The legality of elective abortion, or a woman's right to choose, has been an issue for almost two centuries, since at least 1821 when Connecticut passed the first statute criminalizing abortion (Cole & Frankowski, 1987). The biggest argument people against abortion use is freedom of religion and the sanctity of life, but another large factor is that of the mental health of those women who do choose to abort their fetuses. Research by Coleman (2011) suggested that abortion is linked to a moderate to high risk of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure. However, Knowles and Golub (2007)1 state in their rebuttal of Coleman's research that the said research contained multiple methodological problems, and thus was not conclusive. Coleman
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In 2011, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC) in London reviewed a multitude of studies pertaining to the emotional effects of abortion which had been published between 1990 and 2011. They concluded that unwanted pregnancy increases a woman's risk of negative psychological effects, a woman is as likely to have negative psychological effects from an unwanted pregnancy as she is from an abortion, a woman with a history of mental health problems before an abortion is more likely to have problems following abortion, and pressure from a partner to terminate a pregnancy or negative attitudes about abortion may increase a woman's risk of negative psychological effects. Among the AMRC's recommendations for further study, was the suggestion that researchers focus on the mental repercussions of unwanted pregnancy, rather than the repercussions of the resolution of an unwanted pregnancy (AMRC, …show more content…
Everett Koop, to produce a report on the health effects of abortion. This report stated that, although abortion was medically safe, there was insufficient evidence to determine the psychological effects of abortion (Koop, 1987). It is stated that in closed meetings in 1988, Koop told representatives from anti-abortion organizations that the risk of significant psychological problems following abortion was “miniscule” from a public health perspective (House Committee on Government Operations, 1989). Koop initially elected not to release his study due to the fact that it did not support his anti-abortion position (Arthur, 1997). In 1989, an American Psychological Association panel unanimously found that legal abortion does not result in negative psychological effects for most women who undergo the procedure. The panel specified that, due to the fact that ~21% of U.S women had had an abortion at the time of the study, if the procedure did cause negative effects, there would be an epidemic of women seeking treatment (Adler, 1989). Knowles and Golub stated that since 1989, there has been no change in this point of
In 2011, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC) in London reviewed a multitude of studies pertaining to the emotional effects of abortion which had been published between 1990 and 2011. They concluded that unwanted pregnancy increases a woman's risk of negative psychological effects, a woman is as likely to have negative psychological effects from an unwanted pregnancy as she is from an abortion, a woman with a history of mental health problems before an abortion is more likely to have problems following abortion, and pressure from a partner to terminate a pregnancy or negative attitudes about abortion may increase a woman's risk of negative psychological effects. Among the AMRC's recommendations for further study, was the suggestion that researchers focus on the mental repercussions of unwanted pregnancy, rather than the repercussions of the resolution of an unwanted pregnancy (AMRC, …show more content…
Everett Koop, to produce a report on the health effects of abortion. This report stated that, although abortion was medically safe, there was insufficient evidence to determine the psychological effects of abortion (Koop, 1987). It is stated that in closed meetings in 1988, Koop told representatives from anti-abortion organizations that the risk of significant psychological problems following abortion was “miniscule” from a public health perspective (House Committee on Government Operations, 1989). Koop initially elected not to release his study due to the fact that it did not support his anti-abortion position (Arthur, 1997). In 1989, an American Psychological Association panel unanimously found that legal abortion does not result in negative psychological effects for most women who undergo the procedure. The panel specified that, due to the fact that ~21% of U.S women had had an abortion at the time of the study, if the procedure did cause negative effects, there would be an epidemic of women seeking treatment (Adler, 1989). Knowles and Golub stated that since 1989, there has been no change in this point of