Abortion

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Abortion Debate
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An abortion is the termination or ending of a pregnancy by the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. An abortion can be induced or can occur spontaneously due to complications during a pregnancy. The term abortion commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy; spontaneous, natural abortions are usually termed miscarriages.

Abortion has a long history and has been induced by methods including herbal abortifacients, the use of sharpened tools, trauma, and other traditional methods. Modern medicine uses medications or surgical procedures to induce abortion. The prevalence, cultural views, and legality of abortion vary around the world, resulting in intense public debate over the ethical and legal aspects of abortion in many parts of the world.

In 2006, the approximate number of induced abortions worldwide was 44 million. It has declined from nearly 46 million in 1995.

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History

Induced abortion can be traced back to ancient times, where pregnancies were terminated through methods including herbal abortifacients (natural substance that induces abortion), use of sharpened implements, application of abdominal pressure, and other techniques.

Abortion was outlawed in the US and the UK in the 19th century, but continued despite the bans. In the 20th century, the Soviet Union, Iceland, and Sweden were among the first countries to legalize certain or all forms of abortion.

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Types of Abortion

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Spontaneous Abortion

Spontaneous abortion, also known as a miscarriage, is the expulsion of an embryo or a fetus due to accidental trauma or natural causes. They occur due to incorrect replication of chromosomes or sometimes occur due to environmental factors. They occur when an embryo or fetus is lost before the 20th week of gestation.

Characteristics

  • Occur very early in pregnancy
  • Occur so early in the pregnancy that sometimes the woman isn't aware she was pregnant
  • Risk is greater in those with a known history of miscarriages or induced abortions
  • Risk is greater in those with systemic diseases
  • Risk is greater in those over the age of 35
  • Causes
    • Accidental trauma
    • Infection (in the woman or the fetus)
    • Serious disease
    • Environmental factors
    • Intentional trauma
    • Stress
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Induced Abortion

An induced abortion is the intentional abortion of an embryo or fetus. The manner of the abortion depends greatly on the gestational age of the embryo or fetus, as well as the legality, availability, and doctor-patient preference for specific procedures.

The reasons for induced abortions are characterized as either therapeutic or elective. They are considered therapeutic when it is performed to save the live of the woman, preserve the woman's physical or mental health, terminate a pregnancy that would result in a child born with a fatal disorder, or selectively reduce the number of fetuses to lessen health risks associated with multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.). Any abortion that is not therapeutic is by definition elective.

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Abortion Methods

  • Surgical
    • Suction-aspiration or vacuum abortion (performed during the first 12 weeks and is the most common method of abortion)
      • Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA): removes the fetus or embryo by suction using a manual syringe
      • Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA): uses an electric pump
    • Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): used from the 15th to the 26th week; consists of opening the cervix of the uterus and emptying it using surgical instruments and suction
    • Dilation and Curettage (D&C): second most common method of abortion; consists of cleaning the walls of the uterus with a curette (spoon shaped surgical instrument used to clean a diseased surface)
    • Intact Dilation and Extraction (IDX): surgical decompression of the fetus' head before evacuation; sometimes called partial birth abortion
  • Medical
    • Effective in the first trimester of pregnancy
    • Non-surgical
    • Comprise 10% of all abortions in the US and Europe
    • Use combinations of medications to induce abortion
  • Other Methods
    • Use of herbal abortifacients
    • Causing intentional trauma to the abdomen
    • Forceful abdominal massage
    • Intentional misuse of medications
    • Self-induced abortions with instruments such as knitting needles or clothes hangers
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Health Considerations

  • Early term surgical abortion is safer than childbirth when performed before the 16th week
  • Carry a small potential for serious complications (depending on how far along the pregnancy is)
  • Minor pain
  • Mental health
    • Controversial
    • Abortion can lead to mental health issues in a woman, especially if preexisting factors are present
      • Emotional attachment to the pregnancy
      • Lack of social support
      • Preexisting psychiatric illness
      • Conservative views on abortion
      • Depression
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Abortion Rates

  • Approximately 46 million abortions performed worldwide every year
    • 26 million occur in places where abortion is legal
    • 20 million occur where abortion is illegal
  • Statistics show that worldwide, there are 26 induced abortions per 100 known pregnancies
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Debate

Induced abortion has been the source of considerable debate, controversy, and activism. A person's stance on abortion is often related to their value system. Religious beliefs also have an influence on both personal opinion and the greater societal debate over abortion.

Abortion debates, especially pertaining to abortion laws, are often lead by advocacy groups belonging to one of two camps. In the US, those in favor of greater legal restrictions on or even prohibition of abortion describe themselves as pro-life. Those against legal restrictions on abortion describe themselves as pro-choice.

Pro-life advocates argue that a fetus is a human being with a fundamental right to life. Pro-choice advocates argue that a woman has the right to choose whether or not to continue a pregnancy.

In both public and private debates, morality and legality combine, complicating the issue of abortion.

There are also debates focusing on whether the pregnant woman should have to notify and/or have the consent of others in distinct cases. Should a minor have to notify her parents and have their consent? Should a legally married woman have to notify her husband and have his consent? Should a pregnant woman have to notify the biological father and have his consent?

Public opinion varies on the topic of abortion, especially in different areas of the world. In Europe, most countries have a majority opinion that abortion should be legal if a woman chooses not to continue a pregnancy. In the Canada and the US, a majority believes that abortion should be legal in all or in certain circumstances. In Mexico, the majority believes that abortion should be illegal. In South America and Central America, the majority believes that abortion should be legal in all or in certain circumstances.

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Law

  • The Soviet Union (1920) and Iceland (1935) were two of the first countries to legalize abortions
  • The Abortion Act of 1967 legalized abortion for limited reasons in the UK.
  • Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in the US in 1973, ruling that anti-abortion laws on the State level violated an implied right to privacy in the US Constitution.
  • R. v. Morgentaler in Canada in 1988 legalized abortion in that country and discarded the criminal code attached to it.
  • Ireland, however, recognized "the right to life of the unborn" in 1983 with an addition of an amendment to the Irish Constitution.

Current laws on abortion are diverse, with religious, moral, and cultural sensibilities influencing them throughout the world. The rights to life, liberty, and security of person, as well as the right to reproductive health are major issues of human rights that are used as justification for the existence or absence of laws controlling abortion.

In many countries where abortion is legal, certain criteria must be met in order for an abortion to be obtained. Usually, these criteria are based on the trimester system, which regulates the window of legality. In the US, some states impose a 24 hour waiting period before the procedure, provide information on fetal development, and require parental notification and consent for minors. In the UK, two doctors must certify that an abortion is medically or socially necessary before it can be performed.

In some countries where abortion is normally illegal, exceptions will be made if the pregnancy resulted from rape, incest, or danger to the pregnant woman's life or health. Some nations ban abortion entirely:

  • Chile
  • Ireland
  • El Salvador
  • Malta
  • Nicaragua

In places where abortion is illegal or carries a negative social stigma, women may engage in "medical tourism" and travel to countries where they can terminate their pregnancies legally. In the US, women travel from one state to another for reasons of termination of their pregnancy.

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External Links

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Relevant discussion threads on AboveTopSecret.com

Retrieved from "http://www.tinwiki.org/wiki/Abortion"