Legalizing Abortion

It has been said that every new life begins at conception. This is an
irrefutable fact of biology. It is true for both animals and humans. When
considered alongside the law of biogenesis that every species reproduce
after its own kind we can only draw one conclusion in regard to abortion:
every single abortion ends the life of an innocent being (Abortion Facts,
2014). Abortion is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a medical
procedure wherein the removal of the fetus from the uterus takes place. It
can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or it can be
induced. The second one is the most common type of abortion. According to
the World Health Organization, every year in the world there are estimated
40-50 million abortions. This corresponds to the 125000 abortions for a day
(Abortions worldwide this year, 2012, para. 4). Countries such as Puerto
Rico, Cuba, three countries of the French Antilles, French Guiana, Guyana and
Barbados have legalized abortion (Choike, n.d.). Abortion is still an illegal act
in the Philippines according to Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Despite the fact that some countries have approved of abortion, I firmly
believe that it should not be legalized in the Philippines because it is a form
of murder, it can cause medical complications and it is not the only solution
to the problem.
One of the reasons why I believe that the legalization of abortion
should not be approved is because abortion is another form of murder. First,
it stops the progression of the being, even though it is not fully developed.
The definition of personhood by Schaeffer and General Koop holds that
science proves personhood at the moment of conception(Sobel, 1994,
para. 4). Their argument follows that since the whole genetic code is
established when the ovum and the sperm is united and each code is
unique (Sobel, 1994, para. 4). The genetic code can be expressed as either

RNA codons or DNA codons (The Genetic Code, 2014, para. 2). These codons
contain unique genetic materials for each being. This fact is not an exception
with a new formed life because they will all be humans in the end of the
process. It is going to be their final destination. If a person tries to hinder this
progression, it is a gateway for murder. There should be no technicalities
discussed in murder because there is a bold line between what it is and what
it is not. Another factor is that it is a choice made by the people who wanted
to abort. Murder is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as an act or
the crime of deliberately killing a person. With this, we can say that murder
comes with a force or will of a certain person to do such. We all know that
choices are made with the sense of agreement with oneself. The cause of
these choices can either be positive or negative in its own way. I stand by my
belief that abortion is another form of murder because of the deliberate
choice of the person or people involved to do such thing. It is not only a
choice but a grave offense against the being. All of us were tasked to make
choices. People may force you to do such thing, but it will always be up to
you whether you will do it or not. We were given the right to choose what we
want to do in life, but that does not give us the right to take away someones
supposed life.
While some may say that abortion is a form of murder, some people
choose to believe the latter. They claim that abortion is not a form of murder.
Sobel (1994) claims that:
Only a person can be murdered. Therefore, abortion is not
murder unless one considers the fetus to be a person. According
to Roe v. Wade, the word "person" does not include the unborn,
and a fetus does not have equal status with the mother until the
point of viability, or when the fetus can exist outside of the
mother's womb. In addition, according to the common law in
criminal matters, the definition of a "person" is one who has
been born alive (para.1).

The characteristics given are to be questioned. Sobel (1994) continues that

the logic is flawed. Her claim is that there is a huge difference between an
actual person and a potential or possible reason (para. 4). Technically, the
being that is being described is a zygote, an embryo or a fetus. Arthur (2001)
states that a fetus does not possess human-like characteristics. It lacks
social identity and is not a separate individual. This means that it lacks
certain qualities to prove that these beings are human. On the other hand,
not all abortion cases overlap with the meaning of murder. Some cases are
not purely intentional. It has been said that nearly 1.2 million American
women choose abortion to end a pregnancy and the most common reasons
are birth control, inability to support child and to end unwanted pregnancies
(Healthwise Inc., 2013, para. 1). Sometimes, the will to abort comes
intertwined with the life of the mother herself. Due to medical complications,
abortion could be the best option left there is.
Granting the given evidences that a fetus is not a human is
scientifically proven, there are also some things that overlap with these
characteristics.

According

to

the

Pro-Choice

Action

Network

(n.d.),

personhood at conception is a religious belief, not a proven biological fact

(para. 3). This means that the personhood should not have certain
qualifications. A person can be seen in a lot of ways, may it be the concrete
representation or the abstract representation. The organization goes further.
They claim that religious communities have differing ideologies on the
definition

of

the

word

person

or

when

abortion

is

morally

just

(Misconceptions About Abortion, n.d., para. 4). Also, the characteristics

mentioned were exclusive for people without disabilities. Alzheimers disease
patients can be taken as an example. Alzheimers Association (AA, 2014)
defined Alzheimers disease as a type of dementia that causes problems
with memory (para. 1). The main symptom of Alzheimers is difficulty
remembering or retaining new memory (AA, 2014, para. 6). The people who
are affected by this disease may be capable of conscious thought but not

