Is Abortion Ethical?

[SearchingForGod]

I'm having an extremely hard time with this question. Recently, I've been re-evaluating my stances on a lot of things and abortion is the one topic that has been stumping me. On one hand, you have the rights of the woman to consider. And what if it was from incest or rape that she got pregnant? But on the other hand, you need to consider the fetus and whenever it's life starts. I guess it all just depends on what you deem life beginning at, but yeah...

I think it's time for a good healthy debate. What is your stance on abortion? Do you think it is ever really okay or not? Why do you think so?

 

[bobhikes]

Using this definition: Ethical 2)morally good or correct:

If the child is not wanted by the parents and the parents are going to cause nothing but issues for the child or put the child into the custody of the state. Ending the life before birth in my opinion is Ethical.

Making children living a violent awful life just because a few will get lucky for me is morally wrong which would be unethical.

 

[Jumi]

When a mother's life in danger and she wants to live I think it's an easy choice toward abortion. The community shouldn't force her to die to give birth, I think that would be unethical.

In general I believe letting women control their own bodies as they wish, without having to resort to illegal fake doctors. Of course I don't like abortions, especially not those that result from unresponsible behavior. Then again unresponsible parents might not be the best for their children either.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I'm having an extremely hard time with this question. Recently, I've been re-evaluating my stances on a lot of things and abortion is the one topic that has been stumping me. On one hand, you have the rights of the woman to consider. And what if it was from incest or rape that she got pregnant? But on the other hand, you need to consider the fetus and whenever it's life starts. I guess it all just depends on what you deem life beginning at, but yeah...
I think it's time for a good healthy debate. What is your stance on abortion? Do you think it is ever really okay or not? Why do you think so?

What is a High Crime in God's eyes is when a woman has an abortion simply because she does Not want an unwanted child. In that case, both mother and doctor act as Judge and executioner that the unborn is Not worthy of life.

A long time ago a teacher said that the generation that aborts its children will also euthanize its parents.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

Some 20 odd years ago i was faced with this question as an Anesthetic Technician, we were given the option of yes or no for attending abortion surgery ....

My conclusion was, I do not approve of abortion as a method of contraception.... so No
I do however approve in cases of pregnancy from Rape, or when the mother and potential child
have blood groups that are poison to each other, or life is endangered by the continuation of pregnancy .. so that is a Yes ...

 

[Nakosis]

I'm having an extremely hard time with this question. Recently, I've been re-evaluating my stances on a lot of things and abortion is the one topic that has been stumping me. On one hand, you have the rights of the woman to consider. And what if it was from incest or rape that she got pregnant? But on the other hand, you need to consider the fetus and whenever it's life starts. I guess it all just depends on what you deem life beginning at, but yeah...

I think it's time for a good healthy debate. What is your stance on abortion? Do you think it is ever really okay or not? Why do you think so?

I think life is pretty cool and everyone deserves a chance to live it. I have to respect a woman who is willing to go through the inconvenience of birth to bring a life into the world. I think in many cases abortion is a selfish act.

However It's not my place to tell another person to make that sacrifice to bring another life into the world. I hope they choose to give life a chance but the choice is up to them.

 

[Quintessence]

All other considerations aside, I have a very hard time saying no to any and all abortion for a species that is very overpopulated.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

In many countries abortion is considered both rational and ethical and is entirely legal.
The UK included.

It has been debated many times in parliament, and the majority in both the parliament and with the electorate is always in favour of abortion. The do it yourself morning after medication is now freely available in all pharmacies.. it is for all intents and purposes now a non argument.

The only remaining argument is to do with late term abortions. Which do seem to have some remaining ethical issues as well as some medical ones, in terms of danger to the mother, both mental and physical.

 

[sun rise]

When the mother's life is at risk or the fetus is effectively dead such as not having a brain, to me it's entirely ethical.

To me when the fetus would survive outside the womb (~22 weeks?), abortion is unethical and I would have no problem making it illegal as well.

Knowing the parents of a Down's syndrome child and the child, now adult, I would call abortion for the sake of sex selection or to avoid giving birth to a less than perfect baby unethical.

There are other situations which are debatable. But I would always lean in favor of giving a baby up for adoption rather than having an abortion. There are so many who really want to adopt that makes it my strong preference.

 

[Brickjectivity]

It is not always ethical, however it is not murder. I think of it this way that we have laws to give order to society, but those laws cannot do everything. The question of abortion is complicated, because it lies at the boundary of what laws are able to accomplish; and we tend to want laws to do everything as if law was a wind up servant. Why does God give women sole control of the unborn? Why can we not legislate children into being? We do not like that. We also do not like babysitting, and thus is the conundrum locked away from the hands of those who are not the mother. The plain answer is, abortion is not unethical for mothers because we simply do not care enough to figure into the decision process. It is up to her, or between her and God or between her and the baby as has always been the case. The judgments of philosophers do not even matter.

Fathers do care though. Mothers and fathers care, however in general the question of whether an abortion is ethical is not clear.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Nothing stopping Americans taking a week end abortion trip to Europe. Will cost less and no problem.
And they could do some shopping while they are over here.
The Irish have done it for years.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I'm having an extremely hard time with this question. Recently, I've been re-evaluating my stances on a lot of things and abortion is the one topic that has been stumping me. On one hand, you have the rights of the woman to consider. And what if it was from incest or rape that she got pregnant? But on the other hand, you need to consider the fetus and whenever it's life starts. I guess it all just depends on what you deem life beginning at, but yeah...

