Ethical Views On Abortion
Ethics
This report is about the chosen topic abortion, it will consider the ethical principles and perspectives that are associated with abortion.
Kelly Moore
Word Count
1582
Abstract
This report will discuss the ethical perspectives on abortion, it will discuss the Abortion Act 1967 and the ethical views from two Philosophers, Immanuel Kant and Niccolo Machiavelli. The report will discuss and critically evaluate the policies of England, China and the Dominican Republic.
Introduction
The term abortion is used to describe the medical process of ending a pregnancy so that it does not result in the birth of a child. It is the deliberate termination of a human …show more content…
pregnancy, most often performed during the first twenty eight weeks (Oxforddictionaries, 2013). Abortion is also known as a termination or termination of pregnancy (NHS choices, 2013). In the UK policies it states that any single or married, women or girl of any age, religion or culture can have an abortion, if the reason is outlined in the law and only if it is signed for acceptance.
An abortion is legal only if two qualified doctors sign to agree that the termination of the pregnancy is necessary (Shine.NHS, 2013). There are many reasons women decide on having an abortion, financial problems, being single, lack of support, being homeless, personal circumstances and a high risk that the baby would be born with a medical condition or disability are included. Another reason, being the pregnancy is less than twenty four weeks, and the birth of the child would harm the mother’s physical or mental health more than it would from a termination, another consideration would be that if the child was to be born it would have a serious effect on the health and well-being of the other children that the mother may have, or if the mother’s life was in danger this being a …show more content…
termination would be necessary. An abortion can be carried out as soon as a woman knows that she is pregnant, this would be confirmed before the abortion by carrying out a pregnancy test, and as soon as she is sure that she does not wish to continue with the pregnancy. Medical abortions can be carried out as early as a pregnancy can be confirmed; the shorter the time in a pregnancy, the better the procedure will work. Medical abortion is not normally done after nine weeks, after this time surgical abortion is recommended to be the safest and suitable option (Donnellan, 2000).
Main Body
Under the UK law, abortions are only allowed to be carried out during the first 24 weeks of the pregnancy and in a hospital or specialised licensed clinic that has been approved by the Department of Health. Only qualified Doctors must perform the procedure. In most cases the abortion procedure is carried out in a day. Before an abortion can take place the women must have an appointment with a doctor to discuss the situation, the different abortion methods and the method that would be suitable for the stage of the pregnancy. The women must fully understand the decision they are to make, and be made aware that they are eligible for the decision. The Doctor will discuss the possible risks and complications of the procedure, medical history will be checked to make sure the abortion is suitable and a blood test and sexually transmitted infection test will be carried out. An ultrasound scan and a vaginal examination will be carried out to confirm the week’s pregnant (Donnellan, 2000).
Abortions are carried out depending on how early on in the pregnancy the mother is having the abortion, the early medical abortion is the pill, this can be performed in the first nine weeks of the pregnancy. The mother is given two medicines forty eight hours apart, the first pill is mifepristone, the second pill, which is a prostaglandin tablet is inserted into the vagina or taken orally (Brook, 2013).The vacuum aspiration method of termination, commonly known as the suction method is available for women up to fifteen weeks pregnant (Lifesitenews, 2013).The Abortion Act 1967 covers England, Scotland and Wales, it does not cover Northern Ireland, the Act states that an abortion must be carried out during the first twenty four weeks of the pregnancy with the criteria met and be performed in a hospital or licensed clinic, and that two Doctors must agree that the termination is necessary (Mariestopes, 2013).The law states that an abortion can be declined by a doctor if they have an ethical disagreement to the procedure (NHS, 2012).China’s law (1950) similar to the UK law, states that abortions are permitted under certain conditions, the law indicates that the abortion is necessary if the continuation of the pregnancy is unacceptable mentally and physically, if the child is the produce of rape or incest, if the foetus would be born with disabilities and for economic and social reasons. Abortion is also available on request of the mother. China allows abortions to be performed as soon as possible with the woman’s consent, rather in the first four weeks of the pregnancy. Abortions are to be performed in a clinic by a medical professional using the vacuum technique in the early stages of the pregnancy, in the later stages of the pregnancy the abortion is carried out in a hospital by a specially trained medical consultant. China’s abortion procedures are provided as a public service by the Government of China, as England’s are provided by the NHS. Although most abortions are performed in the early months of