Three out of ten women will have an abortion (Planned Parenthood). That is a good proportion of society that will actively seek out this procedure. Chances are that you know someone whether they were your elementary school teacher or best friends mom who has sought out an abortion. Who knows maybe someone close to you or even yourself will come to face an unintended pregnancy and want to obtain an abortion. So if there is the possibility that someone you care about will have to face this decision it is important to know all the facts and what abortion really is. Despite the fact that abortion is common and a highly controversial topic in the United States many people are misinformed or not informed at all on this procedure. What many people do not know is that there is actually two different kinds of abortion. There is the in-clinic medical abortion (which is the type most people know) and then the abortion pill. For the in-clinic abortions there is either the aspiration or dilation and evacuation abortion depending on how long the woman has been pregnant. Both these procedures are humanely and medically done and do not hurt the woman or the unborn fetus. Most pro-life advocates suggest outrageous things such as the fetus is still breathing once exiting the woman, which is completely false and in reality abortion is a safer procedure than delivering a baby. The other option  --  the abortion pill is the combination of two medicines to end the pregnancy (mifepristone and misoprostol). This process is usually for early-term pregnancies and the baby is removed through bleeding. Abortion comes with a bad public stigma and it is all to often due to mislead information, abortion should in fact have a good stigma as it is a reputable by data and clearly a safe procedure. Now that you know the actual procedures for abortion I plan on introducing in my paper the benefits of a pro-choice world, how abortion is indeed ethical, and that the availability of this procedure along with proper reproductive education will lead to a bettered world. Abortion does not violate any ethical standards, prioritizes the health of the woman, and in a pro-choice world will result in an improved society. 

Women's Rights are the Priority 

One of the biggest debates about the issue of abortion is whether or not the woman's life and rights outweighs the fetuses. And the truth is how can a non-living being have equal rights to those of an adult woman. Women have conscious thoughts and ideas. Fetuses do not. Women have feelings and decision-making capabilities. Fetuses do not. So although biologically a fetus is on its way to being that of a human being, it is clear that a fetus and full-term human are completely different. In terms of abortion it is important to clarify the definition of what a fetus is and at what point it is considered a full-term human-being. Tim Anderson points this out in his article when he discusses the Supreme Court case that made abortion legal  --  Roe vs. Wade. Here it was declared that, "[U]ntil the fetus is able to survive on its own outside the mother's womb, it cannot be considered an autonomous person, thus affirming that the mother's choice regarding parenthood supersedes the potential rights of the unborn fetus" (Trends in Abortion Policy). This Supreme Court case declared that the woman's rights should always take precedence over that of the fetuses. 

Despite this word of law some pro-life advocates still argue that it is unethical to view the woman's rights as more important. This is in fact wrong and Peter Singer explicitly proves that in his article, "The Choice of a Pregnant Woman Always Outweighs the Life of a Fetus". Peter Singer wrote, "We have no obligation to allow every being with the potential to become a rational being to realize that potential" (Abortion in the Developing World). Although the fetus has the potential to one day become a human being with the same full rights as the woman, there is no obligation to have that fetus come to that point, especially if the woman does not want that. Therefore, the rights of the woman should be prioritized over the fetuses. This is imperative especially when it comes to the woman's health. The mere state of being pregnant comes with health risks. The Center for Reproductive Rights states, "Some women suffer maternity-related injuries, such as hemorrhage or obstructed labor" (Denying Women Access to Abortion Is a Form of Gender Discrimination). If a women wishes not to be put at these health risks her rights should be prioritized and be allowed an abortion if wanted. Singer discusses this one particular case in Venezuela when a young woman who had leukemia became pregnant. As a result of the pregnancy, the doctors refused to continue the woman's chemotherapy treatment in fear that it would affect the pregnancy. There is no reason for the rights of that fetus to be chosen over the health of that woman. Although that fetus could one day be a rational being, it was currently endangering an already rational being's health. Eventually that woman was allowed an abortion once all the abortion laws were sought through. 

