Is Abortion Immoral?Is Abortion Immoral?

By: Amrita and AishaBy: Amrita and Aisha

DefinitionDefinition

Abortion:Abortion:

Termination of pregnancy and Termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus that is incapable of survivalthat is incapable of survival

History of AbortionHistory of Abortion

• Near the end of the 20th century, nations began to Near the end of the 20th century, nations began to legalize abortion. legalize abortion.

• This controversial subject has sparked heated This controversial subject has sparked heated debates and in some cases even violence.debates and in some cases even violence.

• Before the Middle Ages, women attempted abortion Before the Middle Ages, women attempted abortion with sharpened sticks, poisonous herbs, abdominal with sharpened sticks, poisonous herbs, abdominal pressure, special exercises, and other techniques. pressure, special exercises, and other techniques.

• Although attitudes toward abortion are most likely Although attitudes toward abortion are most likely dependent on cultural context, many ancient dependent on cultural context, many ancient civilizations were known to tolerate abortions civilizations were known to tolerate abortions

• Ex. Ancient Greek culture, considered abortion to be Ex. Ancient Greek culture, considered abortion to be a necessary practice for the maintenance of a stable a necessary practice for the maintenance of a stable population. population.

Henry MorgentalerHenry Morgentaler

• One of Canada's most One of Canada's most controversial figurescontroversial figures

• He broke the law and He broke the law and opened the country's first opened the country's first abortion clinic. abortion clinic.

• Was considered as a hero by Was considered as a hero by some and called a murderer some and called a murderer by others as he fought to by others as he fought to change Canada's abortion change Canada's abortion lawslaws

• Morgentaler went through Morgentaler went through four jury trials and spent 10 four jury trials and spent 10 months in jail for providing months in jail for providing abortions.abortions.

Roe Vs Wade CaseRoe Vs Wade Case

• ““Roe” (Norma McCorvey) wanted a Roe” (Norma McCorvey) wanted a legal abortion done by a doctor legal abortion done by a doctor under safe conditionsunder safe conditions

• She couldn’t get it in Texas She couldn’t get it in Texas because the pregnancy didn’t because the pregnancy didn’t threaten her life and she couldn’t threaten her life and she couldn’t afford to go to another state for afford to go to another state for legal abortion legal abortion

• Roe won the case but it wasn’t over Roe won the case but it wasn’t over as Wade appealed, Roe also won as Wade appealed, Roe also won the appeal but it was too late for her the appeal but it was too late for her as she already had her baby which as she already had her baby which she put up for adoptionshe put up for adoption

• She was proud that she helped She was proud that she helped women with the same situation women with the same situation although the decision was made although the decision was made too late to help herself too late to help herself

Opposing ViewsOpposing ViewsNo Abortion is not ImmoralNo Abortion is not Immoral

• Liberals argue that since a Liberals argue that since a fetus doesn’t become a fetus doesn’t become a person until birth, a woman person until birth, a woman may do whatever she may do whatever she pleases with her body pleases with her body

• It is okay to kill animals for It is okay to kill animals for human benefits such as human benefits such as experimental use and food experimental use and food so shouldn’t it be okay to so shouldn’t it be okay to practice abortion for human practice abortion for human benefits? benefits?

• If a woman has been raped, If a woman has been raped, shouldn’t she be able to shouldn’t she be able to abort the baby? abort the baby?

• Can cause depression, Can cause depression, suicide etc. if a woman or suicide etc. if a woman or teen is forced to conceive a teen is forced to conceive a child in her situationchild in her situation

• Pregnancy may pose a Pregnancy may pose a threat to the woman’s life threat to the woman’s life and well-being and well-being

• Unwanted pregnancies Unwanted pregnancies (teens, drug addicts, unfit (teens, drug addicts, unfit mothers) have life long mothers) have life long consequences for the child consequences for the child

• Abortion is justifiable in Abortion is justifiable in early pregnancy as the fetus early pregnancy as the fetus does not yet carry human does not yet carry human characteristics, in late characteristics, in late pregnancy it could cause pregnancy it could cause injury or deathinjury or death

Opposing ViewsOpposing Views

Yes Abortion is ImmoralYes Abortion is Immoral

• Life is present from the moment Life is present from the moment of conception or  when the of conception or  when the fetus looks like a baby fetus looks like a baby

• Fetuses posses a characteristic Fetuses posses a characteristic such as genetic code that is such as genetic code that is both necessary and sufficient both necessary and sufficient for human beings for human beings

• General moral principal is that it General moral principal is that it is wrong to take a human life is wrong to take a human life

• Animals aren’t people but to kill Animals aren’t people but to kill or torture them it is considered or torture them it is considered wrong, although for a future wrong, although for a future being it makes it as if its okay being it makes it as if its okay

• Being a person is what gives an Being a person is what gives an individual a moral worthindividual a moral worth

• Pro-life advocates promote Pro-life advocates promote abstinence until marriageabstinence until marriage

• Believe an unborn child has a Believe an unborn child has a right to life just as much as a right to life just as much as a born childborn child

• Believe there are alternatives, Believe there are alternatives, such as adoption or raising the such as adoption or raising the child to the best of the woman’s child to the best of the woman’s abilityability

Differences of Abortion LawsDifferences of Abortion Laws

Country

To Protect Mother's

Life

Physical

Health

Mental Health

Rape

Fetal Defect

s

Socio-economic factors

On Dema

nd

Afghanistan

Yes No No No No No No

Albania

Yes Yes YesYes

Yes Yes Yes

Fetus DevelopmentFetus Development

First TrimesterFirst Trimester Second TrimesterSecond Trimester Third Third TrimesterTrimester

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions1.) A 16 year old girl, just found out she’s 2 months pregnant, boyfriend 1.) A 16 year old girl, just found out she’s 2 months pregnant, boyfriend

left her, parents will disown her if they find out. Do you feel she left her, parents will disown her if they find out. Do you feel she should have the baby and put it up for adoption with her parents should have the baby and put it up for adoption with her parents finding out? Or abort the baby and move on with her life?finding out? Or abort the baby and move on with her life?

2.) Let’s say you wake up one day, medically attached to a famous 2.) Let’s say you wake up one day, medically attached to a famous violinist. He would die if u detached yourself from him. Would the violinist. He would die if u detached yourself from him. Would the violinist have the right to life? And how does this differ from abortion?violinist have the right to life? And how does this differ from abortion?

3.) If someone close to you was raped, and was impregnated, would that 3.) If someone close to you was raped, and was impregnated, would that qualify her to have an abortion? qualify her to have an abortion?

4.) Should there be laws permitting the number of abortions a woman can 4.) Should there be laws permitting the number of abortions a woman can have under certain circumstances? Ex. 2 abortions per female, then have under certain circumstances? Ex. 2 abortions per female, then she must conceive (letting nature take its course)she must conceive (letting nature take its course)

5.) After listening to this presentation, do you think abortion is moral 5.) After listening to this presentation, do you think abortion is moral (premising the circumstances) or is abortion cruel and immoral? (premising the circumstances) or is abortion cruel and immoral?

THE ENDTHE END