pregnancy, China’s law does allow abortions to be performed up to six months of pregnancy under certain circumstances (Allgirlsallowed, 2013). Different from the UK and China laws The Penal Code of 1948 prohibits the performance of all abortions in the Dominican Republic unless it is to save the life of the women. The abortion law does not purposely allow abortions to be performed to save the life of the woman, but the accepted principles of criminal legislation allow abortions to be performed for this reason on the necessary grounds. Women who cause their own abortions or consent to an abortion by any person willing to perform the illegal abortion are subject to imprisonment for any length of time, Dominican Republic provide over seven hundred family planning and maternal-child health services throughout the country (Un.org, 2013). Kantianism is an ethical theory brought forward by a German philosopher called Immanuel Kant that believes blameless laws could be copied from reason, and that all bad behaviour was thoughtless or unreasoned. Women that wish to have the abortion cannot desire that every woman that gets pregnant will have an abortion, from the argument this would make abortion mindless and there for wrong. Arguably Doctors have a responsibility to maintain life and not end it, signing to agree the abortion could be seen as an act out of a sense of duty, those that do support a woman’s choice to have an abortion can only support some women, not all. Women are seen as the producers of life, Kant believes the abortion is never a moral action as it is a murder, it’s considered to be the way to kill a person (Donnellan, 2000). Humanism is also an ethical theory advanced from the key thinker Niccolo Machiavelli who believes that sometimes immorality is necessary. Humanists look to live lives with no religious or superstitious beliefs; they live with reason, experience and respect. In thinking of abortion a humanist would examine the evidence, look at the possible consequences and the rights and wishes of everyone involved, this being the mother and the unborn baby, finding the kindest course of action, looking at what would do the least harm. Abortion on a Humanists believe is positioned on ‘pro-choice’ it is a morally acceptable choice to make, the choice is personal. Humanists do believe that life is sacred, however they tend to think that a foetus does not become a person with its own rights and feelings until after conception, they usually take more consideration into the quality of life rather than the right to live, if the child is unwanted, continuing the pregnancy wouldn’t be sensible (Humanism.org, 2013).
Conclusion
Looking at the two theories Machiavelli disbelieves with Kant’s theory as Humanism may see an abortion acceptable under certain circumstances, like if the mother believes that the baby will be born with disabilities or is sure that the baby cannot be supported financially or mentally, happiness for the child would be pushed back from the health and support of the child, the mother clearly knows that herself and her child may lead a miserable, unhappy life if she was to carry on with the pregnancy.
Abortion is a way to relieve the pain for the mother and child, turning it into a positive life for both involved. Kant disbelieves with Machiavelli’s theory as Kantanism believes that abortion is morally inaccurate because it is wrong to kill a person, believing that the foetus is a human person, so consider abortion as murder.
Kant believes an abortion is wrong, under all circumstances, the believes of the theory simply consequence on the fact of what is wrong and what is right unlike Machiavelli that believes an abortion would be honourable as it is purely down to the decision of the person, this allows the issue to be examined under the different
circumstances.
Recommendations
From this report and the research undertaken on the abortion subject it is clear to understand that there are many different reasons as to why the abortion procedure should be made ‘pro-choice or legal, it is purely down to the person dealing with the situation, they have their own personal beliefs and everyone has the right to choice, everyone has the right to make decisions for themselves, everyone has the right to dignity and everyone has the right to freedom. There is no end to how the abortion issue can be solved.
Table of Reference
English Abortion Definition, (2013) ‘Definition of Abortion’ [online] Available at: [Accessed – 14th November 2013]
NHS Choices, (2012) ‘Abortion’ [online] Available at: [Accessed – 13th November 2013]
Abortion Questions, (1999) ‘NHS Foundation Trust’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 14th November 2103]
Pregnancy and Abortion, (2011) ‘How are abortions carried out’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 15th November 2013]
Abortions, (1997) ‘Surgical Abortions’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 13th November 2013]
Abortion, (2000) ‘Abortion Law’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 15th November 2013]
Abortion Statistics, (2013) ‘Abortion Statistics’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 14th November 2013]
Dominican Republic, (2013) ‘Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 13th November 2013]
Bibliography
Donnellan, C. (200)
The Abortion Issue
Cambridge, England
This report is about the chosen topic abortion, it will consider the ethical principles and perspectives that are associated with abortion.