memory. We consider people suffering from Alzheimers as human beings,

yet they are not capable of remembering. This does not make them any
different with fetuses inside a womans body. Another example is a mute
person. These people are living or breathing but they are not capable of
speaking. They also have a huge similarity with the little beings inside a
womans womb. There must be consistency in proving whether one is human
or not. Furthermore, abortion is still murder. According to statistics, nearly
half of pregnancies in the USA are unintended and four in 10 of these are
terminated by abortion, there are over 3,000 abortions per day. Twenty-two
percent of all the pregnancies in the USA (excluding miscarriages) end in
abortion (Abortions worldwide this year, 2012, para. 6). This means that
not all of the people who choose abortion are left with any choice. It is like
using this procedure as a loophole from a big responsibility they should be
facing. There is only a small amount in the Philippine population that is
supporting the legalization of abortion. It is not a necessity. People would just
use it to get away from all the mistakes they have done. It will also not be
fair for the being. Justice must be served to those who are in need of it.
These little beings deserve justice.
Aside from the first argument given, I also believe that abortion can
cause medical complications. Considering the fact that abortion is not legal
in the Philippines, this could cause people to find other ways just to have the
procedure. According to statistics, approximately ten percent of the women
undergoing induced abortion suffer from immediate complications, of which
one fifth or two percent were considered major (Abortion Risks: A list of
major physical complications related to abortion, 1999). For short, the safety
of those who want to undergo the procedure will have to be sacrificed. There
could be a lot of complications if abortion is to be done. First, it could lead to
the failure of terminating the pregnancy. American Womens Services Inc.
(AWSI, 2006) say that:

Sometimes, an early abortion does not succeed in terminating

the pregnancy. The likelihood of this event is less than one in one
thousand cases. In such cases, another abortion procedure is
recommended,

because

the

first

attempted

abortion

can

adversely affect the normal development of the pregnancy.

Alternately, this can also be a sign of a tubal pregnancy, which
would require hospitalization and abdominal surgery (para. 1).
Another complication that could be encountered by a person who chooses to
undergo abortion is infection. According to AWSI (2006), Infection is caused
by germs from the vagina and cervix getting into the uterus. If a woman has
Gonorrhea, Syphilis or Chlamydia, a serious tubal infection can occur (para.
6). Last, but definitely not the least is death. A 1997 funded study in Finland
found out that women who abort approximately four times are most likely to
die in the following year than the women who carry their pregnancies to term
(Elliot Institute, 1999, para. 2). In addition to that, the Elliot Institute (1999)
also said that:
The leading causes of abortion related maternal deaths within a
week of the surgery are hemorrhage, infection, embolism,
anesthesia, and undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies. Legal abortion
is reported as the fifth leading cause of maternal death in the
United States, though in fact it is recognized that most abortionrelated deaths are not officially reported as such(para. 5).
With these, the legalization of abortion would act as a gateway for more risks
that could damage other peoples lives. This means that they are also
encouraging them in a way, but not the kind of way people expect it.
On the contrary, others believe that abortion can help lessen fatalities
or complications. BBC News UK (n.d.) says that:

Before abortion was permitted in countries like the UK and USA,

women still had abortions, but because abortion was a crime, they
were carried out in secrecy, and very often by people with no, or
inadequate, medical training. And even when carried out by
doctors, they were rarely done with hospital back-up.
The result of this was that many women died or suffered
permanent physical damage as a result of botched abortions.
Because there was no counseling, even women whose bodies
were unscathed suffered grief and guilt, and the stigma of having
an abortion often prevented them from seeking comfort from their
family or friends(para. nos. 3-4).
This means that the legalization of abortion would pave the way for more
lives to be saved. The mothers who are in dire need of attention because of
their pregnancy complications would have easier lives since they do not
need to hide just to get an abortion. Unsafe measures would no longer exist
because it will be available in local hospitals. Imagine the lives that will be
spared if abortion would be legalized. Basnayake (n.d.) says that for most
of the 19th century, the rationale of abortion laws were to save women from
quacks and unsafe experimental surgery(Abortion and the safety of
women, para. 5). This means that most of the people who practice abortion
do not really have an idea of what it could do to the being. If abortion is to
be legalized, there will be licensed abortionists that will take care of the
practicum. There will be degrees so that there will be a concrete proof that
they are knowledgeable. There will be standards that will be followed. It has
also been proven that womens rights will be affected if abortion will not be
legalized. BBC News UK (2014) claims that womens rights advocates
argue that access to legal abortion is essential for the mental and physical
health of women as a gender, and that banning abortion puts women in
danger(para. 7). To add on to their argument, it has been said that surgical
abortion is a very safe procedure. ASWI (2006) say that:

Surgical abortion is a very safe procedure. Surgical procedures

in the first trimester are safer than having a tonsillectomy.
According

to

the

Alan

Guttmacher

Institute,

abortion

is

approximately 11 times safer than carrying the pregnancy to

childbirth. Less than 1 woman in 100 will have any type of
complication,

and

serious

complications

are

rare.

