Brooke Morris
Professor McGriff
Comp II
26 November 2012
3,584 words
Abortions
Abortions are one of the many things that everyone has an opinion on. As defined by the 2012 Merriam-Webster dictionary,
an Encyclopedia Britannica Company, an abortion is, “the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or
closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus as a spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of
gestation--miscarriage, the induced expulsion of a human fetus, or the expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to
infection at any time before completion of pregnancy.” Abortions have always been and will probably always be a controversial
topic in which everyone will not agree upon. In the midst of the controversy, two groups have emerged. These groups are
referred to as pro-life and pro-choice. According to Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, pro-life supporters claim that life
begins at conception, therefore, abortion at any stage in the pregnancy is murder. They believe that life is valuable and the
life of the unborn baby has the same rights as the mother. Pro-choice supporters, on the other hand, claim that it is the
woman’s right to choose what she does with her body. These pro-abortionists claim that anti-abortionists are truly against the
rights of women and free choice rather than the termination of the fetus. Pro-life and pro-choice advocates differ in many of
their opinions, specifically, concerning when life begins, affects abortions have on the mother, and how politics and religion
play a role in abortions.
In order to fully understand any topic, a complete explanation is required. Therefore, the history of abortions and different
procedures used are no exception. Abortions have been around for thousands of years. However, in the eighteen hundreds
abortions in the United States became illegal. Due to the lack of medical education, procedures and surgeries such as
abortions were very dangerous. As medical advancements were made, women still had to rely on back ally abortions which
usually resulted in the harm of thousands of women. Abortions remained illegal, despite the medical advancements largely
impart to the fact that physicians did not want to share their patients with other practitioners. The American Medical
Association stated that abortions were wrong and unsafe. Therefore, according to the National Abortion Federation, abortions
were then made into a “physicians-only” practice because they could be performed legally in order to save the woman’s life. It
was not until 1973 that abortions were made legal in the United States due to a Supreme Court decision in Roe vs Wade by
ruling that “Americans’ right to privacy included the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a
woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference”. Today, there are restrictions in order to better
educate the women concerning what they are about to do and parental consent for minors. However, abortions are one
hundred percent legal and cannot be denied to any adult, woman.
Abortions are performed in a myriad of different procedures which are based upon how far along into the pregnancy a
woman is. During the first trimester of pregnancy, there are two options. A woman can either have a medical abortion, within
the first nine weeks, or a surgical abortion. According to the American Pregnancy Association, two types of medical abortions
include: Methotrexate and Mioprostol (MTX) as well as Mifepristone and Misoprotol. The MTX medication combination is not
as commonly used as Mifepristone and Misoprotol which is many people in the United states know as RU-486, the abortion
pill, and Mifeprex. Two surgical procedures used during the first trimester include: Manual vacuum aspiration, and aspiration,
which are performed all the way up to 16 weeks of pregnancy. To help put things in perspective, leading up to the 16th week
of pregnancy the fetus’ bones begin to harden, internal organs begin to function, and even the sex can be determined. During
the second trimester, three types of procedures include: Dilation and curettage, dilation and evacuation, and the induction
abortion. Dilation and curettage abortion and aspiration are the same procedure. During the third trimester, there are many
legal complications because some states ban any form of an abortion procedure except in certain medical situations.
However, the procedures that can be performed include: Induction abortion and dilation and extraction. Dilation and
extraction, however, is now illegal in the United States in part to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1995 (“American
Pregnancy Association”). Some pro-choice advocates believe that this ban is a step in the wrong direction in the fight for
women’s rights. Regardless, by the third trimester, the fetus is nearly fully developed, including it’s sense of pain, so this
procedure is determined cruel and unusual.
The opinion concerning when life begins has a detrimental effect on a person’s views concerning whether they are for or
against abortions. Pro-choice supporters which are for abortions, or the mother’s choice, believe that the fetus is considered
alive when it can sustain life on its own. Some of these advocates believe that viability is around the twenty-third or twenty-
fourth week of pregnancy because the brain has developed to a point where it is able to control parts of the body. However,
others believe that viability does not occur until after birth when the child is able to supply its own needs, such as oxygen,
without its mother supplying the nutrients directly, such as in the womb. According to “Abortion: When Does Human Life
Begin?”, a bug has more characteristics of being a living creature than a fetus before eight weeks of pregnancy, which is when
most women seek abortions. In other words, if a man or woman kills an insect, such as a roach, they have just killed
something that has more brain activity than a fetus prior to eight weeks gestation. However, the murder of insects is accepted,
whereas the termination of a pregnancy is not by pro-lifers. To counter what pro-life supporters believe about chromosomes
proving proof that the fetus is human, pro-choice activists say that chromosomes are not the only components that determine
a human life. Again, “Abortion: When Does Human Life Begin?” states that human chromosomes are similar to the blueprints
of a building. The blueprints provide a guide as to how the building will be built. However, the blueprints are nothing more than
paper. Likewise, chromosomes provide a genetic plan for human life, but they are not human.
