Abortion, right or wrong?

Soraya Peña

Critical Thinking

Dr. A. Cwiak

Friday, June 30th, 2006

Abortion, right or wrong?

Because the issue of abortion is emotive, pro-choice and pro-life supporters argue on what constitutes an abortion and the legal ramifications that such a definition would have. Therefore several definitions have been put forward:
Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage): An abortion due to accidental trauma or natural causes.
Induced abortion: An abortion deliberately caused. Induced abortions are further subcategorized into therapeutic abortions and elective abortions: Therapeutic abortion: To save the life of the pregnant woman, to preserve the woman’s physical or mental health, to terminate a pregnancy that would result in a child born with a congenital disorder which would be fatal or associated with significant morbidity, to selectively reduce the number of fetuses to lessen health risks associated with multiple pregnancy.
Elective abortion: An abortion performed for any other reason.

The incidence of and reasons for induced abortion vary in regions in which abortion is generally permitted. It has been estimated approximately 46 million abortions are performed globally each year. Of these, 26 million are said to occur in places where abortion is legal; the other 20 million happen where it is illegal. Some countries, such as Belgium and the Netherlands, have a low rate of induced abortion, while others like Russia and Vietnam have a comparatively high rate. Early term surgical abortion is a simple procedure. When performed before the 16th week by competent doctors or in some states, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants- it is safer than childbirth. {en.wikipedia.org-Abortion}

The controversy swirling about the first question can be explained by the fact that different people use different standards of measurement by which to define “human life”. Some would define it thorough a theological or religious faith belief. Others define “human life” by using biologic, scientific facts. {abortionfacts.com- Human Life}

The question of when human life begins is a scientific question. Therefore, we should look to scientific facts rather than philosophic theories or religious beliefs for the answer. We must conclude then that each individual human life begins at the beginning, at fertilization, and that human life is a continuum from that time until death. {abortionfacts.com- Why Can’t We Love Them}

Ever since its discovery 150 years ago, both words “different from fertilization” were used to mean the union of sperm and ovum. In the 1960’s the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American College of OB & GYN agreed to attempt to redefine “conception” to mean implantation. “Conception is the implantation of the blastocyst. It is not synonymous with fertilization”. {GYN Terminology, “Philadelphia: F.A. Davis, 1972} This made it possible to call an intrauterine device a “contraceptive” even though it was an abortifacient. But in 1982, lengthy hearings in the U.S. Senate and the two-volume report of the Human Life Bill defined “conception” and used it exclusively to mean the time of union of sperm and ovum. {“Human Life Bill”, U.S. Senate Common Judiciary, Subcommittee of Separation of Powers, 97th Congress, S-158, April-June 1982, Serial No. J-97-16}

Once a woman is pregnant, barring a miscarriage or an induced abortion, she’ll have a baby. Therefore, her only choice is, “How is the baby going to come out?” Will he or she come out alive and crying, or dead in pieces? For many women this is an agonizing decision. Truly her choice is between life and death- a live baby or a dead one. But, for many women, it doesn’t end with the abortion. It can impact the rest of her life. There can be physical complications. Perhaps more important, for many, is the emotional aftermath that can result.

Should we kill an innocent unborn baby for the crime of his father? Do we punish other criminals by killing their children? Besides, such laws pose major problems in reporting, and also women have been known to report falsely.
Many nations report only one figure for women who die. They clump together women’s deaths from spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), legally induced abortion and illegally induced abortion. Such statistics are no help. The United States, since the 1940s, has reported such deaths separately, so we know the number of deaths from illegal abortions. Now if we knew how many illegal abortions it took to cause death, we could easily calculate the total number of illegal abortions. The problem is, no one has the slightest idea how many it took, and so we’re back to where we started from. {abortionfacts.com- “Illegal Abortions”}

Maternal mortality also includes deaths from caesarean section. To compare comparable risks, one would have to compare the risk of being pregnant in the first three months with the risk of having an abortion within the first three months. When compared in this fashion, abortion is many times more dangerous. Actually, it is probable that induced abortion is more dangerous than carrying a baby to term. {Maternal Mortality Surveillance “79-“86, Center for Disease Control, M&M Weekly report July ’91, Vol. 40, No. SS-1}

A second thought: Women resent that the value of a woman is sometimes determined by whether a man wants her. Yet radical feminists insist that the value of an unborn boy or girl is to be determined by whether a woman wants him or her. To use being wanted by someone as a measure of whether a human life is allowed to live is a frightening concept. Its converse logically awaits us- that the unwanted can be eliminated.