Medical

abortion has an even lower incidence of complications due to the

non-invasive nature of the treatment and the fact that no
anesthesia is used (para. 1).
The supporters of the legalization of abortion stand up for one thing, abortion
is only bad if those people who practice it are ignorant. There should be
information that must be known or understood before giving the final verdict
on that matter.
Regardless of the fact that there are scientific facts that say that it
does not lead to complications, I refuse to believe that idea. It appears as if
that the idea presented that surgical abortion is a very safe procedure is
fallacious, in a way. One cannot fully say that its 101 percent safe. No one is
certain of what the possible mistakes can people make when it comes to the
actual situation. There could be no guarantee that all the complications will
disappear or will stop from happening. The given information will not change
the fact that it has already happened, even though it is not meant by those
who practice it and possibly cause the stated complications. Also, I believe
that doctors are the ones who are supposed to save lives and not be a
catalyst for the contrary. It has been said in the Hippocratic Oath (Philippine
Medical Association, n.d.) that neither will I give a woman means to procure
an abortion (para 2). To be a mother that committed abortion is bad but to
be a catalyst for abortion is worse.
Lastly, one of the reasons why I believe that the legalization of abortion
should not be approved is because it is not the only solution. It all boils down

to why does it have to happen? According to Guttmacher Institute (2013), in

2008, there were 1.9 million unintended pregnancies in the Philippines
resulting in two main outcomes- unplanned births & unsafe abortions (para
5). As a teenager, I think that people tend to find a lot of ways to run away
from a situation that they got into. They must think that abortion is the
easiest solution there is. It is a mistake no one wants to accept that they did.
One option is parenting. Parenting is defined by the Merriam Webster as the
process of taking care of children until they are old enough to take care of
themselves. Birth Mothers (n.d.) say that parenting is a challenging but an
extremely rewarding experience (para 4). There are a lot of types of
parenting to choose from, all it takes is the strong will of the heart to fulfill
the needs of the child. Another solution that can be considered is adoption.
Putting up the child for adoption is the best option if you dont want to raise
the child. Adoption is defined by Birth Mothers (n.d.) as the legal transfer of
all parental rights and responsibilities to another adult. Many acknowledge
adoption not as a form of abandonment, but rather a loving, responsible act
(para.11). Abortion should be avoided because the thing developing in a
womans belly is also her blood and flesh, regardless of how it happened.
Every life given in this world is a blessing. If a person could not handle the
clamors of parenthood, putting up the child for adoption is one of the best
solutions.
Given that there are other options to choose from, others claim that
abortion is the easiest and most accessible solution. Due to the continuous
decline of the Filipino mass, most of them believe that this resort is the
easiest there is. It is considered nowadays as another form of family planning
method. Studies show that women who decide to terminate a pregnancy say
that it is an anguished choice they make in the face of severe constraints
(Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, 2013, para.
45).Other than abortion as a form of family planning, abortion can also be
beneficial to the child. Studies show that the majority of women who go for

an abortion are married or in a consensual union (91%), the mother of three

or more children (57%), and poor (68%) (Responsible Parenthood and
Reproductive Health Act of 2012, para. 45). This means that it is not taken as
a way out because most of those who undergo abortion are already in the
right stage wherein children are encouraged. It does not fulfill that
assumption that people are not yet ready. Also, the huge amount of
percentage of the poor signifies that they are not doing this because the
child is unwanted. These people are just sparing the children from all the
problems they have to endure in this life. Abortion is not regarded as a
loophole, but rather a loving action to the unborn child.
The opposing side failed to understand that the solutions or arguments
they have given does not totally fix the problem. Granting the fact that there
is no room for the child in the family, abortion is should be the last option
there is. According to Papineau (n.d.), this solution that they claim only
makes the situation worse. The best thing to do is to prevent it from
happening again, if it is unintended (para 7). Why commit sexual intercourse
if the person is aware of the possible consequences? It is like playing with fire
wherein the person playing is not sure when it will burn the skin. There is a
saying that goes "Prevention is better than the cure." It is best to give proper
education about abortion and the possible consequences it could bring.
Financial problems are not really an issue. I believe that money is
replaceable, but the life of an unborn child can never be restored when you
decide to get rid of it. There are also government programs that reach out to
the less fortunate families in need of assistance.
By the time that you finish reading this article, four to five innocent
lives will be taken if the legalization of abortion will not be approved. It is
time to act. I firmly believe that abortion should not be legalized in the
Philippines. First, it is a form of murder. It stops the progression of the being
and it is also a choice made by the parents, which is a huge point similar to
murder. Second, it causes numerous medical complications such as infection,

failure to terminate pregnancy and death. Last, it is not the only solution to
the problem. Options such as parenting and adoption can also be considered
other than illegal abortion. There are more than enough reasons why
abortion should not be accepted as a norm. Eyes should be opened, hearts
should be melted. What about you? Are you going to take a stand against
abortion?