In contrast, pro-life supporters and I are opposed to abortions because we believe that human life begins at conception.
The moment a man’s sperm comes into contact with a woman’s egg to form a zygote, life has begun. According to Facts on
File News Services, “Abortion: When Does Human Life Begin?” issued in 2005, an interesting perspective that pro-life
advocates have is that all living things grow and develop. A child does not react to situations or look the same as he or she will
when they are an adult. As the child grows and develops, they become more intelligent, mature, tall, muscular, curvy, etc. due
to the fact that they are living. The same concept applies to a zygote growing and developing in the womb. Although it does
not look or act like a baby at the time of or right after birth, the zygote like every other living thing, must have time to grow and
develop. Also, a tool used in science to identify certain species is to examine how many chromosomes they have. Humans
are the only living species that have forty-six chromosomes, which the baby possesses from the time it is conceived until birth.
They are more than a guideline or blueprints to the future human, they are what makes the fetus a human in the first place.
Therefore, the baby is a human which has life, not pre-human as pro-choice advocates believe.
To prove that the baby is alive, many pro-life advocates support the mandatory ultrasound required prior to obtaining an
abortion. According to Issues and Controversies Facts on File News Services, “Abortion: Mandatory Ultrasounds,” of May
2012, abortions are a very serious procedure that requires the woman and doctor to be well informed prior to obtaining one.
For the woman, the ultrasound would provide a way for her to form a connection with her unborn child by actually seeing it
and hearing its heart beat. It is hard to deny something is alive when it is moving and has a heart pumping blood to the rest of
its body. The ultrasound would also provide a way for the doctor to become well informed concerning exactly how far along
the pregnancy is to determine what type of abortion procedure would be the safest for the woman.
In addition to the pro-life and the pro-choice views concerning when human life begins, a debatable topic of fetal homicide
laws come into practice. According to Facts on File News Services, “Fetal Homicide Laws”, due to the Unborn Victims of
Violence Act of 2004 signed by President George Bush, it is a crime to injure or kill a fetus during the commission of a violent
federal crime against a pregnant woman. I do not understand how the murder of a woman that is pregnant counts as the
manslaughter of two people, instead of just one, when aborting a baby is not considered murder at all. However, supporters of
this law, state that it is for women who are victims of violent crime. Therefore, it does not affect the rights of women to receive
an abortion. On the other hand, critics of this law claim that it is jeopardizing the rights of women because it is giving pro-life
activists a leg to stand on by the government recognizing the fetus as a life with rights. Rather than giving the fetus rights, they
believe that only the mother’s legal status should be elevated. In addition to what supporters of the law claim, violent action
resulting in a miscarriage or the death of both the mother and the baby involves “third-party criminal activity” whereas the
standard abortion is only the mother’s choice (“Fetal Homicide Laws”). In order to end the confusion of why one termination of
the pregnancy is considered murder and not the other, the fetus should be given rights in both situations. A criminal should not
get away with murdering a woman’s baby, it should count as manslaughter. Likewise, a selfish woman should not get away
with terminating her pregnancy because the baby never got the chance to defend itself. Nevertheless, fetal homicide laws are
still very debatable because it demonstrates how the relevance of the fetus’ life is based off of nothing other than
circumstances. Similarly, as stated in a “Public Opinion on Abortions” sidebar in 1995 from Facts on File News Services, in
some cases, people believe abortions are okay and the mother’s choice, while in others they are wrong and immoral. Thus,
proving the opinions of when life begins are primarily based on circumstances.
