Ethical Paper on Abortion Essay Example

Abortion What is abortion? An abortion is a medical or surgical procedure used to terminate a pregnancy. A medical abortion is an abortion that is brought about by taking medications that will end a pregnancy. (1) A Surgical abortion is an abortion which ends a pregnancy by emptying the uterus (or womb) with special instruments. (1) Some of the reasons for a woman to get an abortion may be that they can't afford a/another child, health reason of the child's or her own safety, social reasons such as unwanted child or not ready for having a child, and rape or incest. Abortions performed in the seven to nine weeks of the first trimester are medical abortions. (2) All abortions after nine weeks are surgical abortions. Surgical abortions are performed from week six to 21, and any abortion after 21 weeks is very rare; less than ”2% of abortions are provided at 21 weeks or after, and they are extremely rare after 26 weeks of pregnancy. Very few abortions are provided in the third trimester, and they are generally limited to cases of severe fetal abnormalities or situations when the life or health of the pregnant woman is seriously threatened.” (3) In this essay I will compare the articles of Leonard Peikoff and Kerby Anderson on the topic of abortion. Leonard Peikoff is Pro-Choice, which is in favor of the women's right to chose to have an abortion. Kerby Anderson is Pro-Life, which is opposed to the women's right to chose to have an abortion in favor of the rights of the fetus to live. In Abortion Rights are Pro-Life by Leonard Peikoff, he states throughout his article that an embryo or fetus is not a human and is part of a woman. The mother has the right to decide what she wants to do with her body. Here are a few sections from his article that help describe his viewpoint upon abortion.
"The status of the embryo in the first trimester is the basic issue that cannot be sidestepped. The embryo is clearly pre-human; only the mystical notions of religious dogma