Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Abortion A separate life with

tragic consequences
Jesica Paredes

Table of contents.................................................................i
Introduction........................................................................1
Position................................................................................1
Pros......................................................................................2
Cons.....................................................................................3
Opposing View....................................................................4
Conclusion..........................................................................5
Conclusion..........................................................................6
Citations..............................................................................ii
Citations.............................................................................iii

Abortion is one of the most controversial topics worldwide. In the United States,
abortion is the second most common surgical procedure, next to tonsillectomy (Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society, Abortions Tragic Troll). Moreover, Annually, over 1.5 million
abortions are performed (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Abortions Tragic Troll).
Because of abortion, an enormous number of humans have their lives tragically terminated.
Many who are in favor of abortion argue that the mother is the owner of her body. They argue
that because the fetus is inside her body, she has the right to decide to terminate the fetus.
However, others, such as myself, believe the complete opposite: the life inside the mother is a
separate individual with the right to live, and to terminate that life would amount to tragic,
lasting consequences for the prospective mother.
Is the fetus inside the mother a separate individual or not? There is convincing evidence
that cannot be dismissed that the fetus is a separate individual from the mother even though it is
inside the mothers womb. This conclusion is firmly founded primarily on the fact that a fetus
has its own DNA, chromosomes, and genes. Proof of this is affirmed in the quote, DNA is the
combination of proteins called nucleotides that are arranged to make up each human
chromosome (Judson and Harrison 328). Additionally this fact is true: that half of each persons
chromosomes come from the mother and the other half from the father that gives each
individually designed person 46 chromosomes (Judson and Harrison 328). This makes a very
different person from both parents. Moreover, chromosomes are what make the person who they
are. These chromosomes are responsible for an individuals characteristics, such as hair color
(Judson and Harrison 328). In addition, genes that are found in the DNA are in charge of organs,
cells, and tissues that form each human being (Judson and Harrison 328). Thus, a unique life is
formed. Contrary to this, if a fetus did not have its own DNA, chromosomes, and genes, it would

never develop into a human being, regardless, if it was kept in the womb for a total of nine
months. Therefore, a fetus because of its own DNA, chromosomes, and genes is a separate
individual from the mother. For those reasons, abortion should not be performed because it
would take the life away from a separate person who has very different DNA.
Each personal decision made comes with pros and cons. The pros result in positive
consequences while the cons result in negative consequences. In order to make a personal
decision wisely it is import to know the pros and cons. Therefore, three very important pros
(positive consequences) will be considered in the decision to reject an abortion. The first pro is
by refusing to go through the process of abortion the mother will not expose herself to the risk of
death or infertility that may occur after an abortion is performed. Hemorrhage, puncture of the
uterus, blood clots, fever are all complications that can occur after an abortion (Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society, Abortions Tragic Troll). These complications put the mother at risk of
death. In addition, Government studies in the United States, Britain, and the former
Czechoslovakia suggest that abortion greatly increases the later chances of infertility, tubal
pregnancy, miscarriages, premature birth, and birth defects (Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society, Abortions Tragic Troll). Consequently, abortion could lead to death or infertility. The
second, choosing not to abort will leave the pregnant woman not only with good health, but also
with a good conscience. However, Conscience cannot be equated to religion (Sepper).
Moreover the conscience, is significantly broader, informed by education, experience, and
introspection (Sepper). In other words, the conscience acts on knowledge that then determines
the actions of the individual (Sepper). In addition, the conscience acts like an internal lie detector
that accuses an individual or excuses an action. For example, having the knowledge that an
unborn fetus is a human being, but aborting it would leave the pregnant woman with a bad

conscience. On the contrary, if the choice were made not to abort the fetus, the mother would be
left with a clean conscience because she is not going against the knowledge that she is depriving
her baby from life. The third, if the pregnant woman does not want to keep the child, the option
available is to give the baby up for adoption at birth. This is a pro because many young and older
couples are infertile which means they are not able to have children; therefore, the mother would
help them experience the privilege of being parents. To conclude, the three pros for rejecting
abortion are good health, a good conscience, and adoption, which saves a life and makes possible
a happy life for all concerned.
Having stated the pros of rejecting abortion, three cons (or negative consequences) that
effect the decision not to abort are also important to consider. The first is the responsibility a
perspective parent acquires. For example, to accept the responsibility of having and keeping the
child makes the parent accountable for providing all of the childs needs. Those needs include
food, shelter, clothing, education, and many other needs. In addition, studies have shown that
women who have a low economic status are most likely to become pregnancy with an unwanted
child (Journal of Pakistan Medical Association). Thus, choosing not abort results in serious
responsibility. On the contrary, the decision to abort brings none. A consideration should be kept
in mind that each state in United States has government programs to assist families or single
mothers of low income. The second consequence for aborting is family disprovable. Family
disprovable especially toward single mothers and adolescents is a huge consequence because the
family is the support system needed by all. However, there would be no reason for families to
disapprove if there is no abortion. The third con of not having an abortion is that it leads to a
complete life style change. A life style change caused by pregnancy is very difficult for some
women. For example, some women might have to drop out of school, or change jobs if the job is

