Abortion. Issues pertaining to life and death have often been compounded by various controversies.

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Abortion

Issues pertaining to life and death have often been compounded by various controversies. This is attributable to the great importance and meaning that is attached to human life. From time immemorial, human life has always been considered to be sacred and very important. Vital values related to protecting it have been ingrained in the societal value system. In this regard, protecting and nurturing human life is generally considered a very a noble task that all humans need to uphold accordingly. Abortion has adverse impacts on the holistic wellbeing of humanity. In essence, this act deprives humans of the opportunity to live and benefit optimally from the goods that nature provides. It is an act that has been perceived differently by varied communities as well as culture. Currently, it has spurred various debates within the public. These basically revolve around the decisions related to opposing and supporting it. It is against this background that this paper provides an in depth analysis of the concept of abortion. To enhance coherence, it begins by detailing an overview of the history of abortion. Then, it proceeds to underscoring the changing attitudes and perceptions towards abortion. Finally, it provides the opposing views towards this concept as well as the ethical, religious and social underpinning.

As indicated earlier, abortion is an issue that has been at the center stage of public ethics for a significant period of time now. Historical evidence indicates that the concept dates back to the times of the early American colonies. The then populations were strongly opposed to abortion and did not support it under any circumstances. In fact, the public considered it a misdemeanor if an individual procured an abortion. A significant percentage of the populations did not only consider the life in the womb to be sacred but they also perceived it to have similar legal rights like the rest of the individuals. The formal efforts to legalize abortion began in 1962, although physicians had previously suggested the issue since 1933. From a religious point of view, Rubin indicates that different religions had varied views regarding the issue of abortion (58). The religions in the ancient Rome and Greece reportedly had the strongest views about abortion. Historical document indicate that the Assyrians did not approve of the process of abortion and forbade their women against procuring it. In contrast, the Jewish religion of Talmud taught that the fetus in the womb could not be likened to an individual. For this reason, it was not entitled to equal rights and therefore abortion was acceptable.

The church of Vienne on the other hand considered abortion to be homicide only after the fetus had been formed. Usually, this occurred during the end of a woman’s first trimester. In the seventeenth century, scientific studies affirmed that during this point in time, the fetus already had al the features of a human being. It is at this point that the Catholic Church forbade abortion and likened it to killing. Further developments in the 1800s confirmed that human life began at the point of fertilization. This culminated in the British government reviewing its position on the stage at which abortion was acceptable. It dropped the relative punishment to the point of fertilization. This marked the beginning of the American states passing their individual laws against abortion. By 1860, Ginsburg cites that close to 85% of the states had passed laws prohibiting abortion (77).

In the early 1900s, there were massive changes in the public perception against abortion. Abortion was now banned only during pregnancy unless it was aimed at saving the life of the woman. The changes in perceptions and views can be attributed to the social conversations as well as the drastic economic changes that were responsible for industrializing the nation. The rising population was having far reaching implications on the quality of life of the entire society. For this reason, it was deemed important to curb population growth in order to enhance the quality of life of the affected populations. Abortion played an important role in helping the society to address the issue of population growth. Abortion was finally legalized in 1973 when the court held the doctor and the woman responsible for making decisions regarding abortion. These two were accorded the right to make abortion elated decisions at any point during pregnancy, in line with the provisions of the right to privacy.

Legalization of abortion triggered various responses from the society. While some approved of the process and considered it fundamental for addressing the economic and social problems that were emanating from incidences of population growth, others considered it wrong because of its tendency to deprive the fetus of life. The religious and philosophical persons were particularly opposed to the practice because they considered it to be morally and spiritually wrong. Yet there is also groups of the population that remained neutral about the issue and do not openly support any sides. There re various reasons that made individuals to be opposed to the practice. These range from the denial of an individual of a right to live to the ethical and moral issues that are attached to the practice.

