Abortion: A Violation of Human Rights?
Abortion: A Violation of Human Rights?
A medical procedure designed to end a pregnancy is called an abortion. Why a woman would no longer want to be pregnant after conception is a question of many answers in which only the individual woman can answer. Some people are against abortions and believe for one reason or another they should not take place. Others argue, saying that because the pregnancy exists within their body they have the right to do with it as they please, regardless of how it affects the fetus inside of them. Thus the argument begins, pro- or anti-abortion.
Here in the United States there are two different methods of abortions. A woman can either end her pregnancy by taking medicine (called medical abortion) or having surgery (called surgical abortion) (National Institute of Health; Medline Plus). The method of medical abortion involves a two-part medication which is ingested orally at different time intervals and requires the woman be less than eight weeks pregnant. The first part called mifepristone is given to the woman by a doctor. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. The second part of the medicine called misoprostol is taken twenty four to seventy two hours after the first. Misoprostol causes contractions resulting in a miscarriage. With the later addition of the second medication the uterus contracts and the pregnancy is usually expelled within six to eight hours (Planned Parenthood; The Abortion Pill).
Surgical abortion is a lot more complex than medical abortion. There are two main types of surgical abortion. The most common is called aspiration. It is also known as vacuum aspiration. Aspiration is usually used up to sixteen weeks after a woman’s last period. Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) is another kind of in-clinic abortion. D&E is usually performed later than sixteen weeks after a woman 's last period. This is similar to the aspiration method in
A medical procedure designed to end a pregnancy is called an abortion. Why a woman would no longer want to be pregnant after conception is a question of many answers in which only the individual woman can answer. Some people are against abortions and believe for one reason or another they should not take place. Others argue, saying that because the pregnancy exists within their body they have the right to do with it as they please, regardless of how it affects the fetus inside of them. Thus the argument begins, pro- or anti-abortion.
Here in the United States there are two different methods of abortions. A woman can either end her pregnancy by taking medicine (called medical abortion) or having surgery (called surgical abortion) (National Institute of Health; Medline Plus). The method of medical abortion involves a two-part medication which is ingested orally at different time intervals and requires the woman be less than eight weeks pregnant. The first part called mifepristone is given to the woman by a doctor. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. The second part of the medicine called misoprostol is taken twenty four to seventy two hours after the first. Misoprostol causes contractions resulting in a miscarriage. With the later addition of the second medication the uterus contracts and the pregnancy is usually expelled within six to eight hours (Planned Parenthood; The Abortion Pill).
Surgical abortion is a lot more complex than medical abortion. There are two main types of surgical abortion. The most common is called aspiration. It is also known as vacuum aspiration. Aspiration is usually used up to sixteen weeks after a woman’s last period. Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) is another kind of in-clinic abortion. D&E is usually performed later than sixteen weeks after a woman 's last period. This is similar to the aspiration method in
References: Medline Plus, by The U.S. National Library of Medicine, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/abortion.html, Retrieved on April 3, 2011 The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, by The Alan Guttmacher Institute, http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html, Retrieved on April 3, 2011 Methods of Abortion, by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/abortion-4260.asp, Retrieved on April 3, 2011 Reproductive Health Technologies Project, http://www.rhtp.org/abortion/mva/, Retrieved on April 3, 2011 Illinois Right To Life; Scriptures On Abortion, http://www.illinoisrighttolife.org/ScripturesOnAbortion.htm, By Donald P. Shoemaker, ABORTION, THE BIBLE AND THE CHRISTIAN, Hayes Publishing Co., 1976, Retrieved on April 3, 2011 Teachings Of The Catholic Church On Abortion, http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/didache.htm, Retrieved on April 3, 2011 Cornell University Law School, http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html, Retrieved on April 3, 2011