The controversy over abortions does not stop concerning when the life of the baby begins. Pro-life and pro-choice
supporters also do not see eye to eye concerning the affects an abortion has on the mother. The argument of both sides is
clear. Pro-choice supporters say that abortions are simple procedures which cause no harm to the woman, cause relief, and
freedom. There are some doctors that support these claims. According to “Abortion Safer than Childbirth, British Doctors’
Group Wants Women to Know” written by Delia Lloyd, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) has
written two recommendations to doctors, nurses, and any other medical professional who takes part in the woman’s
pregnancy to follow. The RCOG wants medical professionals to tell women the negative effects of both abortions, since it is
mandatory, and childbirth. Since women must make an informed choice regarding whether they are going to have the abortion
or not, then they need to be well informed of the dangers of childbirth as well. The second recommendation of this group is to
tell women that abortions are not what trigger psychological problems, even though psychological problems are more evident
in women who have had abortions. Thus the RCOG are encouraging abortions under false information. Since it has been
scientifically proven that women who have had abortions demonstrate more psychological problems than women who have
not had an abortion, women should not be told otherwise in order to sugarcoat the woman’s decision when considering to
terminate the pregnancy.
On the other hand, pro-life supporters claim that abortions cause regret, depression, are dangerous, and cause
complications in later pregnancies. According to “Mayo Clinic Doctor Admits Abortions Hurt Women, Cause Premature Births”
written by Steven Ertelt a Life News editor in 2009, a doctor from Mayo Clinic discussed how abortions are dangerous for
women because they affect subsequent pregnancies. The obstetrician, Roger Harms, M.D., states that surgical abortions can
cause the cervix to become weak as well as leave a lot of scar tissue in the uterus. Both of these factors would cause it to be
very difficult for a woman to conceive again as well as be able to carry the baby to full term (Ertelt). So not only does the baby
from the abortion reap havoc do to the mother’s decision, but future children of the woman could have life long complications.
Another doctor by the name of Robbert van Oppenraaij, stated research has proven that a woman who has an abortion is
twenty percent more likely to have a premature birth in her next pregnancy. Also stated in his research, there is a ninety-
percent chance for her following pregnancy to result in a premature birth after two or more abortions. Brent Rooney, a
researcher, also stated how because of the weak cervix, in future pregnancies if the baby is not carried to full term, the more
premature the infant is, the higher it’s risk for cerebral palsy is (Ertelt). Therefore, abortions do not only cause the mother harm
by potentially making it harder to conceive again, it also poses a risk to the woman’s future children, making it an extremely
selfish act.
In contrast to what pro-choice supporters believe, it is crucial for women to be informed of the psychological problems they
will endure. Based on a survey performed by David Reardon, a Ph.D. at Elliot Institute referred to as “Psychological Reactions
Reported After Abortion,” women who had at least one abortion as a teen reported that they dealt with nightmares, guilt, fear
of punishment from God, thoughts about the child they could have had, didn’t have professional counseling, the memory of
the abortion did not fade with time, and many more reactions. In addition, women who had more than one abortion reported
experiencing relief afterwards, difficulty in maintaining personal relationships, fear of God, fear of another abortion, nervous
breakdowns, feelings of anxiety, and much more. This proves how abortions do have an effect on women because it was a
survey of women who have had abortions, not groups of people trying to fight for women’s rights.
The common factor in all women who have either considered an abortion andfollowed through with it or decided not to is
fear. Fear is the most common emotion to effect a woman after an abortion as well as before one. Women who have
considered an abortion but didn’t do it fear childbirth, their finances, how they are going to raise a child, judgment from others
if they are unmarried, and many other things. On the other hand, women who have followed through with an abortion fear
punishment from God for what they have done, their terminated baby, the unknown, the abortion procedure’s safety and future
complications in other pregnancies, and much more. In some cases, the doctors have a large part in initiating fear into
women. My grandmother, who is pro-life, was told by her doctor she needed to have an abortion for her safety. At the time,
she was pregnant with my uncle, her fourth child, and was scared out of her mind. Because of her beliefs, she did not go
through with the abortion. However, fear haunted her because of what the doctor had told her. Regardless of what the doctors
said, she did not have any abnormal complications in her pregnancy that would have required an abortion in the first place,
and my uncle was born healthy and normal. If she would have listened to the doctor, she would have missed out on another
blessing which now has three children of his own.
Last, pro-life and pro-choice activists differ in their opinions concerning how politics and religion play a role in abortions.
Generally, republican leaders and supporters are more conservative, thus making them pro-life. Whereas democrat leaders
and supporters are usually more liberal and believe in pro-choice. Recently, there was a huge election in the United States
between democrat candidate Barack Obama and republican candidate Mitt Romney. One major factor that influenced the
American people who to vote for were the candidate’s views on abortions.
