ETHICAL ISSUES PERTAINING TO ABORTION

WHAT IS ETHICS……

Definition

The basic concepts and fundamental principles

of decent human conduct . It includes study of
universal values such as the essential equality of
all men and women, human or natural rights,
obedience to the law of land, concern for health
and safety and, increasingly, also for the natural
environment. See also morality.
 WHAT IS ABORTION…….
The word abortion comes from the Latin abortio, which
means to abort, miscarry, deliver prematurely. The Latin
word abortus means "miscarriage, premature, untimely
birth". In medicine abortion means ending a pregnancy
prematurely. An abortion is when the pregnancy is
ended so that it does not result in the birth of a child.
Sometimes this is called 'termination of pregnancy'.
ABORTION IN INDIAN LAW
Abortion in India is legal only up to twenty weeks of pregnancy
under specific conditions and situations which are broadly defined as:

 If a woman is married, her own written consent is sufficient.

Her husband’s consent is not required

 If a woman is unmarried and over 18, she can provide her

own written consent

 If a woman is unmarried and under 18, she must provide

written consent from her guardian

 If a woman is mentally unstable, she must provide written

consent from her guardian
Abortion as per the Indian MTP
Act
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of India clearly
mentions the conditions under which only a pregnancy can be
ended. An abortion as interpreted from the Indian MTP Act are:
1. A pregnancy may be terminated by a registered
medical practitioner
2. A pregnancy occurring as a result of rape.
3. Failure of contraceptive device used by a couple.
 Abortion in India: Legal, But
Not Always Safe

 Even though abortion is legal in almost all countries to

save a woman’s life and in three-fifths of countries.
Abortion has been permitted in India for a broad variety of
reasons. devastating effect in rural areas.
Rates for maternal mortality are highest among poor rural
women.
 ABORTION IN USA LAW

 In consultation with their physician, women have a constitutionally

protected right to have an abortion in the early stages of pregnancy.

 Abortion has been legal in the USA since 1973, but may be restricted by
any of the 56 states to varying degrees.

 Approximately 3700 abortions are conducted daily in the United States.

 Legal Arguments
 Right to life

 Supreme Court decision

 Legal definition of murder

 Definition of murder – exceptions

 Personhood issues
 Right to Life

The Declaration of Independence of the United States guarantees

“certain unalienable Rights, that among those are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness”
 Supreme Court Decision

 The Supreme Court held that the “right to privacy,” assured the
freedom of a person to abort unless the state had a “compelling
interest” in preventing the abortion.

 The Court then held that, though the state had an interest in
protecting fetal life, this interest did not become “compelling”
until “fetal viability” occurred in the third trimester of pregnancy.
 Legal Definition of Murder

CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE SECTION 187-

199

a. Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus,

with malice aforethought.
DEFINITION OF MURDER –
EXCEPTIONS

b. This section shall not apply to any person who

commits an act that results in the death of a fetus if
any of the following apply:
3. The act was solicited, aided, abetted, or
consented to by the mother of the fetus.
 LEGAL PERSONHOOD ISSUES

 The fetus is granted personhood if

wanted by the mother
 The fetus can become a non-person at
the discretion of the mother
 However, a mother may not choose to
kill her born child
 How can the personhood of a human
being be decided by another person?
 REASONS FOR GIVEN
ABORTION

 Concern for/ responsibility to other individuals

 Not wanting their lives changed by the birth of a baby
 Yong or unmarried
 Unplanned or unwanted
 Relationship problem
 Mother health risk
 Pregnancy is the result of crime
 Unacceptable quality of life
 Procedure
Abortions must be performed by a doctor with one of the following
qualifications:
 A registered medical practitioner who has performed at least 25
medically assisted term inations of pregnancy

 A surgeon who has six months’ experience in obstetrics and

gynaecology.

 A person who has a diploma or degree in obstetrics and

gynaecology

 A doctor who was registered before the 1971 Medical Termination

of Pregnancy Act and who has three years’ experience in
obstetrics and gynaecology

 A doctor who registered after 1971 and has been practising in

obstetrics and gynaecology for at least a year
Abortion Health Risks and Side-
Effects
Immediate Side-Effects
 Pain and/or cramping
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Diarrhea
 Reaction to anesthetic
 Death
Short-Term Problems Post-
Abortion

 Infection
 Heavy Bleeding
 Retained Tissue
 Puncture of the uterus
 Sterility
Long-Term Problems
Post-Abortion

 Future Fertility

 Psychological and Emotional

 The Abortion-Breast Cancer

Connection
THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND
AGAINST ABORTION
Pro-life Argument

This is defined as the

responsibility or
obligation of the
government to
preserve all human
life regardless of
intent, viability or
quality of life
concerns.
 Who You Want to be First?
Pro-life Argument

 Regular people have the right to

live.
 The fetus is a distinct human
from the moment of conception
 Unless the woman’s life is
endanger, a woman have the
duty not to kill their unborn
babies.
 Murder should be illegal in a
moral society.
9/15/2014
PRO-CHOICE
ARGUMENT

This is the belief that

women have the
rights to choose to
abort the baby.
 Who You Want to be First?

 Pro-Choice Argument
Regular people have rights to their
bodies, as long as they do not hurt
others
The fetus is not a "human" until it
born.
Women do not have the duty be
pregnant against their will, and they
can change their minds.
Therefore women have the right to
choose to end their pregnancy.

23
 WOMEN RIGHTS
 A women has a right to make decision that
involve her body.
 If the pregnancy was the result of hard cases like
rape, incest etc.
 Major issues for abortion-right to life, right to
liberty, right to security.
 Involve risk to life.
 Child will be disabled and low quality of life.
 CHILD RIGHTS

 The fetus is a human

being with fundamental
right to life.

 Every child is wanted

child.

 The unborn child has

the right not to be
killed.
Abortion is ethical and also
unethical
Rape
Sex-selection
 Solution if any….

Sex education

Birth control methods

Unintended pregnancy
What baby says……
 GROUP VIEW ON
ABORTION
 Reducing unwanted pregnancies
 Killed the innocent life is totally wrong
 Every child is wanted child
 Choice, right, Life, all people are equal even a fetus
 Being a mother is just one option for women
 Guaranteeing genuinely free and informed choice
 Providing a loving home for all children
 Encourage pregnant friends to choose life
 Get involved with a pro-life group
 CONCLUSION
Abortion is not legal nor illegal, It is
sometimes ethical and also unethical. It is
not a relief as most of them feel so. But it is
still a debatable issue.