Abortion continues to be one of the world’s most controversial and severe topics of debate due to the nature of the issue and the boundaries it would influence upon its legalization. Abortion pertains to the forced and intentional removal of the fetus from the mother’s womb, either by pills or by physical means. It has been noted that legalization of abortion would only foster more debates while the trend continues to increase around the globe. Supporters of legalizing abortion often note that once legalized, abortion would be prevented as parents and government institutions would have to be informed by young parents who wish to undergo abortion. However, opponents clearly argue that legalizing such forced killing of a young soul would only harbor resentment, especially by society given the moral notions they believe and worship. While it is plausible that legalization would prevent the increasing number of abortion cases, abortion should not be legalized because it disregards the importance of life and present physical and mental risks to any mother who would undergo such procedure.
Supporters of abortion legalization note that passing the Abortion Law would enable the government and parents to regulate abortion cases since one must submit several requirements before the procedure is to be done to them. Abortion itself is a very tough decision to make, especially if the pregnancy is by accident or life-threatening. It is crucial that legalization is to be passed as it would enable parents to aid their children in deciding if they should undergo abortion or try something else. Parents may take care of the baby for their children, or they may seek foster care so the baby would be taken care of by families who could not bear their own children. Supporters also note that legalizing abortion would make teenagers reconsider undergoing into sexual activity, and consider using protection like contraceptives. With the idea that abortion is legalized, teenagers would not be just aware of the circumstances they have to face should their partners become pregnant, it would also enable them to exercise caution to prevent the increase of sexually transmitted diseases and other similar complications .
While the idea of reducing abortion cases with legalization proves to be a crucial goal to realize, the idea of legalizing a questionable act to life is unacceptable. Members of the religious sector and pro-life advocates noted that abortion should not be legalized for the very fact it would deprive the embryo the right to live. Embryos, according to these anti-abortion supporters, already have souls upon their development, which is why the act must not be tolerated. While religions vary in when the embryo contains a soul, they all see abortion as a moral sin. In Christianity, for example, abortion is seen as a double sin as it violates two commandments on life. With religion playing a key element in society, their stance regarding abortion strengthens the conceived notion that if abortion is legalized, it just shows that disabled people (such as fetuses) are insignificant and should be killed. In addition to this, legalizing abortion would cause society to throw their lives away haphazardly as the concept of life’s sanctity is no longer important .
In addition to this argument, legalizing abortion would only open risks to the young mother’s life that would undergo such operation. While there are some cases that highlight mothers who undergo abortion due to life-threatening consequences, regular and pre-meditated abortion would become dangerous in the future even if done once. Some of the dangers attached to abortion could either be a medical complication or a psychological dilemma. In the medical aspect, a woman’s vital organs such as the vagina, womb and her cervix would be would be open to infection such as hemorrhage, pelvic infections, hematoma, and lacerations. Since abortion would forcefully remove the fetus from a mother’s womb, this weakens the woman’s body and opens them up to severe physical consequence. Psychologically, mothers may develop post-abortion depression and anxiety after undergoing abortion which causes them to be detached to society. Their depression and guilt would cause them to question their decisions in building a family or their right to give birth to a child. Researchers even noted that mothers or teenagers who have already undergo the procedure once would find it hard to seek the procedure again should they become pregnant accidentally or due to complications .
Life is precious, and so is the life of the next generation that would reshape the world in their image and continue the life the older generation would leave behind. Cutting such life early on, especially upon its conception, clearly denies them of this future and innocently carry the sins of their parents who do not want to face the responsibility of taking care of them. Although legalization would have placed some restrictions to abortion’s accessibility to the public who would want to commit it, the lack of teeth of these policies showcases that it would not be an effective tool to remove abortion all together. Undeniably so, whether or not abortion is legalized, society itself would not easily accept couples who would undergo such treatment just because they do not wish to have the child. The risks involving abortion is also great, which may affect couples in the future. While there may be cases abortion would be essential to save one’s life, it should not be undertook by irresponsible parents who believe they are not ready for the outcome of their actions.
Works Cited
Farrell, Courtney. The Abortion Debate. Edina: ABDO Publishing Company, 2008. Print.
Hadley, Janet. Abortion. New York: Temple University Press, 1997. Print.
Knowles, Jon. The Emotional Effects of Induced Abortion. Report. New York: Planned Parenthood Fedeartion of America, 2001. Print.
