Abortion

-is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death. The termination of pregnancy before fetus is viable. Fetus is viable is defined as fetus of 20 weeks AOG, weighing <350 grams.

May be elective (planned, medical termination of pregnancy) or reproductive problem.

Types of Abortion:
1. complete abortion - one in which all the products of conception are expelled from the uterus and identified. 2. habitual abortion - spontaneous abortion occurring in three or more successive pregnancies, at about the same level of development. 3. incomplete abortion - with retention of parts of the products of conception. 4. induced abortion - brought on intentionally by medication or instrumentation 5. inevitable abortion - a condition in which vaginal bleeding has been profuse and the cervix has become dilated, and abortion will invariably occur. 6. infected abortion -associated with infection of the genital tract. 7. missed abortion - retention in the uterus of an abortus that has been dead for at least eight weeks. 8. septic abortion- associated with serious infection of the uterus leading to generalized infection. 9. spontaneous abortion - occurring naturally. Spontaneous abortion (also known as miscarriage) is the expulsion of an embryo or fetus due to accidental trauma or natural causes before approximately the 22nd week of gestation; the definition by gestational age varies by country. Most miscarriages are due to incorrect replication of chromosomes; they can also be caused by environmental factors. A pregnancy that ends before 37 weeks of gestation resulting in a live-born infant is known as a "premature birth". When a fetus diesin utero after about 22 weeks, or during delivery, it is usually termed "stillborn". Premature births and stillbirths are generally not considered to be miscarriages although usage of these terms can sometimes overlap.

10. therapeutic abortion - induced for medical considerations. Medical abortions are nonsurgical abortions that use pharmaceutical drugs, and are only effective in the first trimester of pregnancy. 11. threatened abortion - a condition in which vaginal bleeding is less than in inevitable abortion and the cervix is not dilated, and abortion may or may not occur. 12. Surgical abortion

In the first 12 weeks, suction-aspiration or vacuum abortion is the most common method. Manual Vacuum aspiration(MV A ) abortion consists of removing the fetus or embryo, placenta and membranes by suction using manual syringe, while electric vacuum
aspiration (EVA) abortion uses an electric pump. These techniques are comparable, and differ in the mechanism used to apply suction, how early in pregnancy they can be used, and whether cervical dilation is necessary. MVA, also known as "mini-suction" and "menstrual extraction", can be used in very early pregnancy, and does not require cervical dilation. Surgical techniques are sometimes referred to as 'Suction (or surgical) Termination Of Pregnancy' (STOP). From the 15th week until approximately the 26th,dilation and evacuation (D&E) is used. D&E consists of opening the cervix of the uterus and emptying it using surgical instruments and suction.

Reasons for Abortion:

incest/rape fetal abnormalities maternal health problems didnt want to be single parents/problems with current relationship cannot afford a child child would interfere with their lives

When does life begin? Ensoulment- implantation, looks human, electrical activity, quickening, viability, birth Personhood- conscious self-awareness, intelligent and free adult, interest in the future

Direct Abortion
-Immediate intrinsic purpose: To remove/kill the conceptus -Whether it is a means or an end, it is always viewed as moral evil -The essential sinfulness of direct abortion consists in the homicidal intent to kill innocent life. This factor places the controverted question as to precisely when human life begins.

When does life begin?

- A human organism, a member of the human species, comes into existence when a human ovum is fertilized by a human spermatozoa and a one-celled zygote is produced. -Theories:

Delayed Hominization
-human personhood does not begin until some time after conception.

Redefining conception
-life occurs only after implantation -contradicts biological principles -definition of a person should rely on the structure and function -not only as conscious, intelligent, free adult, but must include entire life story as well -at any stage in the life cycle, a person has the active potential to develop different structures and different functions

Indirect Abortion
immediate intrinsic purpose: To save the life of the pregnant woman last resort All other reasons- quality of life, convenience, peace of mind, scandal or humiliation, financial burden, etc.- must be ruled out

Nothing is perfect
-One of those inevitable consequences of living in an imperfect world where in order to save a life physicians must take that of another. -Occurs when treatment used to save the life of the mother has the secondary side effect of killing the unborn child -Examples: *Ectopic pregnancy * Hysterectomy (e.g. uterine cancer) this type of situation very rarely arise thereby making the majority of abortion produces a grave sin in the eyes of the Church The Roman Catholic Church only recognizes very rare cases where indirect abortion is permissible and views the vast majority abortive procedures to be the result of procuring a direct abortion Indirect abortion is sometimes permitted, provided that there be sufficient and grave reason, such as the saving of the mothers life, and that every precaution be taken to save

the life of the child and, in case the childs life be in danger, that it receive timely baptism.

Pro-Choice - Women's Rights:

1. A woman has to bear the risk and burden of pregnancy, delivery and child-care 2. In cases of very young, inexperienced, retarded and in cases of incest and rape 3. Control over pregnancy and the right to normal sex life 4. Unwanted children suffer 5. Defective child 6. Women cannot depend on society for help, insufficient and degrading 7. Forced to obtain abortion form illegal and dangerous abortionists 8. Using abortion as a back-up to aid population control 9. Women should not be inhibited in their right of choice by interference

Article II of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines states:

Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the government.