Abortion
Raghavan Mohanadas
Abortion has been a very controversial issue. Even in the US which claims to be the bastion of democracy and human rights, abortion has become a contentious issue. In the 2004 Presidential Election, President George W Bush, a Christian, told his audience, “I believe reasonable people can come together and put a good law in place that will help reduce the number of abortions.”
Abortion basically means the termination of pregnancy. But the problem arises whether it is morally or legally right to destroy a fetus which has every chance of developing to a human being. This then begs a further question: When does life begin? The pro-life campaigners believe that life begins at conception, and so abortion is the taking away of a human life; while the pro-choice campaigners believe that life begins in the later stages of pregnancy or at childbirth, and it is the mother’s right to terminate her pregnancy at any stage barring risk.
Different views
Pro-life
The pro-life campaigners believe that life begins at conception and abortion is thus the taking away of a life. They define human life as anything that has the human genetic code, a unique DNA. A fertilized egg has an 80% chance of becoming a human being, and therefore it should have the same right as a human. If a person were to kill it, the person would be negligent and guilty of destroying a human life.
Pro-choice
The pro-choice campaigners believe that a fetus is a valueless mass of dependent protoplasm and abortion is the basic right of the mother who will have to bear with the pregnancy and look after the child till it becomes independent..
Feminist
The feminist believe that denying a woman of an abortion is one of the main ways oppressive societies have established control over women is to control women’s reproduction. It raises the larger question about the social relations between men and women and the whole way society is organized.Some deem it modern day slavery.
The Religious World
Most religions would contend that a child is gift of GOD and no one can take that life away but the creator. Since three-quarters of the world’s population believes in one religion or another, life is seen as sacred.
The Developed World
In most of the developed countries abortion becomes a human rights issue. With the advance in medical science and technology, abortions can be carried out safely. Modern women are interested in their personal accomplishment and empowerment and do not want to be bogged down with children. Many may seek abortion as they do not want children or to have children when they are ready.
Moral Issues
Is Abortion Murder?
Generally speaking abortion is acceptable when it is carried out to save the mother’s life. Emotionally speaking it seems acceptable when the pregnancy is the result of a rape or an incestuous affair. It even seems cruelly logical to abort a child with an incurable disease or a mentally impairment. These are persuasive reasons as bringing an unwanted child into the world can only cause more problems for the mother, the child and society. But these make up below 5% of the abortion cases. Most terminate the child because of economic or social reasons or on request.
The main concern of the ‘Pro-Choicers’ is the ‘rights’ of the mother over and against the right of the child growing in her. And, in order to make the killing more palatable, the baby is called a ‘fetus’ or ‘not yet human’. Abortion is the ultimate in selfishness. It puts the mother’s convenience and desires above the life of her own baby.
The ‘Pro-lifers” say that the nature of the fetus’s life is human. It is the product of human DNA, therefore its nature is human – it will result in a human baby. This asserts a false premise that someone is not human until he/she is fully developed.. A fertilized egg has an 80% chance of becoming a human being, and therefore it has the same right as a human. If a person were to kill it, the person would be negligent and guilty of destroying a human life.
Conclusion
Besides these rather abstract arguments, a more pragmatic approach would be that the bringing the child into the world is only the beginning of a woman’s responsibilities. It can be a nightmare for a woman who for whatever reason does not want to have a child at a particular time or under particular circumstances. In such cases forcing a woman to continue a pregnancy is extremely cruel and sadistic. It will affect her entire life, and no woman’s life should be twisted in such a way. No child should be born unwanted. If abortion is not available some women in desperation may sought the help of backstreet abortions under unsanitary conditions and this may lead to infection and endanger the life of the woman. Does the state then have a moral obligation to save these women?
