HS4015 Essay Assignment:

What are some of the ethical issues in the abortion debate, and how does this affect what we understand about life and reproduction? How does abortion affect the mothers physical and mental health?

Jeremy Khoo U0930146A

Following the historical case of Roe vs. Wade, the United States Supreme Court legalised abortion in 1973. Since then, abortion has gained more and more supporters, with people citing instances such as rape as legitimate reasons to get an abortion. However, in recent years, people have been getting abortions for lesser reasons. Some may cite wanting to further a career before having children, or just having an unwanted pregnancy as reason enough for having an abortion. Many groups of people have taken different sides of the abortion debate, with the general population being divided into two broad categories: pro-life and pro-choice. Most religious groups such as Christianity generally belong to the pro-life group. Christians believe that life is God-given and we are in no position to take that away from anyone (Condic, 2008). However, this brings about the debate: when does life start? In this essay, I will be examining some of the debates surrounding abortion, and how having an abortion affects the woman not just physically, but also mentally.

From a scientific point of view, it is still debatable as to the exact moment when life begins and when the embryo may be considered as a separate human being. According to Senator John McCain, in an interview with Rick Warren in 2008, life begins at the moment of conception (Condic, 2008:1). He did not, however, give a specific definition of the moment at which that would occur. In her paper, Dr Maureen Condic brings us through the stages that occur just after the egg is fertilised by a sperm. After the first sperm reaches the egg and bonds with it, their membranes fuse with each other, forming a new cell: the zygote. One of the first duties of the zygote is to form a protective layer around the now fertilized egg to prevent other sperm from trying to reach it. This new cell formed is uniquely different from the

sperm or the egg. Over the course of the next few hours, the nuclei from both the sperm and the egg replicate their DNA while awaiting the first round of cell division. While it is scientifically proven that the zygote is a new unique cell, this does not mean that it is a new human being. Condic argues that there is a difference between a human organism and a human cell. In her paper, Condic defines an organism as a complex structure of interdependent and subordinate elements whose relations and properties are largely determined by their function in the whole, and an individual constituted to carry on the activities of life by means of organs separate in function but mutually dependent: a living being (2008:6). A zygote, being a single-celled organism, does not fulfil this criterion. However, at the same time, it is hard to argue that it is just like any other cell in a human body. The zygote is the beginning of life, but what makes it different from any other process of manufacturing, is that the embryo is manufacturing itself (2008:11). In other manufacturing processes, such as in making computers, other machines are in charge of putting the pieces together to form the whole, and the computer is not considered a computer until all the individual parts are put together. What makes the embryo different from other manufacturing processes is that the embryo is manufacturing itself. This raises questions as to when in the process that the embryo can be considered a human being, since it can be considered a unique organism from the moment the sperm and egg fuse together.

This complicates the issue of abortion, as some would use the fact that a new cell is formed immediately after the union of the sperm and egg to argue that the moment of conception is when a new life is brought into the world. However, others may argue that the zygote is too simple a cell to be considered a human life. Many

religious groups hold stances that strongly discourage abortion. Catholicism is one religion that opposes abortion in all circumstances, leaving no room for exceptional cases such as pregnancy due to rape. In Islam, it is generally accepted that abortion is not permissible after four months; the point at which Muslims believe the foetus becomes a living soul. Even during the first four months, abortion should only be carried out in the case of rape, or if the mothers life is in danger due to the pregnancy. Most Christians also believe that abortion should not be carried out, as life is sacred and God-given, and only He has the right to take it away. A prominent Christian family organisation, Focus on the Family, states: we believe that every human, in every condition from the single cell stage of development to natural death, is made in Gods image and possess inestimable worth. Abortion runs contrary to these beliefs (Focus on the Family, 2008). Even in other religions, other than the religions of the Book, such as Hinduism, abortion is condemned as it is seen to go against the Hindu teachings of non-violence. In general, most religions do not support abortion, and only allow it to be carried out in exceptional situations, and definitely not as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection or any reason of mere convenience (The Pew Forum, 2013). Of course, such views do not belong solely to the religious. There are atheists who also hold strong beliefs that abortion is the moral equivalent of murder, and those who do choose to be involved in abortions should be treated as murderers (Kline, 2013). There are still arguments from the medical standpoint that abortion is always wrong, even when allowing the pregnancy to continue may mean a risk to the mothers life. If an embryo were to be considered as an individual, then even abortion to save the mothers life would be seen as murder. In 1841, Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia declared, with respect to abortion, that two deaths were better than one

murder (Luker, 1985:31). Others may also argue that deformed foetuses should be aborted as they would only cause distress and be a burden to the family and society in general. This, however, is a very weak argument as it would be hard to draw the line as to what would be considered to great a deformity. There are many examples of handicapped individuals who have gone on to live very fulfilling lives. Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs, but he has gone on to overcome the obstacles laid before him and is now an inspirational speaker, motivating others to make the best of the opportunities given to them (Life Without Limbs Inc, 2013). Sadly, there have also been many other cases of abortion that have been carried out because the foetus was found to have the same handicaps that other people have overcome.

