The Abortion Rights Crusader
Margaret Sander, an American birth control activist and writer, once said, “No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body.” Internationally, women have fought and still fight for their rights and for gender equality. One of the most important reasons women have fought for decades is to be able to control their own body by having the right to access contraceptive methods and legal abortion. The fight for the decriminalization of abortion in Canada, as elsewhere, has not been uncomplicated. One prominent figure has particularly contributed to the decriminalisation of abortion in Canada; his name is Henry Morgentaler. I truly believe that Henry Morgentaler is a hero in the field of medicine since …show more content…
They also believe that he should not be spoken of as a hero, since his actions were at the time an infringement of the anti-abortion laws. With that being said, I still believe they are wrong. Although, he did in fact commit illegal acts, his actions saved many women whose lives were in jeopardy. According to the Pro-Choice Action Network, from 1926 to 1947, around 4,000 to 6,000 Canadian women have died as a result of illegal abortions. Indeed, an abortion can be extremely risky and even endanger the mother’s life. According to the World Health Organization, unsafe abortions are performed by someone who does not master the necessary skills or in a precarious and unsanitary environment, or both. Moreover, as stated by the World Health Organization, approximately half of all abortions made worldwide are considered unsafe and remain, in the countries where abortions are still illegal, the main cause of maternal mortality. Consequently, Morgentaler, who was a licensed physician, decided to act in an upstanding way. He decided that women’s lives and choices were of greater importance than the anti-abortion laws. As a Holocaust survivor, he refused to let women die while he had the medical knowledge to help them. Therefore, it seems incontestable to me that he is a role model in the field of medicine but also in women’s …show more content…
In fact, Morgentaler was completely devoted to his cause: granting women the fundamental right of abortion. As we know today, providing access to safe abortions engendered many benefits for women and for the entire society. However, fighting for this cause was not a breeze. Morgentaler made several sacrifices and sometime even endangered his own life. Indeed, during his career, he and his relatives often received death threats. Besides, in 1992, according to the Pro-Choice Action Network, a firebomb exploded and destroyed one of his clinics in Toronto. Luckily, nobody was injured. Furthermore, according to the Pro-Choice Action Network, his illegal medical practice of abortions got him imprisoned. Being even ready to serve time in prison is another proof of his outstanding social implication. Acting this manner despite the risks demonstrates that Morgentaler took wholeheartedly care of the welfare of the entire community. Consequently, I sincerely believe that Morgentaler is a hero since he helped improve the status of women and the access to abortion even though it meant jeopardizing his career and
Margaret Sander, an American birth control activist and writer, once said, “No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body.” Internationally, women have fought and still fight for their rights and for gender equality. One of the most important reasons women have fought for decades is to be able to control their own body by having the right to access contraceptive methods and legal abortion. The fight for the decriminalization of abortion in Canada, as elsewhere, has not been uncomplicated. One prominent figure has particularly contributed to the decriminalisation of abortion in Canada; his name is Henry Morgentaler. I truly believe that Henry Morgentaler is a hero in the field of medicine since …show more content…
They also believe that he should not be spoken of as a hero, since his actions were at the time an infringement of the anti-abortion laws. With that being said, I still believe they are wrong. Although, he did in fact commit illegal acts, his actions saved many women whose lives were in jeopardy. According to the Pro-Choice Action Network, from 1926 to 1947, around 4,000 to 6,000 Canadian women have died as a result of illegal abortions. Indeed, an abortion can be extremely risky and even endanger the mother’s life. According to the World Health Organization, unsafe abortions are performed by someone who does not master the necessary skills or in a precarious and unsanitary environment, or both. Moreover, as stated by the World Health Organization, approximately half of all abortions made worldwide are considered unsafe and remain, in the countries where abortions are still illegal, the main cause of maternal mortality. Consequently, Morgentaler, who was a licensed physician, decided to act in an upstanding way. He decided that women’s lives and choices were of greater importance than the anti-abortion laws. As a Holocaust survivor, he refused to let women die while he had the medical knowledge to help them. Therefore, it seems incontestable to me that he is a role model in the field of medicine but also in women’s …show more content…
In fact, Morgentaler was completely devoted to his cause: granting women the fundamental right of abortion. As we know today, providing access to safe abortions engendered many benefits for women and for the entire society. However, fighting for this cause was not a breeze. Morgentaler made several sacrifices and sometime even endangered his own life. Indeed, during his career, he and his relatives often received death threats. Besides, in 1992, according to the Pro-Choice Action Network, a firebomb exploded and destroyed one of his clinics in Toronto. Luckily, nobody was injured. Furthermore, according to the Pro-Choice Action Network, his illegal medical practice of abortions got him imprisoned. Being even ready to serve time in prison is another proof of his outstanding social implication. Acting this manner despite the risks demonstrates that Morgentaler took wholeheartedly care of the welfare of the entire community. Consequently, I sincerely believe that Morgentaler is a hero since he helped improve the status of women and the access to abortion even though it meant jeopardizing his career and