Abortion Discussion

Introduction

Acceptability of pregnancy termination is a controversial reproductive and health issue that is widely debated. Most of the arguments revolve around social concerns of life, religious orientation, and the quest for justice among other factors. There are significant variations on the definitions of human life from government and theological perspective (Tatalovich 28). For instance, theologians believe that life begins at conception, quickening, or birth. The topic of the sanctity of life and the concept of the existence of the immortal soul are contrary to the scientific approaches as well as secular government policies which mainly focus on second and trimester of pregnancy. Pro-life organizations argue that “there is need to preserve human life which is a government obligation” (Nelson 64). In their view, the fetus is life. On the above points, we will examine the pro-life arguments on abortion in the current society.

The central argument for the pro-life organization is based on the idealism to criminalize abortion by the sacredness of life. Women being forced to abort still being practiced around the world, and most incidents are not reported (Ojanen 273). Abortion is an injustice to the unborn child as well as the mother although it depends on the circumstance that causes abortion to take place. In this case, pro-lifers’ main goal is to protect life and ensure that justice prevails. Pro-abortion camps reportedly abuse the women’s rights and in their quest to terminate a pregnancy. For instance, the reply that Rosa Acuna received when she asked the abortionist whether she was carrying a baby that is “Don’t be stupid! It’s just a blob of tissue” (Mason 39). They tend to disregard the life of an unborn child. It implies that the abortionist has the right to terminate the life of the fetus depending on the situation (Tatalovich 26). Moreover, illegal abortion is an act that should be punishable by law. It is unlawful abortions that lead pro-lifers to support the government in ban abortion.

Additionally, several cases of attempted or actualized abortions that are reported to the Supreme Court are the cause of abuse of women. The Population Research Institute noted several incidents of physical assaults on pregnant women who are being forced by their husbands to terminate the pregnancy (Mason 34). Dr. Stephen forcibly stabled a woman he had impregnated with a hypodermic needle, an abortion-causing drug after physically assaulting her in the hospital parking lot. Similarly, Alabama security guards beat female juvenile detainees to abort after forcing them to sex. Most of the cases pointed to other forms of abuse and life-threatening actions such as hiring gangs to beat up those who try to resist abortion as well as job termination among others (Tatalovich 23). In all these cases, abortion subject pregnant women into dehumanizing acts which are not acceptable.

Most of the incidences remain unreported due to further security issues as well as fear of laws protecting the perpetrators. The effects of the stated instances and other unreported cases among women involve both psychological and physical outcomes (Ojanen 271). Victims of abortion especially in forced situations face significant health complications and are vulnerable to diseases. The issue of Jane Roe II represents several cases when victims of abortion suffer as a result of the procedure. Moreover, physical assaults and rape that is also widely reported among pro-abortion is also a primary cause of life-threatening diseases. Based on the above scenarios, abortion has not promoted justice for women in any sense (Tatalovich 72). Instead, most of the occurrences of abuse and injustice to women occur due to the government failed to protect the life of an unborn child and pregnant women through its policies. Pro-lifers are also concerned with the sanctity of life as an important virtue that a person should uphold. In their view, life begins at conception which is both the first step of pregnancy.

Religious views support this argument notably the Roman Catholic Church which claims that conception is an essential part of human being. It implies that the process leading to the birth of a child is sacred. Therefore, no one including the woman carrying the pregnancy has the right to terminate the fetus. Gingrich a Catholic points out that “unborn life is precious no matter the way it has been conceived” (Ojanen 275). His arguments form part of the widely advocated issue of the sanctity of human life. The desire to criminalize abortion is premised on the fact that every action that is immorally intended to destroy another life is a serious offense under the law (Ganatra 13). It calls for the government to protect the unborn children by formulating and implementing policies against abortion. Further reasoning on the immortality of soul revels that the act of terminating a pregnancy has no significant difference with killing a breathing person (Mason 31). It implies that the offenders should face murder or involuntary manslaughter charges. Pro-lifers also consider the various forms of contraception as having similar intent as abortion. In this case, there is a need for moral commitment to life in its earliest stages (Ganatra 17).

The scientific approaches to the concept of abortion lack emotional and social attachments that are advanced in these arguments. Scholars agree that criminalization of terminating a pregnancy is advocated as the primary policy response among the pro-lifers. In as much as it may have achieved minimal outcomes in preventing abortion, it indicates the government willingness to uphold the dignity of the unborn child and the integrity of life (Ojanen 275). Moreover, it promotes the access to justice among women who face assault due to confidence that would stem from pro-abortion or pro-choice camps. As a result, those who are subjected to dehumanizing acts such as beating, threats, and health risks resulting from the pursuit of abortion stand a better chance to access justice and compensation (Tatalovich 26). The prevalent perception among pro-lifers is that pregnancy termination is based on the choice to end the fetus life without consideration of its right to life (Mason 32). Therefore, instituting policies and laws against such actions is consistent with other regulations that are intended to uphold the value of life. It is on these grounds that pro-lifers consider abortionists as murderers. As a result, they should be subjected to similar punishments according to the law.

The stated arguments overlook critical aspects of the subject regarding abortion. First, there is little consideration for the rights of women who result in abortion due to health complications. Pro-lifers noted that Obama administration promotion of reproductive health had promoted abortion (Tatalovich 77). Hillary Clinton stated in a committee that we should think about family planning as an integral part of women’s health and sexual health which includes access to abortion that she believes it should be safe and legal. It reflects that termination of pregnancy is a medical issue that is mainly intended to save a pregnant woman’s life who is in danger because of the pregnancy complications (Ganatra 23). Additionally, the pro-choice and anti-abortion limits view the concept of conception as mostly separate from pregnancy. It implies that methods employed to prevent fertilization cannot be considered as part of abortion. Moreover, the government should not have control over women rights to control their bodies in the pretext of protecting the fetus.

From an intellectual point of view, pro-life advocates for the integrity of both the pregnant women as well as the unborn child. The concerns are considerably impartial as in the case of pro-choice and pro-abortion camps (Ojanen 273). Most of the different aspect value human life an approach that is advanced by the opponents. The obligation to protect the rights of women and children is expressly captured in the pro-life arguments concerning its sacredness and sanctity.

Works Cited

Ganatra, Bela, et al. "Global, regional, and subregional classification of abortions by safety, 2010–14: estimates from a Bayesian hierarchical model." The Lancet (2017).

Mason, Alpheus Thomas, and Grier Stephenson. American constitutional law: introductory essays and selected cases. Routledge, 2015.

Nelson, Thomas K. "Emergency Life Prevention." Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Vol. 91. No. 12. Elsevier, 2016.

Ojanen-Goldsmith, A. R., and M. Dutton-Kenny. "Beyond the clinic: characteristics and experiences of community-based abortion providers, facilitators, and counselors outside the formal health care system in North America." Contraception96.4 (2017): 275.

Tatalovich, Warren. The politics of abortion in the United States and Canada: A comparative study. Routledge, 2015