John Piper, a prominent American Protestant pastor, recently published a post on his website, www.desiringgod.org, entitled Fifteen Pro-Life Truths to Speak (Piper, 2013). Of these 15 points that he raised, he raised certain contradictions that occur when abortion is carried out. In point number two, he raised the issue of how certain surgeries were performed on babies while still inside the womb in order to save them, while other babies the same age are legally being aborted. In fact, ultrasounds have shown that an eight-week-old foetus has the ability to suck its thumb, react to pricking and responding to sound. However, almost all abortions take place after eight weeks into the pregnancy. The first issue he raised points out how there are foetal homicide laws that have already been put in place which make an individual guilty of manslaughter if he or she were to kill the unborn baby in the womb. However, abortion is still considered legal in such states. For example, in the state of Georgia, teen abortions can be carried out as long as there is parental notification. The parents of the girl do not even need to consent; all that is required if

for them to be informed. If the girl manages to get a court approval, the parents do not even need to be notified in order for the abortion to be a legal one. In emergency cases, abortions may also be carried out without parental notification (Witmer, 2013). However, according to Georgias state code, a person commits the offense of feticide if he or she wilfully kills an unborn child so far developed as to be ordinarily called quick by causing any injury to the mother of such a child, the penalty being life imprisonment. In another section of the state code, an unborn child is defined as a member of the species Homo Sapiens at any stage of development who is carried in the womb (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013). Such contradicting guidelines certainly do not help the issue at hand, where terminating a life may be considered legal in one circumstance, but seen as highly illegal and worthy of life imprisonment in another. There are many other arguments similar to Pipers, but in general they all hinge on the notion that the unborn child MUST be considered as an individual human being. Without such an assumption, most of these kinds of arguments have no leverage.

However, there are more than just ethical issues to consider regarding abortion. The health risks involving abortion are real, which is one of the reasons why abortions were legalised again in the first place. In the nineteenth century, back-alley abortions were becoming more and more common. The increasing number of abortions being carried out without proper hygiene standards meant that there were more risks of infection. Puerperal fever, a form of bacterial infection that women contracted during childbirth or miscarriage, was as likely to happen if a woman were to undergo abortion, as the operation created sites for infection within the uterus

(Luker, 1985:38). Today, complications may arise during the abortion operation itself, even with the aid of modern medicine and technology. According to the South Dakota Task Force Report, many incidents of suicides, homicides, accidental injuries, unspecified physical complications and cancers may have abortion as a significant contribution factor (Siegel, 2007:1012). This is in light of the US Centers for Disease Controls (CDCs) statistics that carrying a pregnancy to full-term has a higher mortality rate for the women, as compared to those who choose to undergo an abortion. The Task Force Report asserts that the CDC did not link many deaths to abortion, when it should have been the case.

However, the main issue of concern regarding abortion is not so much the physical harm, but the mental damage that the woman and those around her may be susceptible to. In a study by Fergusson et al (2006:19), it was found that 31.2% of teenagers aged 15-18 who were not pregnant suffered from depression. Of those who got pregnant, but did not carry out an abortion, the number was 35.7%, a slight increase. However, this proportion is more than doubled when it comes to girls who have had an abortion. Of the girls aged 15-18 who underwent an abortion, an overwhelming 78.6% of them suffered from major depression. Similar proportions of these statistics are reflected in other mental disorders as well, such as anxiety disorder and suicide ideation. These statistics tell a story of how abortion affects the mental health of the woman, especially is she is still young. But why does abortion have such an adverse effect on the womans mental health?

