Abortion Research Paper
Abortion: Morality Meets the Law
Hannah Miller
UH -155-001
11/22/11
Abortion: Morality Meets the Law
Abortion has always been an extremely debatable topic of discussion in the United States. Whether you are ‘Pro-choice’ or ‘Pro-life’ is a very important decision a person must make. Although the debate over abortion and whether it should be legal for doctors to perform or refuse abortions is a vastly discussed topic in other countries such as Great Britain. (Whiting, 2011). For many people it comes down to their religious beliefs. Morality plays an extremely important role when it comes to abortions. This question of what is considered morally ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ is what makes this topic so controversial. This is also why it is very difficult for judges to come to a decision when they are dealing with cases about abortion. Abortion politics and government policy have progressed throughout the years however it is
1
2 very unlikely that America will ever agree on abortion policy. For instance in the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade which stated that a woman had a right to have an abortion however it must be to protect the woman’s health and prenatal life.(Roe v. Wade (1974)). This court decision was when the true controversy over abortion really hit. Some people saw it as a good thing because it would put an end to ‘back-alley’ and self-induced abortions. (McKeegan, 1992). And some people believed allowing abortions are denying humanity to the unborn fetus. (McKeegan, 1992). Roe v. Wade put this topic up in the air for discussion and began the battle between ‘Pro-life’ and ‘Pro-choice’.
Morality is the primary issue for many people when it comes to abortion. This is true because an abortion is the termination of a life or living thing in the form of a fetus. (Tupa, 2009). However the law argues that a woman can have an abortion before she goes into her third trimester of her pregnancy or before six months whether the fetus is viable or not.
Hannah Miller
UH -155-001
11/22/11
Abortion: Morality Meets the Law
Abortion has always been an extremely debatable topic of discussion in the United States. Whether you are ‘Pro-choice’ or ‘Pro-life’ is a very important decision a person must make. Although the debate over abortion and whether it should be legal for doctors to perform or refuse abortions is a vastly discussed topic in other countries such as Great Britain. (Whiting, 2011). For many people it comes down to their religious beliefs. Morality plays an extremely important role when it comes to abortions. This question of what is considered morally ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ is what makes this topic so controversial. This is also why it is very difficult for judges to come to a decision when they are dealing with cases about abortion. Abortion politics and government policy have progressed throughout the years however it is
1
2 very unlikely that America will ever agree on abortion policy. For instance in the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade which stated that a woman had a right to have an abortion however it must be to protect the woman’s health and prenatal life.(Roe v. Wade (1974)). This court decision was when the true controversy over abortion really hit. Some people saw it as a good thing because it would put an end to ‘back-alley’ and self-induced abortions. (McKeegan, 1992). And some people believed allowing abortions are denying humanity to the unborn fetus. (McKeegan, 1992). Roe v. Wade put this topic up in the air for discussion and began the battle between ‘Pro-life’ and ‘Pro-choice’.
Morality is the primary issue for many people when it comes to abortion. This is true because an abortion is the termination of a life or living thing in the form of a fetus. (Tupa, 2009). However the law argues that a woman can have an abortion before she goes into her third trimester of her pregnancy or before six months whether the fetus is viable or not.