Abortion is an topic that has probably become one of the most controversial issues that are debated in the United States and in other countries today. Different schools of thoughts have different ideas and opinions regarding abortion, some ideas are pro-abortion and some argue for the abolishment of it. Abortion is one of the most complex problems dividing America with either side being so passionate about their stand it has been known to trigger hatred of the other side.
In order to fully understand the complexity of the abortion issue, this paper aims to first define what abortion is and then to enumerate the arguments of both the pros and cons sides of the issue. This paper will also aim to enumerate all the ethical and legal issues that are being associated with the abortion problem.
What is abortion?
Abortion in the encyclopedic definition is the removal or the expulsion of an embryo or the fetus from the females uterus resulting to the termination of pregnancy (Abortion. September 30, 2007). Abortion may occur spontaneously through a miscarriage or may be artificially induced through chemical or by surgical means. An induced abortion refers to any induced procedure that is performed at any point during the pregnancy period which will lead to the termination of the pregnancy before the point of viability (Abortion. September 30, 2007). The most common abortion method today is artificial and medically induced.
Abortion in the United States was illegal in most states until it was made officially legal throughout the country following the United States Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade on January 22, 1973. The case involved a single, pregnant woman named Jane Roe who wanted to have an abortion. During that time, the only way to get an abortion was through illegal and unsafe means that could endanger her life. Jane Roe wanted to have an abortion which would be performed by a licensed physician so that it would be under safe and clinical conditions (Baird, Robert M. and Stuart E. Rosenbuam 1989). Roe claimed that by denying her request to have an abortion performed by a licensed physician, the state of Texas is abridging her right of personal privacy which should be protected by the five amendments of the constitution namely; First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and Fourteenth Amendment and that because of this, she would sue in behalf of all other women (Baird, Robert M. and Stuart E. Rosenbuam 1989). One of the justices presiding over the case, Justice Blackmum, concluded that the decision to undergo an abortion procedure is indeed protected by the right of personal privacy in the due process clause which is included in the Fourteenth Amendment. Blackmum further added that the right of personal privacy is not unqualified and that important states interests must also be considered in the regulation of the choice of abortion. Blackmum finally decided that a pregnant woman within her first trimester or in her 1st to 3rd month of pregnancy can have the choice to have an abortion solely upon her and her physicians decision however, the state can intervene in the decision once the pregnancy reaches the second and third trimesters in order to save the life of the pregnant mother (Craig, Barbara H. and David M. O\'Brien 1993).
This landmark decision regarding the abortion issue led to the clash of beliefs between two schools of thoughts namely; the Pro-choice and the Pro-life groups. The advocates of abortion, the Pro-choice movement, believes that every woman has the right to chose what she does with her body and that this is guaranteed by the constitution under the Fourteenth Amendment. The Pro-life group however believes that abortion is an act of murder no matter what the age of the fetus and the stage of pregnancy are.
Explanation: PLEASE MARK BRAINLIEST!!!