One possible perspective puts forth the view that abortion is so traumatic because it is still a unique death experience, and not just any death, but the death of

ones own unborn child. There is the intentional destruction of the unborn child, a witnessing of a violent death, a violation of parental instinct and responsibility and the burden of unacknowledged grief (Major et al, 2009:866). Even if one were not to regard the foetus as a unique human being, it cannot be denied that abortion is a very violent act. Such is the extent of the violence that the term, postabortion syndrome (PAS), has been coined by Speckhard and Rue (1992). PAS was conceptualised as a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the severity of which was likened to the PTSD that soldiers returning home from the Vietnam War experienced. This stress may be a result of a combination of factors such as having an illegal abortion or unsupportive family members and friends. Abortions may also be the catalyst instead of the sole cause of mental illness in women. Existing issues, such as poverty or intimate-partner violence, have a significant role in affecting the mental health of the woman. In such cases, all these other factors have to be taken into account in order to gain a clearer idea of what kind of role abortion plays in the womans life, and how she arrived at the decision to undergo an abortion (Major et al, 2009:867).

Abortion has always been a controversial topic with two distinct camps, prochoice and pro-life. Many who belong to either camp hold on to their beliefs very strongly and firmly believe that they are right. However, sometimes we have to take a step back from the big picture and look at the individuals who have to make the decision as to whether or not to abort their pregnancy. While it is one thing to say, two deaths is better than one murder, it is an entirely different issue when you have to make that decision. While a woman may believe that if there were to be an unwanted pregnancy, the easiest and most convenient solution would be to terminate

the pregnancy, maternal instincts may kick in and result in her wanting to keep the baby, despite her previous stand. There are many ethical and philosophical issues surrounding abortion, a few of which have been discussed in this essay. Of course, there is also the physical and mental health aspect to abortion, and it is hard to separate the different angles at which one views abortion. Whether one regards the developing foetus as a life would have a definite impact on the mothers mental health. If one were to regard even the zygote as a life, then any act of abortion would be regarded as murder. Whenever there are lives at stake, there is bound to be controversy, and it certainly is no different when it comes to abortion. One of the factors the surrounds all this controversy is whether or not the developing foetus may be considered as a human being, and until that question is objectively answered, there will always be debates surrounding the issue.

References Condic, Maureen L., 2008. When Does Human Life Begin? A Scientific Perspective. White Paper, Volume 1, Number 1. The Westchester Institute for Ethics and The Human Person: October 2008. Fergusson, David M., L. John Horwood and Elizabeth M. Ridder, 2006. Abortion in young women and subsequent mental health. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 47(1):16-24. Focus on the Family, 2008. Our Position (Abortion). Colorado Springs: Focus on the Family. Retrieved 13 April, 2013. (http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/social-issues/abortion/ourposition.aspx) Kline, Austin, 2013. Atheists and Abortion: Godless Views on the Legality and Morality of Abortion. New York: About.com. Retrived 14 April, 2013. (http://atheism.about.com/od/abortioncontraception/p/AtheistsAbort.htm) Life Without Limbs Inc, 2013. Life without Limbs: Nick Vujicic From No Limbs to No Limits. Agoura Hills, California: Life Without Limbs. Retrieved 12 April, 2013. (http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/)

Luker, Kristin, 1985. Chapter 7 in Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood, pp. 158-191. University of California Press. Major, Brenda, Mark Appelbaum, Linda Beckman, Mary Ann Dutton, Nancy Felipe Russo and Carolyn West, 2009. Abortion and Mental Health: Evaluating the Evidence. American Psychologist 64(9):863-890. National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013. Fetal Homicide Laws. Washington D.C.: The National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 13 April 2013. (http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/fetal-homicide-statelaws.aspx) The Pew Forum, 2013. Religious Groups Official Positions on Abortion. Washington D.C.: The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Retrieved 13 April, 2013. (http://www.pewforum.org/Abortion/Religious-Groups-OfficialPositions-on-Abortion.aspx) Piper, John, 2013. Fifteen Pro-Life Truths To Speak. Minneapolis: desiringGod. Retrieved 13 April, 2013. (http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/tastesee-articles/fifteen-pro-life-truths-to-speak) Siegal, Reva B., 2007. The New Politics of Abortion: An Equality Analysis of Woman-Protective Abortion Restrictions. Yale Law School Legal Scholarship Repository: Faculty Scholarship Series. Paper 1138:990-1054. Speckhard, Anne C. and Vincent M. Rue, 1992. Postabortion Syndrome: An Emerging Public Health Concern. Journal of Social Issues, 48, pp.95-119. Witmer, Denise, 2013. Abortion Laws for Teens by State. New York: About.com. Retrieved 14 April 2013. (http://parentingteens.about.com/od/teenpregfact/a/abortion_laws.htm)