Kelly Moore
Word Count
1582
Abstract
This report will discuss the ethical perspectives on abortion, it will discuss the Abortion Act 1967 and the ethical views from two Philosophers, Immanuel Kant and Niccolo Machiavelli. The report will discuss and critically evaluate the policies of England, China and the Dominican Republic.
Introduction
The term abortion is used to describe the medical process of ending a pregnancy so that it does not result in the birth of a child. It is the deliberate termination of a human …show more content…
pregnancy, most often performed during the first twenty eight weeks (Oxforddictionaries, 2013). Abortion is also known as a termination or termination of pregnancy (NHS choices, 2013). In the UK policies it states that any single or married, women or girl of any age, religion or culture can have an abortion, if the reason is outlined in the law and only if it is signed for acceptance.
An abortion is legal only if two qualified doctors sign to agree that the termination of the pregnancy is necessary (Shine.NHS, 2013). There are many reasons women decide on having an abortion, financial problems, being single, lack of support, being homeless, personal circumstances and a high risk that the baby would be born with a medical condition or disability are included. Another reason, being the pregnancy is less than twenty four weeks, and the birth of the child would harm the mother’s physical or mental health more than it would from a termination, another consideration would be that if the child was to be born it would have a serious effect on the health and well-being of the other children that the mother may have, or if the mother’s life was in danger this being a …show more content…
termination would be necessary. An abortion can be carried out as soon as a woman knows that she is pregnant, this would be confirmed before the abortion by carrying out a pregnancy test, and as soon as she is sure that she does not wish to continue with the pregnancy. Medical abortions can be carried out as early as a pregnancy can be confirmed; the shorter the time in a pregnancy, the better the procedure will work. Medical abortion is not normally done after nine weeks, after this time surgical abortion is recommended to be the safest and suitable option (Donnellan, 2000).
Main Body
Under the UK law, abortions are only allowed to be carried out during the first 24 weeks of the pregnancy and in a hospital or specialised licensed clinic that has been approved by the Department of Health. Only qualified Doctors must perform the procedure. In most cases the abortion procedure is carried out in a day. Before an abortion can take place the women must have an appointment with a doctor to discuss the situation, the different abortion methods and the method that would be suitable for the stage of the pregnancy. The women must fully understand the decision they are to make, and be made aware that they are eligible for the decision. The Doctor will discuss the possible risks and complications of the procedure, medical history will be checked to make sure the abortion is suitable and a blood test and sexually transmitted infection test will be carried out. An ultrasound scan and a vaginal examination will be carried out to confirm the week’s pregnant (Donnellan, 2000).
Abortions are carried out depending on how early on in the pregnancy the mother is having the abortion, the early medical abortion is the pill, this can be performed in the first nine weeks of the pregnancy. The mother is given two medicines forty eight hours apart, the first pill is mifepristone, the second pill, which is a prostaglandin tablet is inserted into the vagina or taken orally (Brook, 2013).The vacuum aspiration method of termination, commonly known as the suction method is available for women up to fifteen weeks pregnant (Lifesitenews, 2013).The Abortion Act 1967 covers England, Scotland and Wales, it does not cover Northern Ireland, the Act states that an abortion must be carried out during the first twenty four weeks of the pregnancy with the criteria met and be performed in a hospital or licensed clinic, and that two Doctors must agree that the termination is necessary (Mariestopes, 2013).The law states that an abortion can be declined by a doctor if they have an ethical disagreement to the procedure (NHS, 2012).China’s law (1950) similar to the UK law, states that abortions are permitted under certain conditions, the law indicates that the abortion is necessary if the continuation of the pregnancy is unacceptable mentally and physically, if the child is the produce of rape or incest, if the foetus would be born with disabilities and for economic and social reasons. Abortion is also available on request of the mother. China allows abortions to be performed as soon as possible with the woman’s consent, rather in the first four weeks of the pregnancy. Abortions are to be performed in a clinic by a medical professional using the vacuum technique in the early stages of the pregnancy, in the later stages of the pregnancy the abortion is carried out in a hospital by a specially trained medical consultant. China’s abortion procedures are provided as a public service by the Government of China, as England’s are provided by the NHS. Although most abortions are performed in the early months of pregnancy, China’s law does allow