There are also a numerous amount of laws which affect abortions. Although the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court case made
it to where any woman could obtain an abortion legally, minors must receive parental consent in many states throughout
the United States. According to Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, “Abortion: Parental Consent,” the laws are intended to
foster parent-child relationships, protect the rights of parents, and deter young women from obtaining abortions or becoming
pregnant in the first place. However, the laws have been proven to have very little effect on the teens’ decision to have an
abortion. Since only some states require parental consent, teenagers go through desperate measures by traveling to different
states in order to obtain an abortion without their parents knowing about it. Many medical professionals are against parental
consent laws because they believe that the teens should have the right to confidential healthcare just like someone who is
over the age of eighteen.
In addition to parental consent laws, there is a law concerning partial-birth abortions. The Partial-Birth abortion Ban Act of
2003 was signed into action by President George Bush. This law bans abortions during the third trimester known as dilation
and extraction. According to the database, Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, “Abortions: Late Term/Partial-Birth,” pro-
choice activists are very happy with the partial-birth ban. It is the first step to banning all forms of abortions. However, pro-
choice activists see this ban as a major threat to the rights of women. Although partial-birth abortions only account for 1.3
percent of the total number of abortions performed in the United States, it is a step toward success for anti-abortionists and a
step back for pro-abortionists. This ban supports my beliefs concerning the immorality of abortions, especially in such a
developed baby.
Religion also plays a significant role in abortions. Pro-choice advocates tend to contradict pro-life Christian beliefs, based
on “Abortion: When Does Human Life Begin?,” by stating when Genesis chapter one verse twenty-seven talks about humans
being created in the image of God, it isn’t referring to the physical characteristics such as our appearance or biological make-
up. Instead, it is referring to our abilities to love others, reason, and self-awareness, all which are not characteristics that a
fetus.
On the other hand, although not every pro-life advocate is a Christian, many Christians are pro-life. They base their beliefs
concerning abortions on certain scriptures found in the Bible. In Psalm chapter 139 and verse thirteen it says, “For you
created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” This verse is from the point of view of a psalmist, David,
who is talking to God. David was a man after God’s own heart, therefore can be inferred to have had a lot of God’s wisdom
and understanding. David points out that God created us and knew everything about us from the time we were in our mother’s
womb. Also in Jeremiah chapter twenty-nine verse eleven it says, ““For I know the thoughts I have for you” declares the Lord
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”” Therefore, Christians are against
abortions because God has a plan for that infant from the time it is conceived. In addition, in Exodus chapter twenty verse
thirteen it states, “You shall not murder.” Since many pro-life, Christian activists believe that life begins at contraception, an
abortion which is ending the life of the fetus, is considered murder. Because the Bible says not to murder, then abortions
should not take place according to these supporters.
Thus, there are many differences of opinion concerning abortions. I believe that it is more than a choice to be made, but a
child’s life to be saved. I am for the rights of women and believe that they should have control over their bodies, however I am
also for the rights of the unborn baby. They have just as much of a right to live as any other human being. There are other
options for women to consider rather than abortions. For instance, adoption is a wonderful choice. A couple that may be
unable to conceive a child of their own, or just want to adopt, would then have that opportunity to be blessed with a little
miracle.
Works Cited
"Abortion." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In context.
Web. 24 Sep. 2012.
"Abortion: Late-Term/Partial-Birth." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing
Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2012.
"Abortion: Mandatory Ultrasounds." Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 7 May 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2012
"Abortion: Parental Consent." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing
Viewpoints In Context. Web. 24 Sep. 2012.
"Abortion: When Does Human Life Begin?" Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File
News Services, 22 Aug. 2005. Web. 30 Sept. 2012.
Ertelt, Steven. "Mayo Clinic Doctor Admits Abortions Hurt Women, Cause Premature Births." LifeNews. N.p. 20 Aug. 2009.
Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
“Fetal Homicide Laws." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts
"History of Abortion." National Abortion Federation. National Abortion Federation, 2010. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
Lloyd, Delia. “Abortion Safer Than Childbirth, British Doctors' Group Wants Women to Know.” Politics Daily. AOL Inc, 2011.
Web. 14 Oct 2012.
