Abortion, Essay Example

Abortion can be said to be an induced process or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, result in, or caused by, its death.  Sometimes this can occur spontaneously as a miscarriage. It can also be artificially induced through chemical, surgical or other means.  This is induced termination or miscarriage occurs before the twenty weeks of gestation. The induced termination has been a source of debate as well as controversy throughout the history of mankind. This means the position on abortion depends on two factors which include ones personal belief on the morality of induced abortion. The other factor is the government’s limit of authority.

A woman has a right to her life. There are human rights which are applicable to every person. These rights should be applied without any form of discrimination and the most vital right is the right to life. A woman has a right to pursue her rights and this includes happiness and this may mean to have abortion. Just like men have their rights in life, a woman need this freedom in this matter because it shapes her reproductive choices. Internationally, reproductive rights are recognized.

These rights help to advance women’s human rights and promotion of development. In modern days, the world has begun to advance reproductive rights to some degree. They have come up with some formal methods as ways indicating the government’s effort’s of promoting reproductive rights. This means a woman has a right to control her body and hence exercise body rights.

The international covenant on civil and political rights do not allow arbitrary deprivation of life although there are controversial issues related to the supreme right which include the question of right to abortion. The most important thing is to balance the rights of the mother and the rights of the unborn. Due to changes in time and technology, the right to abort is legally sanctified by most governments even though there are oppositions today and people are divided if it should be legally prohibited.

There are some international instruments which sanction the right of abortion. A mother has a right to abort in a number of circumstances. The stand on the personal belief of induced abortion and the ethical limit of the government stand include the following factors:-

If the progress of the pregnancy would involve risk complications, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

Abortion should be permitted if there is risk that of the child were born it would develop suffering from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped

A mother has aright to abortion if the development of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

That abortion should be permitted so as to safeguard the pregnant mother from severe injuries which may be physical or mental.

Considering emergency cases, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary, abortion should be allowed to save the life of the pregnant woman or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

From the above, it can be deduced that a mother has right to abort in situations where the mother’s life is at risk. The international instruments pertaining right to abortion can therefore be interpreted to suggest that the child is not to be protected hence the life of the fetus is balanced with the right of the woman.

The international courts and tribunals have failed to address the issue of where life begins. They hold the view to every one that do not consider unborn foetus. In this regard the right of a woman to her private life has therefore been the basis on which a number of international bodies hold the right of a mother to abort. Because of the right to freedom of expression and access to information, it has helped to argue for the right of to get on information about this subject of abortion options.

There is the issue of sexual assault which is real and many women prefer abortion but the expulsion of the fetus may not be the best option since it may create some problems especially if the culture is aware that life begins at conception. In this case it is important to spare criminals innocent children even if the circumstances of conception may have been criminal since the life of fetus is as valuable as any other person. In a system of fair justice the best option is to punish the criminal and not punish the fetus. Although most victims of this act develop acts of both emotional and psychological problems, it’s vital to realize abortion as result of rape may not solve the problem.

But the right of abortion is important when it comes to cases of mothers who are at risk of life. This has helped to consider the mothers life. The abortion option also is vital because it gives the mother the right to make decision freely and be responsible for the number and child spacing which is also an important factor in improving the mother’s life. Because of change of time as well as in technology, the general view is that a pregnant mother should not be restricted but be permitted to abort in case her life is in danger.

References

Gill. D. Hughes’ Outline of Modern Psychiatry. John Wiley and Sons, 2007.

Reiser J.S. Ethics in medicine: historical perspectives and contemporary concerns. MIT Press, 1977.

Wardle D.L. The abortion privacy doctrine: a compendium and critique of federal court abortion. W. S. Hein Publishing, 1980.