To begin with, those opposed to the practice believe that life begins at conception. They therefore liken abortion to killing and condemn it as being unacceptable. In this consideration, it is argued that abortion denies an individual a right to live. Life from this point of view is considered to be sacred and one that should be protected and nurtured. Abortion, which is like killing is therefore wrong because it undermines the sanctity of life. The pro life movement also argues that under normal circumstances, any civilized society does not allow a human being to harm or take away the life of another human being unpunished. In this respect, it is contended that there are various laws and policies that have been put in place by the society to punish individuals who harm the life of others. By failing to take in consideration important measures to punish individuals who procure abortion, it is argued that the society has failed dismally to undertake its responsibility with regards to protecting the life of the affected individuals (Epistein and Kobylka 51). For this reason, the pro life group blames the legal structures for exercising laxity with respect to protecting the life of all individuals.

Individuals opposed to abortion argue that adoption is a sustainable and viable option that can be use din the place of abortion. Adoption according to them goes a long way in accomplishing similar results as abortion. Statistical evidence indicates that an estimated one million American families wish to adopt new members in their families. Based on this recognition, the opponents of abortion argue that there is virtually nothing like an unwanted child. They propose that such children be taken up for adoption by willing and able families. Further, Rubin argues that abortion has adverse implications on the overall health of the mother. In this regard, abortion can culminate in medical complications at later stages of life. In addition, it risks the life of the mother because of its increase of the risk associated with ectopic pregnancies. Besides this, the mother risks contacting pelvic inflammatory disease and experiencing miscarriages in future.

Opponents of abortion also indicate that incidences of incest and rape can be effectively addressed using proper medical attention. If addressed in an effective and timely manner, these help in ensuring that the affected woman does not get pregnant. In this regard, it is argued that instead of punishing the perpetrator of the respective crime, the unborn child is forced to bear the consequences and shoulder the crimes of an unpunished individual. This amounts to injustice that should be shunned at all levels. In particular, it is argued that both the mother, doctor and the criminal should be punished for killing. The child is just and should be supported as opposed to being killed. From an ethical point of view, abortion is condemned because of its ability to infringe pain and suffering in the affected individual. Utilitarianism indicates that infringing pain and suffering in the individual is immoral and unacceptable.

Opposed to the preceding arguments are the proponents of abortion who support the practice because of various reasons. Unlike their counterparts, these believe that life does not begin at conception. Morally, they argue that the fetus does not qualify to be a human being and should therefore not be given the rights of a human being. In addition, they argue that since abortion occurs during the very first trimester and when fetuses are not attached to their mothers, they are not part of a mother. The mother therefore has a right to make a decision regarding whether an independent being should exist in her womb or not. The proponents of abortion also argue that the aspect of human life differs considerable from that of personhood. Fertilized eggs are human lives but can not be compared to personhood. Personhood in this regard is far much complex than human life and should be treated as a complex aspect. In this regard, it can not be compared to murder because murder only occurs to complete persons.

The proponents of this practice also believe that it is safe to procure abortion. They base this presumption to statistical evidence that affirms that 88% of women who have abortions in their first trimester have a healthy medical life after the procedure. Relatively, the medical abortions do not have any serious complications that would undermine the ability of a woman to either give birth or become pregnant in future (Ginsburg 69). With regard to rape, the proponents argue that besides physical harm, victims suffer significant negative psychological effects that compromise their quality of life. This can only be reduced and the woman helped to recover through abortion. Further, medical procedures such as morning after pills do not work well during such scenario. They argue that abortion offers the best option in this regard.

Works Cited

Epistein Lee and Kobylka Joseph. The Supreme Court and Legal Change: Abortion and Death Penalty. USA: University of North Carolina Press, 1992. Print.

Ginsburg Faye. Contested Lives: The Abortion Debate in an American Community. California: University Press, 1998. Print.

Rubin Eva. The Abortion Controversy: A Documentary History. USA: Greenwood Press, 1994. Print.