dangerous for a pregnant women. Although abortion would result in no, need to change the life
style. However, although pregnancy will cause a life style change adjustments can be made to
carry on a successful life. To conclude, the cons of deciding against abortion are responsibility,
family disprovable, and life style changes.
There are certain individuals who are in favor of abortion because they view it as just a
solution to a problem. Moreover, these individuals also believe that the pregnant woman is
within her right to terminate the pregnancy because they reason that the fetus is inside the
mothers body. However, how can people argue that the fetus is part of the womans body if it is
a separate individual with its own DNA, chromosomes, and genes different from the mothers?
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act, although it does not apply to abortion, recognizes the fetus
in those cases as a separate individual (Judson and Harrison 284). Therefore, why would it not be
the same for abortion, which also causes death to the fetus in the uterus? Furthermore, some
people believe that it is acceptable to abort the fetus after genetic testing detects Down
Syndrome. Individuals with Down Syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21 (Judson
and Harrison 332). The individuals, who encourage the mother to abort the fetus in the
circumstances, do not take into account that they are encouraging the death of a human being. It
is interesting to note that, Overall, increased prenatal testing contributes to the high abortion
rate of fetuses diagnosed with Down Syndrome, a lack of genuine informed consent, greater
intolerance of people and especially children with disabilities, and less money for research and
development of effective treatments (Dixon). In addition, some people are in favor of abortion
for circumstances, such as rape. They reason it is unfair that the woman has to keep a child she
does not want because it is a product of rape. Although this might be true, the question remains
why must an innocent individual, who in this case is the fetus, pay with its life for the bad deeds

of others who have done wrong? In addition, even if it seems best in these cases to abort it is
important to consider that, One survey of 3,500 consecutive victims of rape in Minneapolis,
U.S.A., yielded not a single case of pregnancy. Although, Of 86,000 abortions in the former
Czechoslovakia, only 22 were for rape (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, The Abortion
Dilemma). In other words, very few pregnancies are caused by rape. Therefore, due to the small
number of pregnancies caused by rape, abortion should still not be an acceptable alternative. To
conclude, the reasons why some individuals are in favor of abortion is because they believe it is
the mothers body, prenatal testing, and rape.
Abortion remains one of the most controversial issues and must be decided on a personal
level. The individuals who believe abortion should not be performed because they know the
fetus, although still the mothers womb is a separate individual. Moreover, that the fetus has its
own DNA, chromosomes, and genes that collectively form a human being with the right to live.
Moreover, to terminate that life would be wrong and would bring tragic consequences to both
child and mother. The pros (or positive consequences) of choosing not to have an abortion are
good health, a good conscience, and adoption which creates everything positive for a happy life.
On the other hand, the individuals who see nothing wrong with abortion believe that because the
fetus is inside the mother body she has the right to terminate that fetus. They are in favor of
abortion also because of prenatal testing that could detect Down Syndrome and because of the
few pregnancies caused by rape. The cons (or negative consequences) that come with the
decision of not aborting are the responsibility of rising a child and providing its needs, the family
disprovable that could result, and the life style changes. In conclusion, although some may argue
the contrary, it is proven that a fetus is a separate individual from the mother and that is why
abortion is unacceptable. Therefore, a pregnant woman should consider the consequences before

allowing emotions to dictate a very sad outcome the death of her unborn child and all the
negative consequences that could lead to a lifetime of damage.

Citations
Dixon, Darrin P. "Informed consent or institutionalized eugenics? How the medical profession
encourages abortion of fetuses with down syndrome." Issues in Law & Medicine Summer
2008: 3+. Academic OneFile. Web. 3 June 2015.
http://proxy.chemeketa.edu:2048/login?
url=http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.chemeketa.edu:2048/ps/i.do?id=GALE
%7CA183489201&v=2.1&u=oregon_chemeke&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=7eedcaaa
b70d9382996560950872c064
"Is Abortion Right? What's Involved in This Explosive Issue?" JW.ORG. Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society of New York, Inc., 22 May 1993. Web. 04 June 2015.
<http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g19930522/the-abortion-dilemma/>.
Judson, Karen, and Carlene Harrison. Law & Ethics for the Health Professions. 6th ed. New
York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. Print.
Sepper, Elizabeth. "Not only the doctor's dilemma: the complexity of conscience in medicine."
Faulkner Law Review 4.2 (2013): 385+. Academic OneFile. Web. 3 June 2015.
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ce804e25528e2aa378e08ac4

"Unwanted pregnancy and traditional self-induced abortion methods known among women aged
15 to 49." Journal of Pakistan Medical Association 31 May 2015. Academic OneFile.
Web. 3 June 2015.
http://proxy.chemeketa.edu:2048/login?
url=http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.chemeketa.edu:2048/ps/i.do?id=GALE
%7CA414153865&v=2.1&u=oregon_chemeke&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=3ca314b3
16ea359da998f21edc852e53
"What Abortion Is-What This Common Procedure Involves and Does." JW.ORG. Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 22 May 1993. Web. 03 June 2015.
<http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g19930522/abortion-tragic-toll/#?
insight[search_id]=4d1570e5-6793-4042-8a4a765838788c03&insight[search_result_index]=0>.