and woman that can’t mentally handle having a child another option. Part 1: Argument Abortion should be an option for any woman if they are pregnant and feel they do not want to have the baby. They may choose abortion so they don’t have to go through all of the emotions of carrying the baby to full term and then giving it up for adoption. Teenage girls that get pregnant and are not allowed to have an abortion are being set up for failure in the future. How can a child take care of another child? Teenagers that...

Words: 1466 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Should Abortion Be Legal?

...Should Abortion be legal? 2 Should abortion be legal? What is abortion and who does it affect? An abortion is to terminate a pregnancy by removal of the fetus . The woman is affected by it because it’s her body that this method is performed on. There are millions of abortions done every year, and 95% are done illegally in the United States of America. There are different methods a woman can do to have an abortion done. Some of the methods are taking the” Morning after Pill”. This method will make the woman have a miscarriage within 48 hours. Another method is to have a surgery to remove the baby or fetus. This method gives you up to 22 weeks to have an abortion. The first reason why women have abortions is the mother is in a life threating position. The doctors are the ones who can say if its life threating or if the mother and baby can make it together. About 90% of women who are in life threating situation do not want to live, but they want the baby to make it. The life threating situation is because if the mother can be n a suicide watch and trying to kill the baby and herself. What if the woman fell into a coma while she is pregnant? How would the baby survive, if the mother is not eating and getting the right vitamins that she need for the baby. Sometimes you have to think about the good and the bad in some situations. The second reason women have...

Words: 1640 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Should Abortion Be Legal

...Should abortion be legal? With the recent presidential campaign of 2012 one of the greatest issues of concern for the democrats and republicans is; should abortion be legal? During the presidential debate of 2012 each candidates expressed their concerns about abortion. It boils down to moral reasoning and core values. Logic gives the ability to decide what we believe to be true based on premise and conclusion. We use logic to decide whether an argument it is ethical or justifiable. Often times these decisions are formed by the media, religious affiliation and family values. These arguments come from many areas. Most commonly they are from the politics/law, science and women’s rights. The question is should abortion be legal? The Democratic Party supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. Roe v. Wade has been a monumental case associated with a woman’s right to choose. With the Democratic Party in favor of women right to make her own decision on the basis of sanctity of life many people on this side of the spectrum voted in favor of a democratic president that represents their own core values. This particular issue affects people in the here and now along with people that are yet to come. Republicans oppose Roe vs. Wade because of the sanctity of human life. They believe that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed upon...

Words: 892 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Should Abortion Be Legal?

...Should Abortion Be Legal and Accessible? Abortion is viewed as being both right and wrong in many ways and by a diverse selection of people in our society. As some people view abortion as safe and acceptable and a right that women are entitled to, others view the subject as a complete destruction of a helpless life and an unfortunate way to decrease the mental health of a woman who chooses to have an abortion. To begin with, I will address why abortion should be legal. My points for PRO are #1, abortions are safe and #2, women have the right to do want they want with their body. Regarding point #1, abortions are safe, it is easy to agree with that statement due to the fact that abortion is legal to this day and data shows that abortion has a safety record of more than 99%. Since 1973, abortion has been protected under the law and is something that women have a legal right to in all 50 states in the United States of America. According to Jamila Perritt- a board-certified obstetrician, gynecologist, and medical director of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan- major complications occur less than 1% of the time in abortion procedures. Furthermore, in the cases where a complication does occur, the result is similar to the ones that may occur from a miscarriage in which health providers treat every day. Because abortion has become a more common practice in today’s society, it is a matter in which continuous research is put into and is a constant part of regular medical practice for...

Words: 1445 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Should Abortion Be Legal

...Certainly the issue of abortion is not something to be taken lightly because it is the termination of what could, potentially, become a human being. There are very many ways of looking at abortion, which make it hard to decide whether or not you are for it. Although there are many good reasons as to why someone would choose to be against it I, for one, believe abortion could, in some cases, be the right thing to do. Abortion could save women from an experience that could either damage or kill them. This is not the same for every single case but there are exceptions. First off there is the discussion of women's privacy and how the decision to abort a baby is mainly their decision. That and the decision of her partner is theirs alone, no one else's. There are many reasons a woman would not see it fit to continue with a pregnancy. According to the National Abortion Federation "Each year, one million American teenagers become pregnant, and 85% of these pregnancies are unintended." Most pregnancies that are aborted happen to be accidental. Although, yes, some of these accidents can be prevented some can't. If you force a woman or a teen to continue full term with her pregnancy it would be intruding into the privacy of her body. It is initially, the woman's choice as to whether or not to continue with her own pregnancy. "Being forced to proceed to childbirth can cause unique and psychological violence to a woman." I know someone who, recently, found out she was pregnant. She is very...