“Pregnancy Week by Week.” Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 2012. Web. 13 Oct 2012
"Public Opinion on Abortion (sidebar)." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News
Services, 8 Dec. 1995. Web. 1 Oct. 2012.
Reardon, David. "Psychological Reactions Reported After Abortion." Abortion Facts. Elliot Institute. 1994. Web. 6 Oct. 2012.
"Types of Abortion Procedures." American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, 2012. Web. 6 Oct.
2012.
Professor McGriff
Comp II
26 November 2012
3,584 words
Abortions
Abortions are one of the many things that everyone has an opinion on. As defined by the 2012 Merriam-Webster dictionary,
an Encyclopedia Britannica Company, an abortion is, “the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or
closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus as a spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of
gestation--miscarriage, the induced expulsion of a human fetus, or the expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to
infection at any time before completion of pregnancy.” Abortions have always been and will probably always be a controversial
topic in which everyone will not agree upon. In the midst of the controversy, two groups have emerged. These groups are
referred to as pro-life and pro-choice. According to Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, pro-life supporters claim that life
begins at conception, therefore, abortion at any stage in the pregnancy is murder. They believe that life is valuable and the
life of the unborn baby has the same rights as the mother. Pro-choice supporters, on the other hand, claim that it is the
woman’s right to choose what she does with her body. These pro-abortionists claim that anti-abortionists are truly against the
rights of women and free choice rather than the termination of the fetus. Pro-life and pro-choice advocates differ in many of
their opinions, specifically, concerning when life begins, affects abortions have on the mother, and how politics and religion
play a role in abortions.
In order to fully understand any topic, a complete explanation is required. Therefore, the history of abortions and different
procedures used are no exception. Abortions have been around for thousands of years. However, in the eighteen hundreds
abortions in the United States became illegal. Due to the lack of medical education, procedures and surgeries such as
abortions were very dangerous. As medical advancements were made, women still had to rely on back ally abortions which
usually resulted in the harm of thousands of women. Abortions remained illegal, despite the medical advancements largely
impart to the fact that physicians did not want to share their patients with other practitioners. The American Medical
Association stated that abortions were wrong and unsafe. Therefore, according to the National Abortion Federation, abortions
were then made into a “physicians-only” practice because they could be performed legally in order to save the woman’s life. It
was not until 1973 that abortions were made legal in the United States due to a Supreme Court decision in Roe vs Wade by
ruling that “Americans’ right to privacy included the right of a woman to decide whether to have children, and the right of a
woman and her doctor to make that decision without state interference”. Today, there are restrictions in order to better
educate the women concerning what they are about to do and parental consent for minors. However, abortions are one
hundred percent legal and cannot be denied to any adult, woman.
Abortions are performed in a myriad of different procedures which are based upon how far along into the pregnancy a
woman is. During the first trimester of pregnancy, there are two options. A woman can either have a medical abortion, within
the first nine weeks, or a surgical abortion. According to the American Pregnancy Association, two types of medical abortions
include: Methotrexate and Mioprostol (MTX) as well as Mifepristone and Misoprotol. The MTX medication combination is not
as commonly used as Mifepristone and Misoprotol which is many people in the United states know as RU-486, the abortion
pill, and Mifeprex. Two surgical procedures used during the first trimester include: Manual vacuum aspiration, and aspiration,
which are performed all the way up to 16 weeks of pregnancy. To help put things in perspective, leading up to the 16th week
of pregnancy the fetus’ bones begin to harden, internal organs begin to function, and even the sex can be determined. During
the second trimester, three types of procedures include: Dilation and curettage, dilation and evacuation, and the induction
abortion. Dilation and curettage abortion and aspiration are the same procedure. During the third trimester, there are many
legal complications because some states ban any form of an abortion procedure except in certain medical situations.
However, the procedures that can be performed include: Induction abortion and dilation and extraction. Dilation and
extraction, however, is now illegal in the United States in part to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1995 (“American
Pregnancy Association”). Some pro-choice advocates believe that this ban is a step in the wrong direction in the fight for
women’s rights. Regardless, by the third trimester, the fetus is nearly fully developed, including it’s sense of pain, so this
procedure is determined cruel and unusual.
