Abortion: legalization and control - Research Paper Example

?Abortion Abortion is a term used to describe the termination of pregnancy through the removal of an embryo or a foetus from the uterus before its maturity. The intention of terminating pregnancy distinguishes abortion from accidental miscarriages or termination of pregnancy as part of a medical treatment. Abortions are conducted through three basic methods, which include medical and surgical abortions. Although abortion has been in existence throughout the history of humanity, most societies have never accepted abortion. Thus, abortion is considered unethical and illegal in most societies across the world. The contradicting views of different people have resulted into debates about the significance of abortions in this society. From these debates, it is evident that different societies have different views towards abortion. In most developed countries, abortion is a legal medical procedure while, in other countries particularly countries in the developing world abortion remains an illegal subject. Due to the illegality of abortion in such countries, unsafe abortion accounts for about 60% of maternal deaths globally (Kapp 98). The situation could be reversed if abortion is legalized and controlled by the government. This paper presents a persuasive argument concerning why abortions should be legalized and controlled. The main reason why most societies consider abortion as unethical is that, it terminates the life of another individual. This is a valid factor against abortion. However, the factor has more disadvantages than benefits. The association of abortion with murder have made most women to lead unfulfilling lives or live with long-lasting medical problems. In addition, this association has contributed to unsafe abortion, which claims lives of many women across the world. It is true that an unborn baby is a human being that has the rights to life. However, the life of the mother is of greater significance than the life of the unborn baby. This is because not all pregnancies end in live births. In addition, the survival of the unborn foetus depends on the health of the mother. Thus, the life of the mother has greater significance than that of the unborn child. If abortion were illegalized in all countries then women who have health complications resulting from pregnancy problems would not receive any medical assistance to get rid of the pregnancy (Kapp 98). In cases of unwanted pregnancies such as pregnancies resulting from rape cases or deformed embryos, a woman will be forced to live with psychological trauma for the rest of their lives. Living with acute medical or psychological problem is neither beneficial to the women, the society or the unborn baby. This indicates that legalizing and controlling abortion will reduce the numerous incidents of maternal deaths. The main factor that contributes to the numerous cases of maternal deaths related to abortion is the illegality of abortion. Due to its illegal status, most women lack basic information concerning abortion. Lacking adequate information does not reduce case of unwanted pregnancies or medical complications that continuously affect women. This indicates that women are faced with dilemmas of unwanted pregnancies. Information about pregnancies is also essential to medical practitioners. If abortion were made illegal, then information about abortion would also be illegal (Grimes and Singh 78). In such cases, there would be no doctor with knowledge on how to handle cases of abortion. In addition, women will not know where to access medical service in case they require terminating a pregnancy. Information about abortion constitutes basic reproductive health that is the right of every individual. In the modern world, sexual violence against women has been on the increase. This indicates that unwanted pregnancies have also been on the increase. Developments in the medical field have also made it possible for people to detect cases of deformities in unborn babies. This has contributes to the rise in demand for abortion. The increasing urge for abortion has not increased or facilitated safety due to the illegal status of abortion in most countries. In places where abortion is illegal, assisting women to terminate pregnancy has become a lucrative backstreet business. Abortions that are conducted by untrained health professions usually leads to death or fatal injuries to the reproductive organs of a woman. In some cases, abortion leads to sterilization of women due to permanent damages to their reproductive organs (Grimes and Singh 78). If abortion is legalized in all countries, governments will enact laws and policies that support the act. In such cases, doctors and other medical practitioners would be free to assist women who want to terminate their pregnancies. Moreover, health facilities would be equipped with relevant equipment and materials to support the procedure. Women would also be free to seek services from qualified and registered health workers working in public health facilities. This will enable the government to control abortion or cases of abortion in the country. Control would involve understanding the basis for an abortion and applying collective and preventive measures where applicable. The government would also be interested in getting information relating to the factors that contribute to abortion among women. This information will enable the authority to control factors that leads to abortion. For instance if the government learns that most of the cases of unwanted pregnancies results from rape cases, then the government will increases its efforts in dealing with sexual violence against women (Kapp 98). The government can also increase its efforts on maternal healthcare if most abortions results from medical related complications. This will eliminate cases of unwanted pregnancies and contribute in government’s effort to control abortion. The controversy in abortion not only affects the unborn but also the living. The definition of abortion varies with society or the perspective of the people tackling the issue. Thus, abortion will have numerous definitions and interpretations depending on the society. The main controversy associated with abortion due to misconception and misinterpretation is usage of contraceptives. Most people argue that usage of contraceptives particularly the emergency pills is equivalent to abortion. This has led to the decline of usage of contraceptives in such countries. It is evident that contraceptives and family planning are essential aspects of any society. The rising economic constraints are the main factor that has led to the advocacy on the use of contraceptives. This indicates that making abortion illegal and unethical not only affect women’s health but also other aspects of the society such as the economy and the moral values of the community. Associating the usage of contraceptives has resulted from the negative perspective that people have on abortion. Thus, changing people’s attitude towards abortion will change the attitude that they have towards contraceptives. It is time that different societies across the globe begun looking at the issue of abortion from both sides (Grimes 154). It is obvious that abortion has negative consequences. However not everything about abortion is wrong or evil. In addition, people should consider benefits that could be realized from controlled abortion. The numerous problems that can be solved through controlled abortion such as maternal deaths are also a factor of consideration. The main argument against abortion is based on religious and social ethics. In this argument abortion is considered wrong or evils since it terminates the life of an unborn child. This argument does not have a valid basis since most unwanted pregnancies have little chances of survival. In addition, deformed embryos lead to still births or babies with complications. This indicates that abortion is the only appropriate solution to such problems. Most medical problems do not have complete solutions. This indicates that doctors use or apply the next best solution. For example in the treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, doctors apply certain therapies that have numerous side effects on the patient. This does not imply that doctors do not care about the life of the patient but they are constrained by the available medical solutions. Thus, a doctor will give pain-reducing medication to a cancer patient without considering the effects of the drugs in reducing the patient’s life. Similarly, a doctor can prescribe an abortion to save the life of a mother. The legal aspect of abortion has also contributed the controversy that surrounds the issue. Abortion is considered similar to a second-degree murder. Arguments constructed from a legal basis also have little validity due to issues of democracy. If laws of a given country are based on democracy, then, the country’s constitution guarantees basic civil rights to all its citizens. Democracy also gives people ability to make decisions concerning their lives and well-being. Thus, women have the rights to make decisions that involve their health and pregnancies. Laws against abortion nullify the existence of gender equality, which is supported by a democratic space. Conclusion Abortion is the deliberate termination of pregnancy through medical or surgical methods. In most countries particularly the developing countries, abortion is considered unlawful. This has led to numerous cases of maternal deaths resulting from unsafe abortion. The governments of such countries can contain the issue by legalizing and controlling abortion. Legalizing and controlling abortion will enhance safe abortions and avail necessary reproductive health information to women. If abortions are, legalized women will be able to consult qualified health practitioners. This will enable the government to control factors that leads to unwanted pregnancies. Finally, women have rights to make decisions concerning their reproductive health. Works Cited Grimes, Benson and Singh, Romero. Unsafe abortion: The preventable pandemic. London: Centgage. 2007. Print. Kapp, Gulmezoglu. Medical methods for first trimester abortion. New York: Addison Wesley, 2004. Print. Kapp, Milton. 1973. The nature of human values. New York: Free Press Stubblefield, Phillip .10. Family Planning: Novak's Gynecology. Washington: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002. Print. Read More