GRSJ224/AbortionandEthicalDebates

A Further Look into Abortion and its Ethics

The moral right of abortion, or the "deliberate termination of a pregnancy", poses a number of ethical and philosophical concerns that has formed a revolution of debate among society. Arguments surrounding this topic questions factors such as a women and a fetus' ethical obligations, their right to life, right to autonomy, as well as religious and political viewpoints. Pro-choice individuals support the notion of having the option of abortion readily available for women, whereas pro-life supporters relay their arguments on "supporting the right of life for the unborn child".

Ethical Considerations

Right to Life

While pro-life supporters debate this topic, they are not in opposition to women's rights but rather many are unwilling to accept the killing of a "human being" in doing so. Pro-choice supporters, however, fight for their belief that a women should have their right to life and autonomy as the carrier of the foetus. Dispute also lies in the legal status of the foetus in respect to their right to life. This controversy has spiked varying opinions, and many has shared their voice to the public, in passages such as the one Kathleen McDonnell writes:

"Abortion rights, and, indeed, feminism itself had come to be identified in the popular mind with an anti-family, anti-child mentality that had little respect for traditional values and cultural traditions. The opponents of feminism and abortion attempted to capitalize on this: feminists, they said, see children as mere inconveniences, obstacles to career fulfillment; pro-abortionists, they said, have no respect for the value of life and, even worse, want to impose their lack of values on the rest of society."

Here, Kathleen McDonnell attempts to reiterate a passage that would've conveyed popular thought in the 1970's, however, similar opinions are still evident today. The question of "Is the foetus a human being" continues to be a primary focus in this debate.

Reproductive Autonomy and Justice

Many arguments supporting pro-choice actions highlights a woman's right to their autonomy. They proclaim that opposers to abortion ultimately states that once a woman is impregnated, the woman who becomes pregnant (whether intentionally or unintentionally) must endure the birth "no matter how distressing, painful and risky it is for them." Here, pro-choice supporters stands on the side of limiting a woman's suffering, especially in the terms of situations such as rape. This particular situation is further analyzed in pro-choice Judith Thompson's defense of abortion and his analogy with abortion and the lost of choice of a woman who was strapped in bed with a famous violinist in order to keep him from dying. This emphasizes a woman's choice and the right to her body.

Religious and Cultural Views

Abortion has been long contested since the early ages of its creation in various religions. Cultural views such as in Roman Catholicism, Jewish practices and Protestant Christianity to name a few have strong beliefs that date back to many religious protests in opposition of medical abortion and the "killing of a fetal life".

Toward Reproductive Freedom

Differing opinions toward abortion express social conditions that existed at various times throughout history. A number of historical movements and cases dramatically changed abortion laws and its general views, with shifting attitudes over subjects of reproductive freedom deeply discussed. Abortion, initially banned in the mid-nineteenth century, created a increase in illegal abortions. This not only jeopardized the health of women who were subject to these abominable conditions in unsafe abortion practices, but also began a rise in movements to provide safe medical abortions to women. With it's later decriminalization in the late 1970's, abortion proves as an example of "how private activities and conversations reshaped public policy", women had the power to change medicine, law, and even public debate. The controversy, however, between pro-life supporters and pro-choice supporters continues - even at one point endangering physicians and medical professionals who provided these services. Still considered illegal in many places around the world, the topic of abortion maintains its position as a touchy subject with strong contrasting opinions.

Roe v. Wade 1973

Proclaimed as one of the most influential abortion cases known to date, this case revolutionized the issue of abortion in changing the laws that criminalized or restricted its access. Before this law was passed, it was relatively easy for a woman to obtain an abortion - but only for women who had money and connections. This only emphasized discriminated access to services - not just to abortion but also to contraceptives. In the passing of Roe v. Wade in Texas, access to secure medical abortion slowly became readily available to the general public.

"Motherhood by Choice, Not Chance"

This film exemplifies the struggle for women's reproductive rights and freedom in United States history and the strength it took to abolish the laws surrounding this topic and to provide a safe and legal place for women to make this choice. Shocking stories are shared of women in a state of desperation that lead them to use unsafe methods of abortion which ultimately caused their death. These first-person stories show us of a life without legal female reproductive rights, and the dangers associated with these strict laws. Although the many passionate movements have changed the face of abortion laws, threats to these rights still exist.

Eugenic Abortions

In 1967, abortions by physicians was approved in cases where there was a "substantial chance that the child would be born with grave or mental disability". In Canada, rapid advances in technology has gravely improved equipment such as the ultrasound and utrauterine technology that ultimately resulted in eugenic abortions being a regularly utilized medical practice.

Ethics

Concerning the ethics of eugenic abortions, many individuals question its accuracy and the image of being able to terminate a fetal life due to a prescreening of its "normalcy". Being a procedure that is subjected to error, it is stated that the screening of mother's other 35 years of age prevents the birth of 25% of the children expected to be born with Down Syndrome. However, the human cost for these procedures is high, with research stating that the number of cases of handicaps prevented by these prenatal procedures is almost identical to the number of "normal" children sacrificed. As well, adverse effects of selective ferticide is also evident in the mother, with evidence existing that these procedures may cause high levels of stress on the mother, as well as negative effects on the father and siblings of the aborted fetus.

Implications

With many associations working to reduce the view of stigma surrounding handicapped people, these procedures are seen to do just the opposite. As a society that markets itself in terms of attempting to eradicate discrimination, these acts seem to have little ethical restrictions.

References

1. Beck, M. N. (1990). Eugenic abortion: an ethical critique. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 143(3), 181–186. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1452135/?page=4

1. Belmont, W. (1996). Intervention and Reflection: Basic Issues in Medical Ethics. 5th ed. pp 69-80.

1. Garrow, D. (1999). Abortion Before and After Roe v. Wade: An Historical Perspective. 62 Alb. L. Rev. 833. Retrieved from: http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/albany62&div=33&id=&page=

Hewson, B. (2001). Reproductive autonomy and the ethics of abortion. Journal of Medical Ethics.

1. Manninen, B. (2014). Pro-Life, Pro-Choice: Shared Values in the Abortion Debate. Vanderbilt University Press.

Maguire, D. (2003). Sacred Rights. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from: http://www.myilibrary.com?ID=70408

Purdy, E. (2013). Roe v. Wade. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. 2nd ed., vol.4, pp. 380-382. Retrieved from: http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX2735802319/GVRL?u=ubcolumbia&sid=GVRL&xid=333458df. Accessed 9 Apr. 2018.

1. Reagan, L. J. (1973). When abortion was a crime: women, medicine, and law in the United States. Berkeley : University of California Press. Retrieved from: http://hdl.handle.net.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/2027/heb.04396.0001.001.

Regan, D.H. (1979). Rewriting Roe v. Wade. Michigan Law Review. Vol. 77, No. 7. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/stable/pdf/1288037.pdf?refreqid=excelsior:51b2adb65b1cebd0f95ed0dba12bd8ba

Staggenborg, S. (1991). Pro-Choice Movement. Oxford University Press, USA. Retrieved from <http://www.myilibrary.com?ID=52529>

Stettner, S. (2016). Without apology : Writings on Abortion in Canada. Athabasca University Press. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com.