I think it's time for a good healthy debate. What is your stance on abortion? Do you think it is ever really okay or not? Why do you think so?

Depends on the perspective you're coming from:

- the pregnant person: depends on their own values and beliefs. It's for that person to decide.
- a medical professional who is called on to participate in an abortion as a reasonably expected part of their duties: it's generally unethical to refuse to participate.
- voters, lawmakers, and other third parties who might be in a position to regulate or prohibit abortion: it's deeply unethical to prohibit or restrict abortion for other people.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Some 20 odd years ago i was faced with this question as an Anesthetic Technician, we were given the option of yes or no for attending abortion surgery ....

My conclusion was, I do not approve of abortion as a method of contraception.... so No
I do however approve in cases of pregnancy from Rape, or when the mother and potential child
have blood groups that are poison to each other, or life is endangered by the continuation of pregnancy .. so that is a Yes ...

But every pregnant person's life is potentially endangered by any pregnancy.

... and if you wait until it's absolutely clear that the pregnant person will die without an abortion... well, that's how Savita Halappanavar died.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

But every pregnant person's life is potentially endangered by any pregnancy.

... and if you wait until it's absolutely clear that the pregnant person will die without an abortion... well, that's how Savita Halappanavar died.

As the infant of a district midwife i was oft in the care of my mother the midwife during school holidays,
attended many births, and read all the medical books around the house ...
so no i do not accept your first sentence that all are endangered by pregnancy ... care during it is important ....

 

[shunyadragon]

I'm having an extremely hard time with this question. Recently, I've been re-evaluating my stances on a lot of things and abortion is the one topic that has been stumping me. On one hand, you have the rights of the woman to consider. And what if it was from incest or rape that she got pregnant? But on the other hand, you need to consider the fetus and whenever it's life starts. I guess it all just depends on what you deem life beginning at, but yeah...

I think it's time for a good healthy debate. What is your stance on abortion? Do you think it is ever really okay or not? Why do you think so?

I believe that the evolving science of reproduction will eventually eliminate the need for 95%+ of all abortion abortion. Historically even in Christianity there is a schizophrenia between dogmatic fear mongering, accusation of murder, and pragmatic allowing abortion in certain cases. Christianity is terribly inconsistent in history.

Honest reason and compassion for all involved has long gone out the window.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Is abortion ethical or not is a thorny question. There are definitely cases where it is unethical to force a woman to carry to term. Abortion may be ethical. Then there are cases where I would say that it is clearly unethical. Aborting because you want a boy or a girl and the fetus is the "wrong" sex would be clearly unethical.

The Bible is really no help since there are cases where the Bible treats abortion as being ethical. To oppose it people must quote mine and put their own interpretation in. Google search "the test of an unfaithful wife" if you do not believe me.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

As someone who believes in the teachings of Jesus, that is where I go for answers.
Well, Jesus says to lay down your life for others.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
So I would guess your unborn child or a family member would be of higher regard than your friends.

But then, I came across this verse and it made me think a bit more:

John 3:5 5. Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

It kinda seems to me that being born of water is the moment the mothers water breaks and the child is born into the world.
I can find NOTHING that Jesus says about abortion.
Perhaps this anti abortion movement is an invention of religion and their leadership. Any thoughts?
Is it possible that the religious folks got this wrong?

 

[BSM1]

What is a High Crime in God's eyes is when a woman has an abortion simply because she does Not want an unwanted child. In that case, both mother and doctor act as Judge and executioner that the unborn is Not worthy of life.

A long time ago a teacher said that the generation that aborts its children will also euthanize its parents.

Your point?

 

[BSM1]

When the mother's life is at risk or the fetus is effectively dead such as not having a brain, to me it's entirely ethical.

To me when the fetus would survive outside the womb (~22 weeks?), abortion is unethical and I would have no problem making it illegal as well.

Knowing the parents of a Down's syndrome child and the child, now adult, I would call abortion for the sake of sex selection or to avoid giving birth to a less than perfect baby unethical.

There are other situations which are debatable. But I would always lean in favor of giving a baby up for adoption rather than having an abortion. There are so many who really want to adopt that makes it my strong preference.

So how do you stand on a fourteen year old rape victim who does not want the baby? Also, how many children have you adopted?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

When I was conceived, in the summer of 1947, abortion in Toronto was not easy to come by. My mother (14 at the time), I learned later, would not have had one anyway. Yet, I still wound up growing up in the care of the Children's Aid, and no -- like many, many others -- was never adopted. A string of foster homes that totally ruined any notions I had that "family is a good thing."

I do not like the idea of abortion as a simple answer to a lack of caution when having sex. Then again, I really hate how so many conservative believers (of all faiths and creeds) seem to be terrified of talking sensibly to their children about sex. That ability, to talk about a natural function without fear and without embarrassment -- all by itself -- would cut the demand for abortion by a phenomenal amount.

As other posters have mentioned, when the in-utero child is capable of surviving outside the womb (even if a little help is needed), then I think the decision has been put off too long, and that abortion should probably not be allowed except in the case of imminent danger to the mother's or child's survival."

However, at the end of the day, and those considerations aside, I have no choice but to leave the decision to the mother, and her alone. And what she decides, I will consider ethical.