Looking at Abortion

Looking at Abortion

Abortion is 'the intentional destruction of a foetus or the inducing

of a premature expulsion from the womb to cause its death'. This

definition sounds rather barbaric and it leads us to ask who could

support such an idea.

In looking at the case for abortion, there are a number of groups in

support of this such as the National Abortion Campaign who want us to

realise that usually the woman who is having the baby is best

qualified to judge what is the right decision. There is a large

difference of opinion over when life begins and it is argued that a

minority of people have no right to impose their views on the rest of

us. A foetus is only a potential human life in that it is not fully

developed and there can be no argument about the humanity of the woman

carrying the child. Everyone has the right to control their own

fertility. However there is no such thing as completely safe

contraception, so abortion must still be there as an option to the

woman carrying the child. The doctor who is advising the mother

whether to have an abortion does not have any special moral or ethical

training which enables them to make a better grounded decision than

the pregnant woman. There will always be women that simply don't want

children and we should respect their views. There has never been a

society known that has not had some kind of abortion no matter what

the male secular and religious leaders have said. The argument about

abortion is not whether it should exist. It is whether it should be

legal, safe and dignified or illegal, unsafe and furtive. Ever child

has the right to be wanted and loved and abortion helps to s...

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... how she would be killing a

potential human life for reasons of her own convenience. Also in later

life I would assure her that she would be possibly guilt stricken

knowing that she had had an abortion. In realising that abortion is a

highly precarious option I would also point out that if the baby

really did become too much there is a huge demand for young babies by

couples that cannot have themselves. However this option could have

produced problems with guilt over 'letting go' her child. I would urge

her to have the baby emphasising that there is a lot of help available

from various support groups and that she could rely on her friends

also, although the baby will not be an easy prospect. As having a baby

will be mentally and physically tiring she will always be safe in the

knowledge that she carried out God's will.