Persuasive Essay On Right To Privacy

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The right to privacy is not specifically listed in the Constitution, however over the years several US Supreme Court rulings have inferred that it is there. Historically, justices have cited the 9th Amendment to the Constitution which says that “…..because a right is not in the Constitution, does not mean that that right does not exist…” They have also inferred a right to privacy from various portions of the Bill of Rights such as the 4th Amendment, which protects individuals in their persons, homes, papers, and effects from "unreasonable searches and seizures." Additionally, the 1st Amendment protects freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly, which also unconditionally safeguards the right to privacy in the form of freedom of thought and intellect.
This right to privacy is not an absolute right and some justices have argued that since there is no right to privacy directly articulated in the Constitution, such a right does not exist. Without a definitive statement in the US Constitution, this right to privacy is constantly being challenged in the court such as in court ordered drug or DNA tests, which have been upheld by the Supreme Court. A great quote to rely on comes from Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis in his dissent in Olmstead v. United States: "The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit of happiness . . . They sought to protect Americans in their beliefs, their thoughts, their emotions and their sensations. They conferred, as against the government, THE RIGHT TO BE LET ALONE - the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men."

For the purpose of answering this question, I will look at two stages of pregnancy. These two stages are ...

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...st-viability abortions except in apparently limited cases, but it actually defined the limitation in a way that bars the state from prohibiting such abortions if physicians are willing to perform them.1
An abortion can technically be done anytime until the fetus is delivered. Legally, states vary regarding their laws, but in general abortion is legal until 24 weeks. This is because before 24 weeks the fetus is not viable, that is that the fetus if taken out would not be able to live. Beyond 24 weeks, the fetus, while premature, may be able to survive. The right for a woman to get an abortion has been under attack since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and States passed laws to restrict late term abortions (known as Partial Birth Abortions), require parental notification for minors, and require that patients receive abortion risk information prior to the procedure.

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