The opinion concerning when life begins has a detrimental effect on a person’s views concerning whether they are for or
against abortions. Pro-choice supporters which are for abortions, or the mother’s choice, believe that the fetus is considered
alive when it can sustain life on its own. Some of these advocates believe that viability is around the twenty-third or twenty-
fourth week of pregnancy because the brain has developed to a point where it is able to control parts of the body. However,
others believe that viability does not occur until after birth when the child is able to supply its own needs, such as oxygen,
without its mother supplying the nutrients directly, such as in the womb. According to “Abortion: When Does Human Life
Begin?”, a bug has more characteristics of being a living creature than a fetus before eight weeks of pregnancy, which is when
most women seek abortions. In other words, if a man or woman kills an insect, such as a roach, they have just killed
something that has more brain activity than a fetus prior to eight weeks gestation. However, the murder of insects is accepted,
whereas the termination of a pregnancy is not by pro-lifers. To counter what pro-life supporters believe about chromosomes
proving proof that the fetus is human, pro-choice activists say that chromosomes are not the only components that determine
a human life. Again, “Abortion: When Does Human Life Begin?” states that human chromosomes are similar to the blueprints
of a building. The blueprints provide a guide as to how the building will be built. However, the blueprints are nothing more than
paper. Likewise, chromosomes provide a genetic plan for human life, but they are not human.
In contrast, pro-life supporters and I are opposed to abortions because we believe that human life begins at conception.
The moment a man’s sperm comes into contact with a woman’s egg to form a zygote, life has begun. According to Facts on
File News Services, “Abortion: When Does Human Life Begin?” issued in 2005, an interesting perspective that pro-life
advocates have is that all living things grow and develop. A child does not react to situations or look the same as he or she will
when they are an adult. As the child grows and develops, they become more intelligent, mature, tall, muscular, curvy, etc. due
to the fact that they are living. The same concept applies to a zygote growing and developing in the womb. Although it does
not look or act like a baby at the time of or right after birth, the zygote like every other living thing, must have time to grow and
develop. Also, a tool used in science to identify certain species is to examine how many chromosomes they have. Humans
are the only living species that have forty-six chromosomes, which the baby possesses from the time it is conceived until birth.
They are more than a guideline or blueprints to the future human, they are what makes the fetus a human in the first place.
Therefore, the baby is a human which has life, not pre-human as pro-choice advocates believe.
To prove that the baby is alive, many pro-life advocates support the mandatory ultrasound required prior to obtaining an
abortion. According to Issues and Controversies Facts on File News Services, “Abortion: Mandatory Ultrasounds,” of May
2012, abortions are a very serious procedure that requires the woman and doctor to be well informed prior to obtaining one.
For the woman, the ultrasound would provide a way for her to form a connection with her unborn child by actually seeing it
and hearing its heart beat. It is hard to deny something is alive when it is moving and has a heart pumping blood to the rest of
its body. The ultrasound would also provide a way for the doctor to become well informed concerning exactly how far along
the pregnancy is to determine what type of abortion procedure would be the safest for the woman.
In addition to the pro-life and the pro-choice views concerning when human life begins, a debatable topic of fetal homicide
laws come into practice. According to Facts on File News Services, “Fetal Homicide Laws”, due to the Unborn Victims of
Violence Act of 2004 signed by President George Bush, it is a crime to injure or kill a fetus during the commission of a violent
federal crime against a pregnant woman. I do not understand how the murder of a woman that is pregnant counts as the
manslaughter of two people, instead of just one, when aborting a baby is not considered murder at all. However, supporters of
this law, state that it is for women who are victims of violent crime. Therefore, it does not affect the rights of women to receive
an abortion. On the other hand, critics of this law claim that it is jeopardizing the rights of women because it is giving pro-life
activists a leg to stand on by the government recognizing the fetus as a life with rights. Rather than giving the fetus rights, they
believe that only the mother’s legal status should be elevated. In addition to what supporters of the law claim, violent action
resulting in a miscarriage or the death of both the mother and the baby involves “third-party criminal activity” whereas the
standard abortion is only the mother’s choice (“Fetal Homicide Laws”). In order to end the confusion of why one termination of
the pregnancy is considered murder and not the other, the fetus should be given rights in both situations. A criminal should not
get away with murdering a woman’s baby, it should count as manslaughter. Likewise, a selfish woman should not get away
with terminating her pregnancy because the baby never got the chance to defend itself. Nevertheless, fetal homicide laws are
still very debatable because it demonstrates how the relevance of the fetus’ life is based off of nothing other than
circumstances. Similarly, as stated in a “Public Opinion on Abortions” sidebar in 1995 from Facts on File News Services, in
some cases, people believe abortions are okay and the mother’s choice, while in others they are wrong and immoral. Thus,
proving the opinions of when life begins are primarily based on circumstances.