Health is not the only aspect of a woman's life that is being put at risk. The woman who is pregnant is having her future and goals in life be jeopardized by an unintended pregnancy. A woman may not be financially ready to afford a child in her life or just wishes to pursue more education or further her career before being ready to have a child. The reality is that most women today that have a child leave work and stay at home to raise the child. I learned in my Sociology 305 class, that in fact 50% of women stop working with the birth of their first child. Some women may not be able to financially afford this or just wish to continue to pursue their goals in life. No women should have her hopes and aspirations crushed or restricted due to an unintended pregnancy. Some pro-life advocates will argue that pregnancy is temporary, but abortion is permanent so therefore all women should go through with pregnancies. This is wrong although the state of being pregnant is temporary, the life of parenthood and taking care of the child is at minimum 18 years after the child is born. During this time the mother may struggle financially and emotionally due to the unintended child in her life. She also may lose her goals and dreams for her future due to being consumed with taking care of this child. So pregnancy although temporary is more realistically a lifetime commitment. Women's rights should always come first in regards to pregnancy; it is after all her body that she is making a decision for. Whether it be due to health, financial, or whatever reason it may be, all women deserve to have the option of an abortion as her rights should be prioritized over the potential-beings.                                           

Government Regulation of Abortion is Unethical

Although abortion was declared legal in the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court case, some state government's make it difficult to near impossible for women to obtain an abortion. One of the biggest factors that some states have implemented is the ban on insurance coverage. According to Thompson, there are currently twenty states that have banned insurance from covering abortion (Abortion and Health Insurance). This ban makes abortion practically inaccessible to most women, as they cannot afford it without coverage (typical in-clinic abortion costs around $1,500 according to Planned Parenthood). This can be quite dangerous as women who have serious or even life-threatening health conditions will not be able to obtain coverage for this necessary abortion (Abortion and Health Insurance). This ban is unethical and goes against the constitutional ruling of Roe vs. Wade case. All women have the right to have abortion as an option, and the ban on insurance coverage denies women this right. 

Thompson also points out another government regulation that restricts women access to an abortion. There are currently eight states that have implemented a "mandatory ultrasound" law. This law forces the women that wish to seek an abortion to have an ultrasound beforehand regardless of how the doctor or patient feels about this. This law has been implemented in some states and is considered "invasive" and "disrespectful to a woman's decision making" (Abortion and Health Insurance). Lithwick explains the procedure in her article, "[B]ecause the great majority of abortions occur during the first 12 weeks, that means most women will be forced to have a transvaginal procedure, in which a probe is inserted into the vagina, and then moved around until an ultrasound image is produced" (Intruding in the Doctor-Patient Relationship). The procedure serves no medical purpose. Also, the doctors are not allowed to opt out of the mandatory ultrasound so that violates medical ethics. This shows that the doctors do not believe that the procedure is necessary but is forced by the state to perform it before performing an abortion. The procedure serves no other purpose other than shaming women as most women who have the ultrasound still undergo the procedure. 

Another government regulation on abortion that is a current issue is the mandatory parental consent notification that is required in some states. According to Borgmann, "Currently, thirty-five states require parental notification before a teenager can obtain an abortion (The Irrationality of Parental Involvement Laws). This is unnecessary, can cause harm to the teenager, and is not enacted to help the teenager but to prevent abortion from occurring altogether. Minors can consent to services such as prenatal care, contraception, and even give up their children for adoption, so therefore minors should have the right to make independent decisions on abortion. Also, typically teenagers often have good reasons to not involve their parents in the decision on an abortion. Borgmann writes, "Even in the absence of a parental involvement law, about six in ten teens consult at least one parent before seeking an abortion" (The Irrationality of Parental Involvement Laws). So if a minor wishes to keep the decision away from their parents it is often because they fear they will face abuse or being thrown out, or that they feel their parents will prevent the whole procedure from happening. Nobody knows the parents better than the minor themselves so if they feel that the procedure should happen without their knowledge then they should have another option. This is where Judicial Bypass comes to play. The Supreme Court has held that teenage girls have the right to determine the fate of their pregnancy, so if a minor wishes to not have parental involvement, their alternative is a Judicial Bypass (The Futility of the Judicial Bypass). This means that the minor will have to appear in front of a court, which can often interfere with school and work, and share the most intimate details of their life. Most minors, who seek this alternative, are granted a waiver and deemed mature enough to make a decision. Borgmann writes, "[O]ne study in Massachusetts showed that out of 477 petitions, only one minor was denied a waiver. Indeed, a report by the AMA found that minors' decision-making process on abortion is comparable to that of adults aged 22-25" (The Futility of the Judicial Bypass). So if minors are deemed to be mature enough as a person in their young twenties, they should have the right to make a decision whether their parents are involved. Either way minors are forced to choose between parental notification or a Judicial Bypass  --  both very invasive.

