Abortion Essay, Research Paper

Should Late-Term Abortion Be Banned?

One of the most ethical controversial issues been debated now in United States is whether late- term abortion should be banned or not. Most people argued that it is proper to ban late-term abortion. They believe that it is un-ethical and a murder of an unborn child not a right of freedom of choice. It is an immoral act and violates the social and religious norms. On the other hand some people argued that late-term abortion should not be banned because it is necessary to terminate a fetus when the life of the woman is in danger as a result of complicated pregnancy; or when pregnancy result from incest or rape and the woman may be late in finding out that she is pregnant. Late-term abortion is also favored when the fetus is genetically defect to avoid bringing a child in the world to face major medical abnormalities which will be very problematic to the mother.

DISCUSSION

This paper will focus the discussion on the supporting side that late-term abortion should be banned. As mentioned earlier, late term abortion should be banned because it is ethically an immoral act, an act of murder and social norm deviant behavior. It involves unsafe procedure that could result in the woman loosing her life or become deformed. It can put a woman in a risk of many mental health problems such as depression and feelings of guilt after the abortion. Most abortions are performed after twenty-eighth week, which is reasonable age for viability. According to some doctors, after twenty-eight weeks a child is capable of breathing with or without ventilator. And any abortion from then on is late and illegal ??Hadley,J. 1996.??

Late term abortion is a gruesome murder and violates the moral ethics law. The procedure involves the inhumane act of extracting a fetus feet from the womb and through the birth canal until all but it?s head is exposed. Then, the tip of surgical scissor is thrust into the base of the fetus skull, a Suction Catheter is inserted through the opening and the brain is removed. What a cruel and hard?hearted act. No wonder why Pope John Paul II described abortion as simply the murder of defenseless unborn child and not a civil liberty question as many contended (Doeglinger;, Richard 1994). He also stated that it is not possible to speak of the right to choose when a moral evil is involved. What happened to the commandment ?Thou shall not kill? Exodus (20:117)

Most people who favor late term abortion argue that a fetus is not a human being as a result a woman has the right to do what she pleases with her fetus and should not be considered as a murderer. The Pro-life advocates who are against late-term abortion argued that life begins at conception. At six weeks the fetus heart begins to beat and all the major organs have developed. In that case, any action deliberately taking to abort the fetus is ethically wrong and is considered as murder. An unwanted child is a pitiful thing, the thought of terminating something that if allowed to run its natural course, would result in the birth of a human being that will bring joy to most families. The Pro-abortionist focused only on a women?s right to choose and all the social problems inherent in an unwanted child, forgetting that the unborn child is a precious thing that has the right to life and deserves the full protection under the moral and ethics law. The bottom line is our individual rights to freedom, and the pursuit of happiness should not supersede the authority of God nor should it supplement the moral absolutes from which they are derived.

The Supreme Court decision in January 1973, of Roe vs. Wade decided that there should not be any legislation against abortion in the first trimester and second trimester. And a woman has the right to choose whatever she wants to do with her body. According to this court decision, the unborn child has never been recognized as a person in the whole sense also life doesn?t begin until birth, and fetus is a little more than the body tissue (Rodman, Hyman 1987).

Pro-life advocates argued that life begins at conception, if legislature permits abortion because the fetus is little and unborn, it is giving the women the license to deprive the fetus the equal protection of state?s murder law there by violating the fourteenth constitutional amendment which bans such denials. Furthermore, if a child cannot be safe in the mother?s womb, where else can it be safe?

In most culture, abortion is considered as deviant behavior and violation of social norms. It is usually accompanied by punishment. In the Nigerian culture for example, if a woman has an abortion, she faces humiliation and isolation from the women?s group she belongs to. She pays a heavy fine that will be imposed on her by the group. If a woman is married and has an abortion without the consent of the husband that marriage will end in divorce and the husband gets the custody of any child or children in the marriage. This is also applicable to any teenager who has an abortion. She will be shamed to come out in public and it will be very difficult again for her to marry. Also, if the woman or teenager is a Catholic, the person will be ban from receiving Holy Communion until she sees the clergy and receives penance because she violates the religious moral norms.

Abortion has a great effect on the relationship between a man and a woman. The world views motherhood as a natural role for a woman. Late-term abortion is demeaning to woman?s special role as a bearer and a raiser of children. It also diminishes a man?s duty to be sexually responsible (Hadley, Janet 1996). When Pro-abortionist talk about the right of a woman to choose, they should also consider the right of the spouse or boy friend who did not give his consent for abortion. He also has right because he has a great genetic link to the fetus. As was noted, we should not brush aside the distress caused by abortion to men whom their relationship to their partner is changed because of late-term abortion. Most of these men would like to be committed to their partner?s pregnancy, provide support and help to care for the baby (Hardley, Janet 1996).

In conclusion, I feel late-term abortion should be banned because it is ethically wrong. It violates the social norms and also an inhuman and immoral act of killing an unborn innocent child. The Pro-abortionist focused on the woman?s right to choose. I think psychologically, the moral guilt, anxiety, depression and other emotional feeling that accompanies late-term abortion is more than ??the right to choose? as was contended.

Late- term abortion is unsafe and very detrimental to woman?s health, it expose a woman to many physical and mental problems such as risk for breast cancer, ectopic- pregnancy and post ?abortion stress syndrome depression (Hadley, Janet 1990).

Finally, I suggest that women should be encouraged to avoid abortion after 23 weeks of the pregnancy unless they are in danger of loosing their life. Physicians should try and make an attempt to save the life of a woman and the baby before suggesting abortion. Again, the government should try to develop a good supportive program that will help the women who are having problem with their pregnancy the best way to deal with it through counseling rather than choosing abortion. I will also support the idea of lobbing campaign to defeat legalized late-term abortion and for the church to run a host of anti-abortion programs, including those that facilitate adoptions and provide support for pregnant women and children. In addition, work closely with other Pro-life groups such as operation rescue to rescue pregnant, poor, uneducated, young and minority women who are vulnerable to abortion.