What Are The Ethical Implications Of Abortion

Many women become pregnant during a time of uncertainty, meaning they do not feel ready for motherhood. This often leads to abortion. Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. However, Abortion is not ethical and is morally irresponsible as it has negative effects on both the mother and the child.

During the 1970 and 1980, abortions were trending. Today, there has been a significant drop in the number of abortions being performed. During the mid-1970, abortions skyrocketed when it was legalized in the USA. During this time, abortions were peaking at 1.6 million per year. Abortion numbers increased by more than four times during the 1970s and 1980s (Stein N.G.) This significant increase in abortions was due to

the fact that feminist health centers around the United States provided low-cost abortions and emphasized the quality of care provided. These centers maintained political involvement in the reproductive rights of the mother and the baby. By the 1990s, only around twenty of these types of centers remained in the United States as they were shut down by the IRS. Today, that number has significantly declined as birth control pills have come about, availing to prevent unwanted pregnancies before they happen (Stein N.G.)
For every 1,000 women, there seems to be about fifteen to twenty abortions, whereas, in the past, those numbers were increasingly higher (Stein N.G.) Around the US, the number of abortions have decreased by about twelve percent. It seems quite ironic because in today’s society, it seems as though people have abortions left and right as if it were nothing.
Each year in the US, about 1.2 million abortions take place. In America today, the face of abortion is often looked at as a frightened teenger, nervously opting to terminate an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy. This is far from the truth. In recent studies, it is proven that African Americans and Hispanics account for over half of the abortions in the US. Also, in the past, abortions were primarily involved with teens who thought of themselves as “too young to be a mother.” Today, over 60% of women getting abortions are in their twenties; only about 25% of women having abortions while in their thirties (Stein N.G.) Also, studies recently showed that teens only account for about 17% of women that have abortions in the United States. A disproportionately high number are African American or Hispanic. However, regardless of race, high abortions rates are most likely linked to hard times in women's life. Women who obtain abortions are mostly younger women; between the ages of twenty and thirty, who are just trying to forge their way through the difficult responsibilities that adulthood brings on.
Many women tend to delay childbearing until they feel stable in their life, especially financially (Planned Parenthood).

It is also proven in recent studies that unmarried women account for about 85% of all abortions (Stein N.G.). This is a result of not wanting to be a single mother, and having to take on a large responsibility solely. That would be a tough job. A very surprising statistic is that almost all women that have an abortion have already given birth to one or more children (Abortion Risk to Future Pregnancy N.G.). One would think that having other children would, and could, change a mother’s heart about having an abortion. But for some reason, many women tend to feel they can’t handle another child; financially speaking. This speaks volumes about the culture in today’s society. People need to make children feel wanted and loved as much as possible. Also, people need to support these mothers who have tough decisions to make. If a mother can really kill her own children, is society actually doing enough to support her emotionally and

financially?
Additionally, 37% of women obtain abortions because of their religion (Abortion Can Never Be Morally Justified N.G.) This means that these women are most likely evangelical or Catholic, in which these religions usually don’t believe in having a baby before marriage. Also, some women choose to have an abortion because of poverty (Planned Parenthood). Their decision is most likely based on their ideas that an abortion is easier to pay for than raising a child is. Action needs to be taken on this in which women don’t feel so “inferior” due to their lack of money.
Women may also feel pressured to have an abortion whether it is by their husbands or even their families. In recent studies, it was shown that around 75% of women admitted that they experienced pressure to terminate their pregnancies. After having an abortion, many women say they regret it even to this day (Lambert A8).
There are many procedures when having an abortion, but some are far more safe and more common than others. The most common type of abortion is the suction aspiration, which is also considered the “vacuum.” This procedure is common during the second trimester of pregnancy. (Planned Parenthood). If done later, the procedure may not work as well and will definitely be more painful for not only the mother, but for the baby as well. This is performed by a doctor gradually opening a women’s cervix with rods, and then proceeding to insert a tube into the uterus. The fetus is then withdrawn with gentle suction. This operation usually is completed within fifteen minutes (Medline Plus).
Another way is surgical abortion.

