Abortion: an overview of the contoversy - Essay Example

Abortion is one such issue that is a matter central to many discussions and debates. It is a subject of concern and it is viewed from different perspectives by different individuals. Many people justify abortion on the basis of the fact that the choice of abortion lies in the hands of the mother but many ethical groups argue against this issue. They present with the fact that abortion is basically the killing of a living being and hence it is morally unjustified. Abortion is an important subject which has sparked many controversies and there are proponents as well as opponents of the issue who provide with their own arguments to support their stand.

The rise in the population of the world has resulted in the utilization of different methods of contraception. The usage of these methods is to prevent unwanted pregnancies and childbirths. Abortion is also a technique utilized for the avoidance of an unwanted pregnancy. Abortion is defined as the ending of the pregnancy by choice which results in the death of the products of conception (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). This procedure is legalized in the United States. Despite of this legalization, the procedure is losing its popularity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, there was a subsequent reduction of a percentage of 3.8 in the ratio of abortion between the years 1999 and 2000. (Elam-Evans et al 2003). Furthermore, the younger generation has also shown its support for the anti-abortion laws and youths in the United States have expressed of the fact that the procedure of abortion should be legally unjustified until and unless the pregnancy becomes life threatening for the mother.

Abortion has been viewed as a negative procedure which tends to lead to the death of a potential life and it is argued to be equivalent to a murder (Hayt, 2003). Abortion has become a very controversial issue in the United States. There has been much negativity against the doctors who perform this procedure and extreme events have been reported which include the killing of Dr. George Tiller owing to the fact that he performed abortions during the last three months of pregnancy. Such untoward incidents highlight the fact that the legalization of abortion has started to be questioned (Simon 2010).

The opponents of abortion present with the fact that at the instance that an embryo is attached to the uterus, it possesses a life and a soul. They explain that if this embryo is not disturbed, it has the capability of developing into a human being. Thus to kill this fetus is actually an act of murder. It has also been proven that as soon as the embryo is formed, it possesses a proper DNA sequence which explains the fact that it is living and viable. Religious groups present with the fact that it is a sin to choose for abortion as it is God who leads to the creation of the fetus in the womb and hence abortion is basically working against the law of God.

It has also been highlighted that once the fetus is formed, it possesses a soul and a life which is separate from the life of the mother. Hence, the woman does not possess the right of ending someone else’s life. Opponents also argue that abortion on the basis of the fact that the fetus is conceived due to rape or if the child is physically or mentally impaired is also not justified. The justification provided by the opponents is that it is not the fetus that is at fault for this and hence it is immoral to punish the fetus with death (Saunders 2003).

Abortion is a very complicated issue. It is argued that in the case of intercourse that is performed by choice and results in pregnancy, it is the parents who are responsible for the child and there