The controversy over abortions does not stop concerning when the life of the baby begins. Pro-life and pro-choice
supporters also do not see eye to eye concerning the affects an abortion has on the mother. The argument of both sides is
clear. Pro-choice supporters say that abortions are simple procedures which cause no harm to the woman, cause relief, and
freedom. There are some doctors that support these claims. According to “Abortion Safer than Childbirth, British Doctors’
Group Wants Women to Know” written by Delia Lloyd, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) has
written two recommendations to doctors, nurses, and any other medical professional who takes part in the woman’s
pregnancy to follow. The RCOG wants medical professionals to tell women the negative effects of both abortions, since it is
mandatory, and childbirth. Since women must make an informed choice regarding whether they are going to have the abortion
or not, then they need to be well informed of the dangers of childbirth as well. The second recommendation of this group is to
tell women that abortions are not what trigger psychological problems, even though psychological problems are more evident
in women who have had abortions. Thus the RCOG are encouraging abortions under false information. Since it has been
scientifically proven that women who have had abortions demonstrate more psychological problems than women who have
not had an abortion, women should not be told otherwise in order to sugarcoat the woman’s decision when considering to
terminate the pregnancy.
On the other hand, pro-life supporters claim that abortions cause regret, depression, are dangerous, and cause
complications in later pregnancies. According to “Mayo Clinic Doctor Admits Abortions Hurt Women, Cause Premature Births”
written by Steven Ertelt a Life News editor in 2009, a doctor from Mayo Clinic discussed how abortions are dangerous for
women because they affect subsequent pregnancies. The obstetrician, Roger Harms, M.D., states that surgical abortions can
cause the cervix to become weak as well as leave a lot of scar tissue in the uterus. Both of these factors would cause it to be
very difficult for a woman to conceive again as well as be able to carry the baby to full term (Ertelt). So not only does the baby
from the abortion reap havoc do to the mother’s decision, but future children of the woman could have life long complications.
Another doctor by the name of Robbert van Oppenraaij, stated research has proven that a woman who has an abortion is
twenty percent more likely to have a premature birth in her next pregnancy. Also stated in his research, there is a ninety-
percent chance for her following pregnancy to result in a premature birth after two or more abortions. Brent Rooney, a
researcher, also stated how because of the weak cervix, in future pregnancies if the baby is not carried to full term, the more
premature the infant is, the higher it’s risk for cerebral palsy is (Ertelt). Therefore, abortions do not only cause the mother harm
by potentially making it harder to conceive again, it also poses a risk to the woman’s future children, making it an extremely
selfish act.
In contrast to what pro-choice supporters believe, it is crucial for women to be informed of the psychological problems they
will endure. Based on a survey performed by David Reardon, a Ph.D. at Elliot Institute referred to as “Psychological Reactions
Reported After Abortion,” women who had at least one abortion as a teen reported that they dealt with nightmares, guilt, fear
of punishment from God, thoughts about the child they could have had, didn’t have professional counseling, the memory of
the abortion did not fade with time, and many more reactions. In addition, women who had more than one abortion reported
experiencing relief afterwards, difficulty in maintaining personal relationships, fear of God, fear of another abortion, nervous
breakdowns, feelings of anxiety, and much more. This proves how abortions do have an effect on women because it was a
survey of women who have had abortions, not groups of people trying to fight for women’s rights.
The common factor in all women who have either considered an abortion andfollowed through with it or decided not to is
fear. Fear is the most common emotion to effect a woman after an abortion as well as before one. Women who have
considered an abortion but didn’t do it fear childbirth, their finances, how they are going to raise a child, judgment from others
if they are unmarried, and many other things. On the other hand, women who have followed through with an abortion fear
punishment from God for what they have done, their terminated baby, the unknown, the abortion procedure’s safety and future
complications in other pregnancies, and much more. In some cases, the doctors have a large part in initiating fear into
women. My grandmother, who is pro-life, was told by her doctor she needed to have an abortion for her safety. At the time,
she was pregnant with my uncle, her fourth child, and was scared out of her mind. Because of her beliefs, she did not go
through with the abortion. However, fear haunted her because of what the doctor had told her. Regardless of what the doctors
said, she did not have any abnormal complications in her pregnancy that would have required an abortion in the first place,
and my uncle was born healthy and normal. If she would have listened to the doctor, she would have missed out on another
blessing which now has three children of his own.