ABORTION IS LEGAL.
It was made legal throughout the US in 1973 by a Supreme Court decision known as Roe v Wade. This decision is based on a woman’s right to privacy regarding medical matters including family planning. The Supreme Court allows some restrictions on the practice of abortion. These restrictions vary from state to state.
ABORTION IS SAFE.
Since 1973, abortion has become the most often performed outpatient surgery. Thousands of doctors across the country have learned to provide abortion using the safest medical techniques. Today, abortion is about 10 times safer than giving birth.
MAKING YOUR OWN DECISION . . .
Becoming a parent is a very important decision that will affect the rest of your life. It’s essential to make your own decision. No one else has the right to tell you what to do. Listen to your own heart.
If you - or someone you know - is pregnant, it’s a good idea to talk about it with someone you trust. Talk with a friend, parent, teacher, relative, or call a clinic. (In Washington, it is NOT necessary to have your parent's permission.)
Once you have made your decision, believe in yourself for making a good decision. Abortion is the right of every woman.

WHAT ABOUT PARENTS?
In Washington State, parent’s permission is NOT required for a minor to obtain abortion, pregnancy tests, birth control methods, or tests for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. It is also not necessary to notify a parent before or after the procedure or test.
When teens feel they cannot tell their parents, they have compelling reasons, such as mentally ill or chemically dependent parents, family violence or incest. Laws cannot mandate good family communications. Desperate teens seek illegal abortion or even commit suicide rather than tell their parents. Parental consent laws are bad medicine and bad legislation. Responsible parents open the doors of communication themselves; they do not expect government to do it for them. Parental consent/notice laws are a form of parents abdicating responsibility to the government to curb the decisions teens may make.
STATE ASSISTANCE
In Washington State, if you are pregnant and low income, you may qualify for "Medical Assistance" -- regardless of your age, and regardless of whether you want to give birth or get an abortion. Contact your local DSHS, to sign up for Medical Assistance for pregnant women.
COST
The cost of an abortion depends on the stage of pregnancy and which clinic is providing services. First trimester procedures run about $450-800. Second trimester procedures cost $600-6000. Many insurance plans cover abortion. In Washington, abortion is covered by the state medical assistance. State Medicaid coverage varies from state to state.
INSURANCE
Abortion is covered under many insurance plans. The clinic can help by verifying coverage and other paperwork. It may not be necessary to obtain a referral from a primary care physician before setting up an abortion appointment.
RISKS
Abortion is very safe. It is safer than giving birth and safer than receiving an injection of penicillin. Like all medical procedures, there are some risks with abortion, but the risk is comparatively minimal.
Potential complications from the abortion procedure include
incomplete abortion - which means the procedure needs to be repeated (a minor complication)
infection - which is easily treated with antibiotics
perforation of the uterine wall - for which the treatment may be nothing, to surgical repair in a hospital, depending on the severity.
Less than 1% of all abortion patients experience a major complication, such as serious pelvic infection, hemorrhage requiring a blood transfusion or unintended major surgery. The risks associated with abortion increases with the length of pregnancy. Hysterectomy is exceedingly rare.
The risk of death associated with childbirth is about 10 times as high as that associated with abortion.
Unless you have a complication during or after the abortion, abortion has no impact on your future ability to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term.
{www.fwhc.com/abortion-What do you want to know?}

References:
· en.wikipedia.org-Abortion}
· {abortionfacts.com- Human Life}
· {abortionfacts.com- Why Can’t We Love Them}
· GYN Terminology, “Philadelphia: F.A. Davis, 1972}
{“Human Life Bill”, U.S. Senate Common Judiciary, Subcommittee of Separation of Powers, 97th Congress, S-158, April-June 1982, Serial No. J-97-16}
· {abortionfacts.com- “Illegal Abortions”}
{Maternal Mortality Surveillance “79-“86, Center for Disease Control, M&M Weekly report July ’91, Vol. 40, No. SS-1}
· {www.fwhc.com/abortion-What do you want to know?}
· International Dictionary of Medicine and Biology. John Wiley & Sons, 1986. Volume 1. Dorland’s Illustrated and Medical Dictionary. W.B. Saunders Company, 2000. 29th edition.
· The First Nine Months of Life. By Geraldine Lux Flanagan. Simon & Shuster, 1962. Second edition.