Words: 2284 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Abortions: Legal but Regulated

...The legal and ethical issues surrounding abortion have been an ongoing debate for years. Pro- life activists, or those who oppose abortion, say that a fetus is a human being and should have rights. They say that abortion is the murder of an innocent life. Believers in pro-choice, or those who support abortion, argue that a baby should not be considered anything more than a “potential life” dependent on the mother’s body. A body that she owns the rights to and can therefore choose whether or not it will sustain another life. Although I do not agree with every belief that many pro-choice supporters have, I do agree with some of them. Abortions must remain legal because of certain circumstances that occur beyond a woman’s control and also for the lives, and quality of life that they actually save. Abortion became legal following the ruling of the Supreme Court case, Roe V. Wade, in 1973. This was the most significant abortion court case there has ever been for both supporters and those who oppose. The court viewed it was a “fundamental right” of a woman to be able to decide to end her pregnancy if she wishes to. According to the court ruling, a woman’s right to have her pregnancy terminated is protected by the United States Constitution in the First Amendment, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and also the Fourteenth Amendments (Frontline, 2006). The judge declared that any state laws that make abortions inaccessible by placing strict conditions on which an abortion can be performed will...

Words: 3404 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Should Abortion Be Legal?

...Should Abortion Be Legal? Joseph Morris PHI 103: Informal Logic William Tullis April 29, 2013 If there is one thing that everyone can agree on, it would have to be that no matter where you are in the world, there is always going to be disagreement. Today’s society is made up of such an abundant number of controversial issues. One of the most controversial issues being abortion- the act of intentionally termination a pregnancy resulting in the death of the fetus (Kreider, A. personal communication, March 24, 2011). Abortion is both constitutionally and morally wrong, and should be illegal in the United States in all but two cases: if the mother was raped (and pregnancy was as a result of the rape) or if the mother’s life would be put in endangerment by the pregnancy. Abortion is murder at any stage of pregnancy, and acts against the U.S. Constitution. Not only does abortion harm innocent babies, but abortion also rises the risk of medical complications for the mother. Majority of women who choose to abort regret the decision later in life. There is always a way to prevent pregnancy, and if by some chance pregnancy does occur and the baby is not wanted there are other options besides abortion. “When a murderer kills a woman who is with child; the murderer is charged with two counts of capital murder. Why is this?” (Huffman, 2010). The reason is because a fetus is a person whether he or she is born or unborn. Life begins at conception, since living...

Words: 2783 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Abortion Legal or Ilegal

...Abortion: Legal or Illegal? Abortion: Legal or Illegal Alfred LaBarre HCS/455 Professor Patricia Getchell 09/19/2011 Policies are sought out in an attempt to improve the health care system in America. Everyone is affected by policies so we have to consider the outcome before they become effective. Policies are major topics that are discussed before becoming a particular policy. Without certain policies, public health care will be at a huge risk. The great concern of abortion eventually leads to policies that affect many Americans. Polices are being passed frequently, being strict on physicians allowed to perform the procedure. Abortion can be considered wrong for many reasons. Abortion can be looked upon as deliberately killing a defenseless fetus. Does the woman necessarily have the right to abort a defenseless unborn child? Many argue that the child should not be punished for activity the mother engaged in. It is possible for women to have regret shortly after having the abortion. Many women are not aware that abortions can cause them to be more at risk for breast cancer. Also women could possibly die from having an abortion performed on them. After all, the child could be given up for adoption and still have the chance of living a normal life. Everyone alive today was given an opportunity by their mother to live. At least the child had the opportunity...

Words: 1509 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Should Abortion Be Legal

...Should Abortion be Legal? Julianne Jackson PHI 103 Fabio Escobar June 11, 2012 Should Abortion be Legal? Abortion is something that I am for, not against. I was raised as a Christian and I believe that, “thou shalt not kill” however, there are circumstances in our lives that cause us to believe differently. Life is about making choices and our maker and society gives us the freedom to choose. It is because of these choices that we will make a decision as to if we are ethically right or wrong. This is because regardless of what people may believe abortion is neither right nor wrong.   It is the matter of a personal opinion where each side can say with conviction that the other side is wrong. Abortion is the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy. Abortion is one of the most controversial issues around and it will remain an issue that will never be agreed upon. The issue of morals has been put into the question of whether it should be legal to have an abortion thus elevating the subject to a higher level. Some people no longer look at abortion as a question of choice but as a question of morality, and these perceptions have led to a full-blown debate over something that should not be questioned. A single pregnant woman brought a class action suit that challenged the Texas law that prohibited abortions except when medically advised with the purpose of saving the mother’s life. Roe was the single mother in this case and Henry Wade was one...

Words: 2349 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Abortion Should Remain Legal

...Top Three Reasons Abortion Should Remain Legal What would you do if the government repealed your rights to control what you do to your body? Whether it be a tattoo, a piercing, or giving a transplant, those are decisions that should be left up to you. So imagine how some women must feel when abortion is the main topic of a conversation. Imagine how women must feel when people around her are saying that abortion should be illegal because the mother is “murdering” her child. The fact of that matter is that there are multiple reasons a mother may abort her child. Abortion is not always necessarily done to benefit the mother’s needs, in many cases, it benefits the unborn child's life as well. Abortion mitigates the risk of mental, physical,...

Words: 1502 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Debate Paper - Should Abortion Remain Legal?

