Abortion ' The Pros and Cons

“Almost 2/3 of the world's women currently reside in countries where abortion may be obtained on request for a broad range of social, economic or personal reasons. Abortion laws vary widely by country. While it is legal in the U.S. and Canada, many other countries ban the procedure entirely. Both supporters and opponents of legal abortion believe their position addresses a fundamental human right" ~ Wikipedia

To protect the woman's life, physical health of the pregnant woman, her mental health, if she is a rape victim, if foetal defects are detected, socio-economic factors, and termination of pregnancy on request are some of the reasons considered for aborting the foetus. Opinions of course are varied on this.

The Pros

• Those who are for totally legalizing abortion firmly believe that it is a woman's fundamental right to decide whether her baby is to be born. They feel that by not legalising it, many women would die as they would adopt secret and illegal means to go through with the abortion anyway.
• Making abortion legal only protects a woman's health, especially if she is already suffering from heart disease, kidney disease, hypertension, high diabetes anaemia or other life threatening diseases. Serious medical complications that could arise because of the continuation of the pregnancy can thus be averted.
• By not making it a law, we are discriminating against the poorer sections who are often victims of unwanted pregnancies and have no way of getting a legal abortion. Many die due to lack of proper attention or unhygienic conditions when they try to abort the baby.
• Young girls and women who may be rape victims or have unknowingly been negligent will be forced to go through an unwanted pregnancy.
• With every woman who is compelled to give birth, an unwanted child will be brought out into this world and could cause irreparable damage to the child when it grows up unloved and uncared for. Are we being fair to such kids?

But while these are arguments for legalizing abortion, equally vociferous are those who are against this law coming into force.

The cons

• A lot of religions are totally opposed to abortion as they feel that the unborn child should be given a chance to live. After all, the conception was not the child's fault.
• Those against abortion fear that the law could be misused by women who may take advantage of it and use it purely as a type of birth control. These would not hesitate to go into a clinic even four or five times to have an abortion.
• By terminating a life, are we depriving the world of a possible bright future leader? Who knows what the child will grow up into?
• By having an abortion, the woman may be unknowingly aborting her chances of ever getting pregnant again. This could be her only chance!
• Once the baby is born, there are other options if the mother does not want to raise the kid. She could give it out for adoption, thereby giving it a better chance to survive.
• The baby is God's gift and has a purpose behind its birth. Therefore should not be tampered with.
• By allowing the easy way out, many women would never take responsibility for their possible carelessness and not bother about the child they have helped create.
• Abortion may lead to a feeling of guilt that may last a whole lifetime, especially if the woman remains childless after aborting the foetus.

We have placed all the arguments for and against legalizing abortion before you fairly and squarely. It is up to you now to take a stance on this burning issue and decide for yourself where exactly you stand! For or against?