Abortion
Abortion - Explain why abortion is a controversial issue Deadline – 25/10/13
In the UK, the 1967 Abortion Act says that abortion can take place if the mother’s life is at risk, if there is risk of injury to the mother’s mental/ physical health, if a new baby would affect the life of other children in the family and if there is a substantial risk of the baby being handicapped. Now, abortion is very controversial because there are many people on both sides of the argument; for and against. The people ‘for’ abortion are mainly ‘pro-life’. These people have the instinct to protect human life, combined with the belief that life begins at the moment of conception. ‘Pro-life’ beliefs believe that abortion could be defined as murder, meaning ending the foetus’s life is immoral. Many religious groups also agree that life begins as soon as the egg and sperm meet. Alternatively, people who support ‘pro-choice’ believe that women have the right to make their own decisions about what happens inside their own bodies, including the right to end an unwanted pregnancy. Many religions say that the unborn child has its own rights. Abortion also questions whether a doctor/ nurse should have to perform this operation. Some say that it is simply a medical procedure, but others say that medical staff should be allowed to refuse to perform them. There are many images and statistics supporting both sides of the argument, however this is mainly propaganda. This source of information was made to make audiences aware of the issue. Basically, the propaganda makes its own decision about whether someone agrees or disagrees with abortion. This is an unreliable source though, considering that it may exaggerate to make someone believe differently. In my own opinion, I believe that women should have the right to make their own decision about whether they go through with an abortion or not. However, I do not believe that abortion should be used as a form of contraception and birth control.
In the UK, the 1967 Abortion Act says that abortion can take place if the mother’s life is at risk, if there is risk of injury to the mother’s mental/ physical health, if a new baby would affect the life of other children in the family and if there is a substantial risk of the baby being handicapped. Now, abortion is very controversial because there are many people on both sides of the argument; for and against. The people ‘for’ abortion are mainly ‘pro-life’. These people have the instinct to protect human life, combined with the belief that life begins at the moment of conception. ‘Pro-life’ beliefs believe that abortion could be defined as murder, meaning ending the foetus’s life is immoral. Many religious groups also agree that life begins as soon as the egg and sperm meet. Alternatively, people who support ‘pro-choice’ believe that women have the right to make their own decisions about what happens inside their own bodies, including the right to end an unwanted pregnancy. Many religions say that the unborn child has its own rights. Abortion also questions whether a doctor/ nurse should have to perform this operation. Some say that it is simply a medical procedure, but others say that medical staff should be allowed to refuse to perform them. There are many images and statistics supporting both sides of the argument, however this is mainly propaganda. This source of information was made to make audiences aware of the issue. Basically, the propaganda makes its own decision about whether someone agrees or disagrees with abortion. This is an unreliable source though, considering that it may exaggerate to make someone believe differently. In my own opinion, I believe that women should have the right to make their own decision about whether they go through with an abortion or not. However, I do not believe that abortion should be used as a form of contraception and birth control.