...Should Abortion Remain legal? Name BCOM/275 July 12, 2013 Instructor Should Abortion Remain legal? Abortion is a controversial subject. It is legal in every states because of the Supreme Court’s ruling seven to two on January 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade. The abortion is a fundamental right to every woman (procon.org, 2013). According to the U.S. News website “Support for the ruling has grown since polls began tracking public opinion on abortion in 1989, with 70 % of Americans now believing the ruling should stand” (Debate club, 2013 Should Abortion be Legal, para 1). Whether people are for it or against it, there are many reasons and justifications for why it should remain legal as well as many other reasons for why it should not be. For example, in the case of a late term abortion, rape, unfit mother who may be using drugs, or life and death risk of the mother or child. Prochoice groups argue that abortion is a right that should not be control by government or religious authority. Pro-life groups give emphasis to personhood and that it begins at conception. Unborn babies are human beings with the right to live, and it is immoral to kill innocent human being. Through the research and study pros and cons of abortion, the legal ramifications, and the effects it may have on women and the unborn child will be discuss to determine if abortion should it remain legal. Life Starts at Conception After the Roe v. Wade case, two main groups emerged, Pro-life to oppose the...

Words: 2014 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Why We Should Abortion Remain Legal

...Abortion is the practice of ending a pregnancy by the causing the death of the human fetus. In 1973, abortion was legalized in the United States via the famous court case of Roe VS Wade. Abortion is a growing issue in the world among women and their right to reproduce children. Abortion has been one of the biggest controversies of all time. The reason for this surrounds the idea of whether the induced expulsion of the fetus is murder or rather in the interest of the mother. Pro-life people argue that all life in the instant of its conception is innocent and deserves a chance at life. God chooses its time of life and death, not the mother. Pro-choice followers argue in favor of science. The first patient is the mother, and she is the one who allows the pregnancy to happen or not. Abortion should remain legal because they’re safe, it’s not killing another human since it’s a fetus, and it is not a form of contraceptive. One reason abortion should remain legal is because it is a safe medical procedure. Most pro-life people will argue that abortion is...

Words: 692 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Misconceptions About Abortion

..._________________________________________________Abortion should not be legal and must be stopped. Laws have never stopped abortion, but only made it unsafe for women. Abortion is a universal practice that has been with us since the beginning of time, whether legal or illegal. _________________________________________________Most Canadians believe that abortion should be illegal. The majority rules in a democracy. About 78% of Canadians believe that abortion is a private matter between a woman and her doctor. Human rights are guaranteed for everyone and are not subject to the whim of the electorate. Even if only a minority believed in freedom of choice, that right should be protected from the tyranny of the majority. _________________________________________________Pro-life is pro-family. Pro-abortionists are anti-family. Abortion destroys the family. Legal abortion helps parents limit their families to the number of children they want and can afford. This strengthens and stabilizes the family unit. Therefore, pro-choice is pro-child and pro-family. Anti-abortion laws can cause stress and hardship for families with insufficient resources to raise unwanted children. Families with unwanted children often consist of a child and her child, living at the lowest levels of society. _________________________________________________The right of the unborn to live supersedes any right of a woman to "control her own body." Margaret Sanger said, "No woman can call herself free who...

Words: 3958 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

No Title Yet

...Should Abortion be legal? Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and about four in ten of these are terminated by abortion. In 1973 Roe V. Wade decision, the supreme Court ruled that women, in consultation with their physician, have a constitutionally protected right to have an abortion in the early stages of pregnancy. Abortion is a very serious and dangerous thing to decide 50% of women who have had abortions report experiencing emotion and psychological problems lasting for months or years. Only 12% women reported having a physical problem with their health among having an abortion like an infection called hemorrhage and uterine perforation. My personal experience having an abortion is when my mom had one in 2000. She said that she was not ready to raise other child at this moment in her life, because she just moved to North Carolina and was looking for a job. She felt no guilt about what she has done she thought it was the right thing to do at this point in her life. Most people would argue that abortion is not only wrong, but it is murder to an innocent child with no fault of its own. The first reason that abortion should be illegal because it is murder! For example, the fetus is a distinct individual therefore its DNA is completely its own while the baby is in the womb the baby will show definite signs of emotion. I think that when a human egg and a human sperm meet, the resulting individual is simply human. The number of American babies killed...

Words: 1395 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Arguments Against Planned Parenthood

...been using government money to fund abortions clinics and also receiving money for fetal tissue sale. Due to these allegations the government is trying to strip Planned Parenthood of its funding; there are ways Planned Parenthood can still receive government funding and avoid the controversy. Before taking a closer look at the different options Planned Parenthood can consider; Take a look at the services they provided and the budget that this organization operates. According to the Washington post, Planned Parenthood performed only three percent abortions. Which is way less than sixteen percent of the cancer screen and prevention; in addition thirty five percent is prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and another thirty five percent on contraceptives. Planned parenthood also provide reproductive services, as well as providing referrals services for pregnant patients, some of the Planned Parenthood locations provide services based on the needs of that community. (Klein). For example the Rocky Mountain location has a program called the...

Words: 1439 - Pages: 6