Last, pro-life and pro-choice activists differ in their opinions concerning how politics and religion play a role in abortions.
Generally, republican leaders and supporters are more conservative, thus making them pro-life. Whereas democrat leaders
and supporters are usually more liberal and believe in pro-choice. Recently, there was a huge election in the United States
between democrat candidate Barack Obama and republican candidate Mitt Romney. One major factor that influenced the
American people who to vote for were the candidate’s views on abortions.
There are also a numerous amount of laws which affect abortions. Although the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court case made
it to where any woman could obtain an abortion legally, minors must receive parental consent in many states throughout
the United States. According to Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, “Abortion: Parental Consent,” the laws are intended to
foster parent-child relationships, protect the rights of parents, and deter young women from obtaining abortions or becoming
pregnant in the first place. However, the laws have been proven to have very little effect on the teens’ decision to have an
abortion. Since only some states require parental consent, teenagers go through desperate measures by traveling to different
states in order to obtain an abortion without their parents knowing about it. Many medical professionals are against parental
consent laws because they believe that the teens should have the right to confidential healthcare just like someone who is
over the age of eighteen.
In addition to parental consent laws, there is a law concerning partial-birth abortions. The Partial-Birth abortion Ban Act of
2003 was signed into action by President George Bush. This law bans abortions during the third trimester known as dilation
and extraction. According to the database, Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, “Abortions: Late Term/Partial-Birth,” pro-
choice activists are very happy with the partial-birth ban. It is the first step to banning all forms of abortions. However, pro-
choice activists see this ban as a major threat to the rights of women. Although partial-birth abortions only account for 1.3
percent of the total number of abortions performed in the United States, it is a step toward success for anti-abortionists and a
step back for pro-abortionists. This ban supports my beliefs concerning the immorality of abortions, especially in such a
developed baby.
Religion also plays a significant role in abortions. Pro-choice advocates tend to contradict pro-life Christian beliefs, based
on “Abortion: When Does Human Life Begin?,” by stating when Genesis chapter one verse twenty-seven talks about humans
being created in the image of God, it isn’t referring to the physical characteristics such as our appearance or biological make-
up. Instead, it is referring to our abilities to love others, reason, and self-awareness, all which are not characteristics that a
fetus.
On the other hand, although not every pro-life advocate is a Christian, many Christians are pro-life. They base their beliefs
concerning abortions on certain scriptures found in the Bible. In Psalm chapter 139 and verse thirteen it says, “For you
created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” This verse is from the point of view of a psalmist, David,
who is talking to God. David was a man after God’s own heart, therefore can be inferred to have had a lot of God’s wisdom
and understanding. David points out that God created us and knew everything about us from the time we were in our mother’s
womb. Also in Jeremiah chapter twenty-nine verse eleven it says, ““For I know the thoughts I have for you” declares the Lord
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”” Therefore, Christians are against
abortions because God has a plan for that infant from the time it is conceived. In addition, in Exodus chapter twenty verse
thirteen it states, “You shall not murder.” Since many pro-life, Christian activists believe that life begins at contraception, an
abortion which is ending the life of the fetus, is considered murder. Because the Bible says not to murder, then abortions
should not take place according to these supporters.
Thus, there are many differences of opinion concerning abortions. I believe that it is more than a choice to be made, but a
child’s life to be saved. I am for the rights of women and believe that they should have control over their bodies, however I am
also for the rights of the unborn baby. They have just as much of a right to live as any other human being. There are other
options for women to consider rather than abortions. For instance, adoption is a wonderful choice. A couple that may be
unable to conceive a child of their own, or just want to adopt, would then have that opportunity to be blessed with a little
miracle.
Works Cited
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"Abortion: Mandatory Ultrasounds." Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 7 May 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2012
"Abortion: Parental Consent." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing
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"Abortion: When Does Human Life Begin?" Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File
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“Fetal Homicide Laws." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts
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Lloyd, Delia. “Abortion Safer Than Childbirth, British Doctors' Group Wants Women to Know.” Politics Daily. AOL Inc, 2011.
Web. 14 Oct 2012.
“Pregnancy Week by Week.” Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 2012. Web. 13 Oct 2012
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Reardon, David. "Psychological Reactions Reported After Abortion." Abortion Facts. Elliot Institute. 1994. Web. 6 Oct. 2012.
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