Reproductive Rights: Modern Battles

According to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, among adult women, an estimated 32,101 pregnancies result from rape each year.

Introduction

This statistic underscores the profound stress and emotional turmoil that unwanted pregnancies can cause. Abortion, a medical procedure that terminates a pregnancy, especially during the later stages, can be a crucial option for women facing such challenging circumstances. Late-term abortions, typically performed between 14 and 24 weeks, involve procedures like dilation and evacuation. Other medical procedures associated with late-term abortion include early labor induction, intact dilation and extraction, and hysterectomy abortions (Livestrong).

Rape and Abortion

Women should have the right to choose abortion because, in certain cases, it is a more compassionate option that respects their autonomy over their own bodies. Furthermore, the fetus, especially in the early stages, is not considered a fully developed human being. The availability of abortion is particularly vital in cases of rape. According to RAINN statistics, 207,754 sexual assaults occur each year, with two-thirds of victims knowing their perpetrators. Alarmingly, at least 38%, or 78,000 victims, confirmed that their assailants were close acquaintances or friends. From these harrowing instances, 32,101 pregnancies result from rape annually. Given these statistics, it is plausible that a pregnant woman may have had an existing relationship with her assaulter. Regardless of whether the victim knew her assaulter, both scenarios warrant the woman's right to choose abortion. She did not consent to the assault and, consequently, should not be obligated to carry the resulting fetus.

Consider the psychological ramifications: what if the trauma prevents her from loving the child? What if the father attempts to assert his presence in her life if she keeps the baby? These scenarios highlight the numerous factors that must be considered in cases of rape-induced pregnancies. If a woman does not wish to carry a pregnancy due to the trauma of the incident, or if she has contracted an STD that endangers both her life and the fetus, abortion should be a viable option and, in many cases, the most compassionate choice available.

Expanding Access to Abortion

Abortion should not be limited to extreme cases like rape; it should be accessible to all women. Imagine a woman who lacks the financial means to support a child and does not wish to pursue adoption. She deserves the autonomy to decide whether to continue the pregnancy. Similarly, consider a young girl who becomes pregnant from a one-time mistake while intoxicated. This single lapse in judgment should not dictate her life's trajectory, forcing her to abandon her education and future prospects. She should have the right to choose whether to have an abortion without being bound by a lifelong consequence that could reshape her entire future.

Medical Complications and Disabilities

Another critical scenario involves the diagnosis of fetal disabilities during pregnancy. Dr. Steven E. Chavoustie, a board-certified MD in Obstetrics and Gynecology, explains that certain disabilities require several weeks for accurate diagnosis. Conditions such as Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome, Patau Syndrome, and Trisomy 13 & 18 take approximately 11 weeks to detect and are identified through a test called chorionic villus sampling. Cystic Fibrosis, another serious condition, cannot be diagnosed until at least the 16th week of pregnancy. Upon discovering that the fetus has a disability, the moral decision should rest with the mother, who should have the choice to terminate the pregnancy.

While the father's opinion should be considered, the mother should have the final say regarding what occurs within her own body, especially when weighing it against the fetus's right to life, which is not yet fully developed. If a mother chooses to carry a child with disabilities to term, it is commendable, but this decision should be hers alone. Not everyone possesses the resources or ability to raise a child with disabilities, nor can everyone afford the necessary support for such a child.

Counterarguments and Rebuttals

Some argue against abortion by contending that financial hardships will persist even after an abortion. Nevertheless, government assistance programs offer aid to low-income families, including financial support for single parents and supplemental nutrition programs for low-income pregnant women. Others propose that adoption is a viable alternative, suggesting that instead of terminating a life on the brink of birth, the baby could be adopted by individuals eager to raise a child. However, this perspective overlooks the complexities of adoption, which can be emotionally taxing. Carrying a child to term establishes a bond, making it challenging to relinquish the child. Additionally, adoption outcomes vary, with some children facing neglect, abuse, or prolonged stays in foster care. Abortion, in contrast, prevents these potential negative outcomes.

The Fetus and Personhood

The argument that a fetus is not a "person" hinges on its developmental stage. In the initial weeks, the fetus is merely an embryo, consisting of a cluster of about 100 cells, with no human features. Mark Curran notes that the fetus cannot feel pain during abortion. Just as cells in our bodies die and regenerate daily, why should these 100 cells be treated differently? Abortion is morally acceptable because the woman should have the choice to terminate the pregnancy. Professor Judith Jarvis Thomson, a philosophy professor, argues in "A Defense of Abortion" that a newly fertilized ovum or a clump of cells is no more a person than an acorn is an oak tree. This analogy emphasizes the distinction between a cluster of cells and a fully formed human being.

Sentience, or the capacity for conscious experiences, self-awareness, emotionality, and reason, defines personhood (Warren). Since a fetus lacks these qualities, abortion is not immoral, as it does not constitute murder. There should be a justification for late-term abortion. Despite the fetus being fully formed and more "human-like," the mother's choice remains paramount. Why should her rights be deemed less important than the fetus's? Dr. Steven E. Chavoustie highlights Anencephaly, a tragic birth defect where the baby lacks a significant portion of her brain, which is not detected until 30 weeks into the pregnancy. In such cases, the mother should have the option to abort, as the baby will not survive beyond a week after birth. Forcing the mother to carry the pregnancy to term against her will is a heartbreaking prospect.

Maternal Health and Rights

The mother's safety is another crucial consideration. If, later in the pregnancy, the mother discovers that childbirth would endanger her life, and a late-term abortion could save her, this option should be available. Constitutionally, the mother has the right to determine what happens to her body, and abortion should be an available choice.

Conclusion

Despite ongoing debates, I firmly believe that abortion should remain an option. A woman should have agency over her body and should not be forced to carry a fetus that is not yet a human being. She should also have the final say over the father's wishes because it is ultimately her body. In unfortunate and tragic circumstances, abortion may be the most compassionate solution or, at the very least, an option that every woman should have. Any decision should not rest in the hands of a third party, as they are not directly affected and will not bear the responsibility of raising the child. Denying a woman's choice to abort infringes upon her fundamental right to freedom.

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