Abortion Essay
- Created by: 09grayn
- Created on: 15-05-16 15:08
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- Abortion
- What is it?
- Deliberate act of terminating a pregnancy (before 24 weeks)
- Types: abortion pill, surgical dilation, suction method, late abortion
- The subject of abortion is very emotional and many people have conflicting views about it
- Becoming more accepted in modern day society due to appearances in popular culture
- Stacy had an Abortion in Eastenders in 2006
- Laws
- Current law allows abortions up to the 24th week of pregnancy, based on the Abortion Act of 1967
- Must take place before viability; when a baby is able to live on its own outside the womb
- Many Christians believe it should be reduced to 20 weeks as babies have been able to survive at this age
- Abortions may be carried out if great risk is held to the physical or mental health of the woman
- Must be agreed by 2 doctos
- Carried out by a doctor in a Government approved hospital
- Currently illegal in the Republic of Ireland- hold Catholic Christian views
- Backstreet Abortions
- Those which are not carried out in a hospital or clinic
- Can result in the death of women
- The legislation of abortions is supported by many people- majority of abortions are carried out safely
- Some argue abortions should not be legalized as it doesn't prevent dangerous backstreet abortions
- When life begins
- People believe in different stages of development and person-hood= difficult to determine when life begins
- Some believe life begins at viabilty
- Causes problems as medical knowledge advances- time of viability varies
- Some believe life begins at time of quickening= when the foetus moves for the first time(16/17 weeks)
- Causes issues as they occur at different times in each case
- Some believe life begins when heartbeat can be detected
- Causes issues as they occur at different times in each case
- Some believe life begins when heartbeat can be detected
- Aristotle's theory of life
- Believed a male foetus became a life at 40 days of pregnancy
- Female foetus becomes a life at 90 days
- His suggestions though are purely random and illogical
- No reason for males or females to obtain the rights to life at different times of development
- Religious Views- life
- Catholic View- life begins at the moment of conception
- Catholic- from moment of conception= become a human being with potential rather than a potential human being
- Catholics believe foetus is a living being- "You saw me before I was born." -Bible
- Some Christians believe life begins when the heart beats.
- Christians interpret from the Bible. "For it is blood which maketh an atonement for the soul"
- Islamic View-proposes that personhood is deemed appropriate at the stage of ensoulment (120days)
- Catholic View- life begins at the moment of conception
- Sanctity of Life
- THE PRINCIPLE that every person is a sacred child of God, created in his image by him Therefore, only God himself may decide when a persons life may end
- Many Catholics against abortions as it is against the will of God to take a life
- "You shall not murder"
- Many Christians regards humans to have likeliness of God and to bet set apart apart other creatures as stewards
- "So God created man in his own image"
- Some Muslims follow similar teaching that only Allah decides when life ends
- Qur'an- "It is He who gives life and causes death"
- Others believe the principle to be wrong as it cannot be applied to all situations
- Quality of Life
- Abortion may be accepted if it may result in an unacceptable quality of life for the child E.g. physical handicaps, genetic problems, mental defects
- Some Christians believe the quality of life should not be assessed on the persons health but their relationship with God
- Qur'an does not specifically refer to abortion but offers guidance to related matters
- Qur'an- "Kill not your offspring in fear of poverty"
- Utlitarianism
- Generally supportive of pro-choice views as these can be justified by Jeremy Bentham's Hedonic Calculus
- Basing actions on those which produce the most happiness
- John Calvin proposes that abortion is unethical
- "the foetus is already a human being"
- Would seem more horrible to kill a man in his own home than in a field because his home is his own secure refuge
- Aborting a foetus inside the womb is more damaging than outside the womb
- Peter Singer
- "the life of a new-born is less value than the life of a pig" because human babies are not born self aware- so cant be classed as a person
- Until a baby is capable of self-awareness, there is no reason not to kill it
- He states no difference between abortion and infanticide
- Salvation Army
- Consider a person to be of infinite value and a sacred gift from God, therefore believing in the sanctity of life from the moment of conception
- Aim o protect the rights of both the moth and the foetus therefore accpeting abortion in limited cirmumstance
- Prefer to avoid abrtions
- Advise counselling if there is an unwanted pregnancy to accept the situation
- If a mother doe decide to have an abortion, they will offer pastoral care
- Doctors Views
- Many are starting to become unacceoting of abortions
- Late-term abortions make doctors feel angry
- Many doctors show symptons of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Such as: Obsessive thinking about the abortion, depression, fatigue, anger, lower self esteem
- Many doctors show symptons of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- USA-rising shortage of younger doctors willing to do abortions
- Negative Effects
- Can have damaging long term effects on the people involved
- Can result in an infection in the womb and if left untreated can cause problems such as infertility and ectopic pregnancies
- Can damage women's mental state causing issues such as: anxiety, depression,, suicidal behavior post abortion an d issues with relationships and family
- Michelle's Story
- Woman living in USA shares her story of abortion and the effects it had on her life
- Was 17 when she found out she was pregnant- questioned whether to have it and decided to abort
- "I was never told how I would feel afterwards, the tremendous guilt and shame would stay with me for decades"
- Found herself imaging the stages of pregnancy up to the time of birth
- Became depressed and tormeneted by her choice
- After 20 years, she decided to turn to religion where she found forgiveness and was set free from her guilt
- Pro-Life
- VIEW which is opposing of abortion
- Rights of an unborn child should be equal to the rights of the mother
- Should not be aborted because of physical or mental defects- can still live a full and rewarding life
- Unwanted babies could be adopted for families who are desparate for kids
- Pro life campaigns such as 'Life' offer counselling and support for unplanned pregnancies, suffering the loss of a baby or coping after abortion
- Educate people of their values and principles in a non-religious manner
- "Every human individual is equally valuable from fertilisation"
- Pro-Choice
- IDEA of encouraging the legal right of a woman to chose whether or not she will have an abortion
- In special circumstances such as ****, a woman should not be forced to have a baby as she did not chose to get pregnant- so should be allowed one
- Every baby has the right to care and love- if this cannot be achieved then abortion should be accepted
- NAF(National Abortion Federation) promoted women making own choices about reproductive health
- They give information about abortion and alternative options
- Dont intend to persuade- enforce freedom of choice
- The Church
- The CofE are against abortion due to the human duty of care for all life
- However, there is an understanding that "the right choice is sometimes the acceptance of lesser evils"
- Abortion may be accepted in particular circumstances where the consequences are deemed more evil than the act of abortion itself
- Roman Catholic Church have stricter beliefs- abortion is always wrong as unborn baby is a sacred life- a sin to abort
- Roman Catholic Church appear to have Rule Utilitarian way of deciding
- CofE takes an Act Utilitarian approach where the consequences are taken into consideration
- Early Methodist Church beliefs- abortion is always evil
- Due to advances in medical science and social welfare, the Methodist Church can accept abortion like the CofE- when in the lesser evils
- What is it?
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