This way is proven to have more complications, but also to be 100% effective. Of course, the risk of complications always depend on how far along a patient is. Most surgical abortions are often performed and are at less risk for complications during the first trimester of pregnancy. Women tend to have heavy bleeding for several weeks after the abortion as well as severe back pain and abdominal pain. Another common type of abortion is dilation and extraction. This is most common after eighteen weeks of pregnancy (Planned Parenthood. )This procedure is usually where a baby may be photographed after coming out of the womb as it remains intact. With this method, the head of the fetus is reduced in diameter to allow an easy passage from the cervix and vagina. This procedure is done over multiple days. Another procedure is dilation and curettage. It is a simple surgical procedure in which the doctor will place a surgical instrument into the uterus and remove the lining before the fetus has really even begun to develop (Planned Parenthood). Usually during this procedure, the doctor will suggest anesthesia because it can be quite painful (Abortion

MedlinePlus).
The RU 486 pill is an option many women turn to as well. This pill is not quite legal in America, but it sure is making its way. This pill achieves abortion without having surgery. During the first nine weeks of pregnancy, it is almost 100% guaranteed to work. After this benchmark, this is due to the fact that it is only a pill, and pills can only do so much. This pill is also known as the “death pill.” It is called this because it basically contracts the uterus to where it crushes the baby (Palca 1319). This pill is extremely dangerous as it can cause many complications with women’s bodies.
Along with abortions, come many risks for the mother. One of these risks are infections, especially in the pelvic region (Lambert A8). Germs from the vagina or cervix may enter the uterus during the abortion and cause an infection in the pelvic region. While antibiotics may can treat these infections, in some cases, hospitalization may be required. Also, incomplete abortions are very rare but can occur. With incomplete abortions, a repeat procedure may be required (Abortion MedlinePlus).
Of course, with a repeat procedure, further risks and complications come about such as infection and bleeding. Bleeding is quite typical following an abortion, but heavy bleeding is not. Also, with heavy bleeding, a repeat procedure may be scheduled to treat it. One can see that with each procedure, another complication can arise. From bleeding, of course, comes blood clots. This occurs when the blood is blocked by either an object or even from the uterus lining. This causes severe pain to the mother, causing her to have what feels like strong period cramps (MedlinePlus).
Clots don’t just go away on their own. Mothers usually have to go through a repeat abortion procedure to remove the clot. Not only can mothers feel pain and have repeat procedures done, but their internal organs become damaged. For example, a cut or torn cervix is very common. This is caused by the doctor stretching the cervix to allow the medical instrument to be inserted. Along with a cut cervix, a tear of the wall of the uterus is just as common. A medical instrument can easily cut through the wall of the uterus, especially during a suction abortion procedure. Women usually have absent or very painful menstrual cycles if either of these occur (MedlinePlus). The risk of future miscarriages and infertility increases drastically as the new baby does not have a “clean” place to begin it’s growth (Abortion Risk to Future Pregnancy). Furthermore, the risks and complications to the mother far outweigh the benefits of having an abortion.
Along with the risks to the mother, a baby is affected by abortions as well. The question “Does a fetus have a right to life?” has been on the rise for many years now. Many studies show that a fetus does have a right to life because it is a person from the very moment of conception. Abortion is looked at by any Americans as a social failure in the fact that a fetus is not treated like a human should be treated (Almond 78) Jessica Arons, a pro-life activist stated “We should strive to reduce the number of abortions in America today as it devalues human dignity” (Almond 106). However, the pro-choice people want to deny this by saying that this baby “doesn’t even feel the pain” that an abortion brings on (Almond 159) Also, pro-choicers believe that the fetus is not an actual person so therefore, it has no right to life. However, this is not true. It is proven that within only 8 weeks after fertilization, the baby reacts to stimuli such as touch and smell. By 20 weeks, the baby can feel tremendous amounts of pain from actions that the mother do (MedlinePlus). For example, when a mother makes a sudden move that startles the baby, inside, the baby rolls over in the womb as it becomes startled as well. Also, studies have recently proven that babies at this age feel pain much more intensely than adults do. Surgeons have even noticed that when getting ready to perform an abortion, the babies will flinch, recoil, and jerk at these sharp objects coming towards them and touching them (Planned Parenthood). Besides, in certain states in America, abortion is illegal after twenty weeks because that fetus is considered an actual person. That baby can feel pain, and some states believe that is it murder to have an abortion after twenty weeks. Pro-life organizations are continuing to push hard for the limit in states to be before the twenty weeks due to the fact that a fetus reacts to outside stimuli at only eight weeks old (Duran 13).
Therefore, abortion controversies will continue because there will always be a mother somewhere that feels as if she is not ready to have a baby. This continuing controversy is over the question of rights and whether or not a fetus have the “right to life.” Moreover, abortions are wrong and are morally irresponsible as it not only has negative effects on the child, but on the mother as well.