ETHICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING ABORTION

Abortion is the most difficult and controversial moral topic in today’s society. Many people view abortion as a murder of unborn children. On the other hand, some people view it as freedom for women. We need to listen to both sides, even if that is difficult to do. Both sides have negative and positive moral insights, even if ultimately these insights are outweighed by the insights of the other side. There are two principal morals we need to consider; first, the moral status of the fetus. Is the fetus a person? At what age in its development does it becomes a person? Conception? First trimester? Birth? Secondly, the right of the pregnant woman, does the pregnant woman have the right to decide if she is going to carry the baby to term or not? As we consider these difficult issues, it is imperative to distinguish two other questions. Is abortion morally wrong or should abortion be illegal? These are distinct issues because not everything that is immoral is necessarily illegal. For instance, it is immoral to be unfaithful on your marriage but it is not illegal. Another argument that is usually advanced against abortion is the fact that the fetus is an innocent person. It is morally wrong to end the life of an innocent person; therefore, it is morally wrong to end the life of a fetus. Much of the debate in regard to abortion has been centered on whether the fetus is a person or not. If the fetus is a person then it has the right that belongs to persons, including the right to life. In my view, women have the right of privacy, ownership of their body, treatment, and right to self-determination. Therefore, I am not against it or for it because everyone has they own freedom and belief.