abortions to be performed up to six months of pregnancy under certain circumstances (Allgirlsallowed, 2013). Different from the UK and China laws The Penal Code of 1948 prohibits the performance of all abortions in the Dominican Republic unless it is to save the life of the women. The abortion law does not purposely allow abortions to be performed to save the life of the woman, but the accepted principles of criminal legislation allow abortions to be performed for this reason on the necessary grounds. Women who cause their own abortions or consent to an abortion by any person willing to perform the illegal abortion are subject to imprisonment for any length of time, Dominican Republic provide over seven hundred family planning and maternal-child health services throughout the country (Un.org, 2013). Kantianism is an ethical theory brought forward by a German philosopher called Immanuel Kant that believes blameless laws could be copied from reason, and that all bad behaviour was thoughtless or unreasoned. Women that wish to have the abortion cannot desire that every woman that gets pregnant will have an abortion, from the argument this would make abortion mindless and there for wrong. Arguably Doctors have a responsibility to maintain life and not end it, signing to agree the abortion could be seen as an act out of a sense of duty, those that do support a woman’s choice to have an abortion can only support some women, not all. Women are seen as the producers of life, Kant believes the abortion is never a moral action as it is a murder, it’s considered to be the way to kill a person (Donnellan, 2000). Humanism is also an ethical theory advanced from the key thinker Niccolo Machiavelli who believes that sometimes immorality is necessary. Humanists look to live lives with no religious or superstitious beliefs; they live with reason, experience and respect. In thinking of abortion a humanist would examine the evidence, look at the possible consequences and the rights and wishes of everyone involved, this being the mother and the unborn baby, finding the kindest course of action, looking at what would do the least harm. Abortion on a Humanists believe is positioned on ‘pro-choice’ it is a morally acceptable choice to make, the choice is personal. Humanists do believe that life is sacred, however they tend to think that a foetus does not become a person with its own rights and feelings until after conception, they usually take more consideration into the quality of life rather than the right to live, if the child is unwanted, continuing the pregnancy wouldn’t be sensible (Humanism.org, 2013).
Conclusion
Looking at the two theories Machiavelli disbelieves with Kant’s theory as Humanism may see an abortion acceptable under certain circumstances, like if the mother believes that the baby will be born with disabilities or is sure that the baby cannot be supported financially or mentally, happiness for the child would be pushed back from the health and support of the child, the mother clearly knows that herself and her child may lead a miserable, unhappy life if she was to carry on with the pregnancy.
Abortion is a way to relieve the pain for the mother and child, turning it into a positive life for both involved. Kant disbelieves with Machiavelli’s theory as Kantanism believes that abortion is morally inaccurate because it is wrong to kill a person, believing that the foetus is a human person, so consider abortion as murder.
Kant believes an abortion is wrong, under all circumstances, the believes of the theory simply consequence on the fact of what is wrong and what is right unlike Machiavelli that believes an abortion would be honourable as it is purely down to the decision of the person, this allows the issue to be examined under the different
circumstances.
Recommendations
From this report and the research undertaken on the abortion subject it is clear to understand that there are many different reasons as to why the abortion procedure should be made ‘pro-choice or legal, it is purely down to the person dealing with the situation, they have their own personal beliefs and everyone has the right to choice, everyone has the right to make decisions for themselves, everyone has the right to dignity and everyone has the right to freedom. There is no end to how the abortion issue can be solved.
Table of Reference
English Abortion Definition, (2013) ‘Definition of Abortion’ [online] Available at: [Accessed – 14th November 2013]
NHS Choices, (2012) ‘Abortion’ [online] Available at: [Accessed – 13th November 2013]
Abortion Questions, (1999) ‘NHS Foundation Trust’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 14th November 2103]
Pregnancy and Abortion, (2011) ‘How are abortions carried out’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 15th November 2013]
Abortions, (1997) ‘Surgical Abortions’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 13th November 2013]
Abortion, (2000) ‘Abortion Law’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 15th November 2013]
Abortion Statistics, (2013) ‘Abortion Statistics’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 14th November 2013]
Dominican Republic, (2013) ‘Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat’ [online] Available at: [Accessed 13th November 2013]
Bibliography
Donnellan, C. (200)
The Abortion Issue
Cambridge, England