Denial of Abortion Leads to Unethical Consequences 

The harsh truth is that whether abortion is legal or not, women will still find the means to have an abortion if desperate enough. Banning abortion poses many health risks, if women do not have access to abortion they will turn to dangerous even deadly practices. Lee and Sprague discuss, if women turn to these deadly practices or attempt a miscarriage they will have complications such as, "[I]nflammation, infection, hemorrhage, kidney failure, infertility, and an increased tendency toward future miscarriages" (The Health Risks of Banning Abortion). So rather than having women turn to these practices, abortion should be accessible and family planning education and contraceptives should increase to prevent abortion. If restrictions on abortion continue "[T]he estimated 78,000 deaths that occur each year worldwide as a result of the approximately 20 million illegal and unsafe abortions" will continue to skyrocket (The Health Risks of Banning Abortion). Abortion mainly affects poor women and they cannot typically afford it and usually do not have the insurance to cover it  --  these are the women who feel desperate for the procedure. Pregnancy affects every aspect of a woman's life (physical, emotional, etc.) therefore it should be her choice and her choice only on whether to have an abortion or not. Anderson writes, "Recent research outlines the number of important factors women consider when choosing whether or not to undergo an abortion: financial instability or debt, conflicting career goals, and problems with spouses or boyfriends all affect a woman's decision to become a mother (The Right to Choose). This shows that a women's choice to have an abortion is not taken lightly and that she is the only one qualified to make that decision.

Many pro-life advocates argue that the denial of abortion does not lead to unethical consequences but that the act of abortion itself is unethical. Often they will use misleading words and phrases to gain sympathy. The Coalition of Canada writes, "Antiabortion advocates use the term "partial-birth" abortion to create a new category for the fetus as "not unborn.""(Misleading Terms and Imagery). This term is in fact wrong as it is a misrepresentation and you cannot have a "partial-birth". You either are born and alive or you are not. And as Anderson discussed before, "[U]ntil the fetus is able to survive on its own outside the mother's womb, it cannot be considered an autonomous person"(Trends in Abortion Policy). Anti-life advocates will try to convince you otherwise but it is imperative to focus on the facts and statistics of abortion. 

Abortion Leads to an Improved Society 

The availability of abortion will lead to an advancement in women's reproductive rights and overall an improved society. This can be proved by analyzing different countries and the results they have had with either abortion restrictions or abortion advancement. Anderson discusses abortion not only in the United States but also in third world countries. He writes, "Unfortunately, the third world countries that most need these services often have the least access to them. Recent research indicates that at least 80,000 women die every year in developing countries as a result of unsafe abortions" (Abortion in the Third World). It is evident from this that a country needs the availability of abortion in order for women to participate freely in society. If they do not have access they will turn to unsafe practices that can possibly result in death. According to Arthur in "Abortion Benefits Civilized Society", countries like: Romania, Latin America, and Africa face problems like crime and maternal deaths due to their antiabortion laws. Countries like the Netherlands and Sweden who have accessible abortion and family planning face have low abortion rates and morality rates. One example she gives is, "When women can control their reproduction, it leaves them free to pursue higher education and careers, and to plan their lives and families. Women should not be expected to sacrifice their personal and economic freedom" (Benefits of Legal Abortion). This shows us that in places where abortion is accessible and legal (like Canada, Sweden, and the Netherlands) women are furthering themselves in work and education, thus leading to a more educated and stable economy in those societies. 

Within the issue of abortion there is many different factors that play into it. Many people do not know that actual procedure of abortion and what it is. The definition of what is human and what is a fetus is also blurred but hopefully made clear in this paper. Women's rights should always be the number one priority, especially when it comes to their health. And it is evident that the denial of abortion rights leads to unethical consequences, while the advancement leads to a bettered society for all. Perhaps, after reading this paper more will be informed and feel lead to help further the pro-choice movement. 

