Mary Thonderburt

Abortion and Ethics
By Samantha Dorsilon
GE265 Ethics in Society
January 20, 2013

For this week’s discussion/ presentation we discussed the topic “abortion”. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of a fetus or embryo from the uterus of a woman. There are two types of abortion procedures; the first is called medical/ chemical which involves the use of drugs to terminate pregnancy and can only be used during the first trimester. The second type of abortion is surgical which involves the use of a vacuum, either manual or electrical. Birth control is also known as contraceptive or fertility control and is a common method used to prevent pregnancy. I will be discussing recent developments in birth control.
Does implantable birth control open the door to outside control of a woman’s body? My answer is yes. Birth control allows a woman to control unexpected pregnancies to happen. I personally think it is the best way to improve our communities and it helps lower the percentage of people living in poverty due to unplanned pregnancies. Implantable birth control is entails a small device inserted into the uterus to help prevent conception. Implantable birth control is widely known for its “get it and forget it” use. Implantable birth control is what most modern day women use in our current decade and surprisingly it is widely accepted. People have used birth control methods for thousands of years. Today, we have many safe and effective birth control methods available to us. All of us who need birth control want to find the method that is best for us. And each of us has different needs when choosing a method. Learning about each method may help you make a better decision for you and significant other.
Is the morning-after pill equivalent to abortion? In my opinion the morning -after pill is not equivalent to abortion. My reason for this statement is that the morning after pill is used before conception, in other words I consider it to be a preventable measure. The morning after pill is also known as “plan B” the plan B pill was first approved by the FDA in 1999 for emergency contraception use, was originally manufactured by Barr Pharmaceuticals. It contains a hormone that has been used in birth control pills for more than 35 years. Today, it 's made by Teva Pharmaceuticals who bought Barr. In 2006 the agency approved Plan B for over-the-counter use in women aged 18 years and older. It 's now available over-the-counter for women 17 and older. The pill can be used up to 72 hours after unprotected sex to prevent a pregnancy. What about still-unavailable methods like contraceptive vaccines or pills or a patch that render a man infertile? Contraceptive vaccines are a long-acting form of progesterone, a hormone that is naturally manufactured in the ovaries. The shot is given as an injection in the upper arm or in the buttocks once every 3 months to protect a woman from becoming pregnant. A birth control patch has the same effect except there is no injection. These kinds of birth control methods all serve the same purpose “to control the possibility of becoming pregnant”.
To conclude this topic, birth control of course, has serious side effects and should always be taken into careful consideration before use or insertion. In my opinion, it is a safe way to prevent pregnancy and it is not considered abortion. Abortion is killing an innocent human being with life. Birth control is simply a prevention method. We all have different opinions, views, personal and religious backgrounds. I am not, nor will I ever force or impose my thoughts on abortion and the use of birth control on others. This is a free country and we as humans pick and choose our battles.
References
Dombrink, J., & Hillyard, D. (2007). Sin No More : From Abortion to Stem Cells, Understanding Crime, Law, and Morality in America. New York Univeristy Press.
Rose, M. (2008). Abortion : A Documentary and Reference Guide. Greenwood Press. Swedin, E. (2005). Science in the Contemporary World : An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO.

References: Dombrink, J., & Hillyard, D. (2007). Sin No More : From Abortion to Stem Cells, Understanding Crime, Law, and Morality in America. New York Univeristy Press. Rose, M. (2008). Abortion : A Documentary and Reference Guide. Greenwood Press. Swedin, E. (2005). Science in the Contemporary World : An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO.