The Cons of Abortion
Abortion is the act of deliberately terminating a pregnancy, usually performed within the first 28 weeks of the pregnancy. While it is commonly viewed as a modern, scientific advancement in the field of medicine, the first description of an abortion-like procedure dates back to 1550 BCE in an Egyptian medicinal text1. Scientific advancements have now led to two different types of abortion for women to choose from: medical and surgical. Views on abortion vary, ranging from those who are pro-life to those who are pro-choice, and the topic has sparked major controversy throughout the world. However, the cons of abortion heavily outweigh the pros. Abortion can have devastating physiological and psychological effects on the mother, goes against the teachings of several religions and undermines the basic principles of responsibility. Many women turn to abortion as a way of terminating an unwanted pregnancy, and use it as a contraceptive rather than through responsible use of pregnancy protection. As a result, an unborn baby has its life stripped from it, and the effects on the mother can be devastating. Medical abortions and surgical abortions can both result in similar physical side effects, including nausea, vomiting, septic shock, damage to cervix or other organs, and death2. Abortions can also impair the ability to get pregnant in the future, and for some women is unsuccessful altogether. While many state that fetuses are not ‘alive’ until they are able to survive independantly without the mother. …show more content…
However, the definition of a character being alive is ‘not dead’ and a fetus is just that. In fact, Bernard N. Nathanson, MD, was an abortion doctor, and before making the switch to being a pro-life activist, he confessed to seeing the mouths of 12 week-old fetuses silently screaming in the mother’s womb. He stated, “We see [in an ultrasound image] the child’s mouth open in a silent scream…This is the silent scream of a child threatened imminently with extinction”3. In this statement, it is clear that the fetus is, in fact, alive and is aware of his/her surroundings, showing that not only the mother can suffer physically during an abortion. Aside from the physical side effects, many psychological and emotional issues can torment women long after an abortion. These health problems often include sexual disfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicidal thoughts4. Many women also experience grief, regret and anxiety as well. Teenagers are more likely to experience these symptoms, as they are at a critical time in their development, and they are less likely to express their problems and feelings as openly as an adult5. As you can see, the emotional and psychical side effects that can stem from having an abortion are severe and long-lasting. Because of this, abortions should be reconsidered as to avoid these traumas and prevent life-long guilt and regret. There is controversy over whether or not having an abortion is killing a living, fetal creature. Many claim that it cannot be considered “alive” as it has not taken its first breath. Others state that only currently “living” humans can have rights, while “potential humans” cannot. However, when put in a religious perspective, abortion is eschewed under most circumstances as it goes against many of the practices and teachings. For example, in Catholicism, a human life, born or unborn, is considered sacred, and so abortion is opposed under any and all circumstances6. Pope Francis stated “it is wrong, then, to look the other way or remain silent” in the case of “innocent victims” such as those killed by abortion, through war, violence and terrorism, and those who are considered a burden like the elderly or the sick7. In these statements, the Pope referred to the Declaration of Independence and its rights dictated towards the right to life, meaning that these rights should also apply to those that are unborn. Hinduism also opposes abortion as it is seen as a violent act that goes against the religion’s teachings of peace and non-violence. Other religions that condemn the practice of abortion include that of the American Baptist Church, Buddhism, and the Episcopal Church, while others such as Islam and Judaism simply restrict the practice of abortion to a certain length of the gestation, or for health concerns affecting the mother6. One of the main concerns regarding abortion is religion, as 84% of
Abortion is the act of deliberately terminating a pregnancy, usually performed within the first 28 weeks of the pregnancy. While it is commonly viewed as a modern, scientific advancement in the field of medicine, the first description of an abortion-like procedure dates back to 1550 BCE in an Egyptian medicinal text1. Scientific advancements have now led to two different types of abortion for women to choose from: medical and surgical. Views on abortion vary, ranging from those who are pro-life to those who are pro-choice, and the topic has sparked major controversy throughout the world. However, the cons of abortion heavily outweigh the pros. Abortion can have devastating physiological and psychological effects on the mother, goes against the teachings of several religions and undermines the basic principles of responsibility. Many women turn to abortion as a way of terminating an unwanted pregnancy, and use it as a contraceptive rather than through responsible use of pregnancy protection. As a result, an unborn baby has its life stripped from it, and the effects on the mother can be devastating. Medical abortions and surgical abortions can both result in similar physical side effects, including nausea, vomiting, septic shock, damage to cervix or other organs, and death2. Abortions can also impair the ability to get pregnant in the future, and for some women is unsuccessful altogether. While many state that fetuses are not ‘alive’ until they are able to survive independantly without the mother. …show more content…
However, the definition of a character being alive is ‘not dead’ and a fetus is just that. In fact, Bernard N. Nathanson, MD, was an abortion doctor, and before making the switch to being a pro-life activist, he confessed to seeing the mouths of 12 week-old fetuses silently screaming in the mother’s womb. He stated, “We see [in an ultrasound image] the child’s mouth open in a silent scream…This is the silent scream of a child threatened imminently with extinction”3. In this statement, it is clear that the fetus is, in fact, alive and is aware of his/her surroundings, showing that not only the mother can suffer physically during an abortion. Aside from the physical side effects, many psychological and emotional issues can torment women long after an abortion. These health problems often include sexual disfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicidal thoughts4. Many women also experience grief, regret and anxiety as well. Teenagers are more likely to experience these symptoms, as they are at a critical time in their development, and they are less likely to express their problems and feelings as openly as an adult5. As you can see, the emotional and psychical side effects that can stem from having an abortion are severe and long-lasting. Because of this, abortions should be reconsidered as to avoid these traumas and prevent life-long guilt and regret. There is controversy over whether or not having an abortion is killing a living, fetal creature. Many claim that it cannot be considered “alive” as it has not taken its first breath. Others state that only currently “living” humans can have rights, while “potential humans” cannot. However, when put in a religious perspective, abortion is eschewed under most circumstances as it goes against many of the practices and teachings. For example, in Catholicism, a human life, born or unborn, is considered sacred, and so abortion is opposed under any and all circumstances6. Pope Francis stated “it is wrong, then, to look the other way or remain silent” in the case of “innocent victims” such as those killed by abortion, through war, violence and terrorism, and those who are considered a burden like the elderly or the sick7. In these statements, the Pope referred to the Declaration of Independence and its rights dictated towards the right to life, meaning that these rights should also apply to those that are unborn. Hinduism also opposes abortion as it is seen as a violent act that goes against the religion’s teachings of peace and non-violence. Other religions that condemn the practice of abortion include that of the American Baptist Church, Buddhism, and the Episcopal Church, while others such as Islam and Judaism simply restrict the practice of abortion to a certain length of the gestation, or for health concerns affecting the mother6. One of the main concerns regarding abortion is religion, as 84% of