FREE ESSAY ON THE ABORTION CONTROVERSY

THE ABORTION CONTROVERSY

The controversy within the biomedical ethics topic, 
abortion, has two main aspects. The first, is the view 
against abortion, the other view, is rooted upon the belief 
of being pro-choice, or basically for abortions. These two 
different views are like two mathematical principles, in 
that although these two views have many differences, they 
also have larger similarities in the background. In order 
to understand these opposing views, justifications and 
condemnations, on abortion, it can basically be divided 
into three categories. These categories are based upon the 
reasons for which abortions are carried out, and include 
congenital defects, rape, and economics. Congenital 
defects, is when deformities within the baby are detected 
during an early stage of a pregnancy (Nelson 36-37). These 
defects, such as Down's syndrome, are detected through an 
amniocentesis test. The second justification for abortion 
is from criminal cases, such as rape (Nelson 38). A final 
reason for an abortion, is due to economics, the financial 
condition, of a family (Nelson 32). 

The anti-abortionists have many reasons for their beliefs, 
attached to their religious ideals. Religious ideals, range 
from having an abortion before 120 days after the 
pregnancy, as in Islam, to considering it a sin to have an 
abortion, as in Christianity (Siegel et al. 3-4). However, 
the anti-abortionists' reasons also come from the belief 
that a human being is born after conception, and that the 
death of that embryo or fetus resembles the murder of an 
innocent human being (Roleff 17). They believe that no one 
has the power to take command of another's life, mainly an 
infant, that is dependent on others for survival during the 
initial stages of life. In the case of congenital defects, 
the pro-life activists argue that such indications of a 
disease, do not guarantee that the child will be born into 
a life of suffering (Roleff 123). They believe that through 
love, and guidance anyone with any form of deformity or 
disease, can lead a normal life (Roleff 123). The cases 
pertaining to rape, also have different anti-abortionists 
views (Roleff 130). Many anti-abortionists believe that the 
child can actually help the mother get through the 
turbulent times in her life, by providing each other with a 
loving environment (Roleff 130). Finally, in the case of 
economics, the pro-life activists believe that having an 
abortion due to financial reasons, is ridiculous. Because, 
it doesn't mean that the child will have a life full of 
isolation and depression (Nelson 32-33). The pro-life 
activists argue that there are also numerous welfare 
programs for such families.

However, the pro-choice or the activists for abortions, 
argue that if a family is in a state of financial trouble, 
then abortion should be a viable option (Nelson 32-33). 
Otherwise, the child would be born into a life of 
suffering, and inadequate living conditions. The pro-choice 
believers, bases their beliefs, upon the fact that having 
an abortion is the inalienable right of women (nelson 8). 
Many pro-choice activists also state that abortion is 
justifiable, because at the time of fertilization the 
ensuing embryo is not yet a human being (Roleff 40). It is 
not a human being, but a potential one. Therefore, its 
death does not constitute a murder. In the case of rape, 
pro-life activists deem that since a woman was impregnated 
without her consent, that child can be exterminated. The 
pro-choice activists justify this action, in that if the 
child was born, it would be a recurring image of the pain 
the mother had suffered (Roleff 134).

The differences between the two opposing sides on abortion 
are obvious, since one's interpretation of the cause for an 
abortion is the exact opposite of the other. The 
anti-abortionists view abortion as a defilement of God, 
since God created everyone in his ideal image. On the other 
hand the pro-choice activists believe that the right to 
have an abortion, rests within a woman's right to choose 
(McKinley). 


In this century-old debate the differences between the two 
opposing views are easily seen than the similarities 
between them. However, there are numerous comparable 
beliefs from both sides of the debate. The fact, that 
pro-choice activists believe a woman has a natural right to 
make her own choices, does not mean that she won't make the 
wrong choice. A choice, that she may regret later on her 
life. The pro-choice activists, by being supportive of 
abortions does not support it as a form of birth control, 
or the fact that being sexually incompetent is a good 
notion. Many pro-life activists also tend to believe that 
if a child is to be born into a life that will eventually 
end after birth, then that child should not live. The fact 
that pro-choice activists favor abortion does not mean that 
her or she favors abortion as a good deed. There is also a 
similar belief that pro-life activist won't condemn 
abortions in which the life of the mother is at risk, due 
to her pregnancy. 

The debate about abortion, is rooted within numerous issues 
between the anti-abortionists and the pro-choice activists. 
While, the pro-life activists base most of their support 
against abortions upon a religious basis, the pro-choice 
activists are more geared toward the individual rights 
attributed to women.