Getting Started

Freedom from or Freedom for abortion.

It strikes me that there are only two stances in relation to the abortion question.

a) Those who say we should be free to choose abortion and
b) Those who say we should be free to live in a world without it.

Those who say that it should be available in limited circumstances would presumably never force someone
to have an abortion. Rather it should be the individuals choice in the difficult circumstances.

a)Each individual should be able to choose what to do with their own bodies. We could suggest that people, if they object to abortion, should avoid it. But their personal objections should not impose on another's personal freedoms to choose as they please.

b)On the other hand we can recognise the humanity and dignity of the unborn in utero (in the womb) and that to acknowledge abortion as a legitimate procedure undermines the freedom of the unborn. Essentially, that abortion is not really a choice we are free to make.

It seems to be a matter of Autonomy of the Mother Vs. Autonomy of the baby.

At what stage does human life begin?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Maternal Mortality

Calls are regularly made by various lobby groups in the UN and the EU for worldwide availability of abortion to protect maternal mortality. They suggest that abortion is necessary to save the lives of mothers. They regularly use statistics about maternal mortality suggesting that up to half a million women die each year during pregnancy or child birth. However a new study says that the number is significantly less. See the story below for more details.

http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.1610/pub_detail.asp

Even if the new statistics are accurate it is still socking that so many women die during pregnancy or child birth. But is widespread availability of abortion the answer?

The Republic of Ireland (where abortion is illegal) has the lowest maternal mortality rate in the world. This fact alone would suggest that abortion does nothing to alter the maternal mortality rate. Is it not possible that the number of women dying during pregnancy is due to lacking medical facilities? And is it not then ridiculous to suggest putting money into abortion facilities rather than ones which can help people to be pregnant and give birth safely?

It appears that people wish to make their own views on abortion (as one of autonomy of the mother) heard through the medium of the developing countries. It does a grave disservice to the mothers in these countries to present them with abortion facilities but dent them basic facilities for giving birth.

1 comment:

  1. totally agree esp with the last point. Those pushing abortion rights in developing countries seem more agenada driven than actaully having a real concern for building up basic medical facilities for those in most need of them.

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