Abortion Should it be Legal or Not?
...S-158: “Physicians, biologists, and other scientists agree that conception (they defined fertilization and conception to be the same) marks the beginning of the life of a human being—a being that is alive and is a member of the human species. There is overwhelming Agreement on this point in countless medical, biological, and scientific writings.” (Report, Subcommittee on Separation of Powers to Senate Judiciary Committee S-158, 97th Congress, 1st Session 1981, p7) On pages 7-9, the report lists a “limited sample” of 13 medical textbooks, all of which state categorically that the life of an individual human begins at conception. Then, on pages 9-10, the report quotes several outstanding authorities who testified personally: *.Professor J. Lejeune, Paris, discoverer of the chromosome pattern of Down’s Syndrome: “Each individual has a very neat beginning, at conception.” Page 3 *Professor W. Bowes, University of Colorado: Beginning of human life? –“at . conception.” *Professor H. Gordon, Mayo Clinic: “It is an established fact that human life begins at conception.” *Professor M. Matthews-Roth, Harvard University: “It is scientifically correct to say that individual human life begins at conception.” At 40 days , brain waves have been recorded on the Electroencephalogram (EEG). (H.Hamilin, “Life or Death by EEG,” JAMA, Oct. 12, 1964,p.120) Brain function, as measured on the Electroencephalogram, “appears to be reliably present in the fetus at about eight weeks gestation, “ or six weeks after conception. (J. Goldenring, “Development of the Fetal Brain, “ New England Jour. of Med., Aug.26,1982,p.564) Only several generations ago, doctors used the ending of respiration to measure the end of human life. This is no longer true, for the use of artificial ventilators is common. Only one generation ago, doctors were using the ending of the heartbeat to measure the end of human life. This is no longer true, for now the heart can be stopped and restarted for different operations. It also may stop during a heart attack and sometimes can be restated. Today, the definitive and final measure of the end of human life is brain death. This happens when there is irreversible cessation of total brain function. The final scientific measurement of this is the permanent ending of brain waves. *Since all authorities accept that the end of an individual’s life is measured by the ending of his brain function (as measured by brain waves on the EEG), would it not be logical for them to at least agree that individual’s life began with the onset of that same human brain function as measured by brain waves recorded on that same instrument? As the biological facts of prenatal development indicate, we have excellent reason to believe that full humanness is present from the moment of conception, and that the nature of prenatal and postuterine existence is merely the unfolding of human growth and development which does not cease until death. In other words, the unborn—like the rest of us—are not potential human beings, but human beings with much potential. Page 4 On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court finally decided a very vexing question which had troubled the citizens of the United States for many years. In a landmark decision, the court ruled once and for all that unborn humans were not legal “persons” according to the U.S. constitution. An unborn baby was the property of the owner (mother) and she could have the baby killed at her request because of her health (social distress). This could be done at any time until birth. The ruling was final. It was by the highest court in the land. The ruling struck down all laws against abortion which had in any way protected unborn babies. The ruling legalized abortion in all 50 stats for the full nine months of pregnancy for social and economic reasons. *It created a new basic constitutional right for women in the right to privacy, which the Supreme Court and created only a few years earlier. This right to privacy was “broad enough to encompass a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy.” *It stated that the law protects only legal “persons” and that “legal personhood does not exist prenatally.” *It gave the state “a compelling interest in the protection of the pregnant woman’s health.” The ruling authorized: *No legal restrictions at all on abortion in the first three months. *No restrictions from then until viability, except those needed to make the procedure safer for the mother. *Abortion was allowed until birth if one licensed physician judged it necessary for the mother’s “health.” The Court said that abortion could be performed: “…in the light of all factors—physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age –relevant to the well being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.” (Doe vs Bolton, U.S. Supreme Court, No.70-40,IV,p.11, Jan. 1973) In 1985, 1,588,600 abortions were done in the U.S., with 10 % being late abortion (after 12weeks) (Alan Gutmacher Institute’s figure). When the unreported abortions are added (income tax evasion, cover-up for privacy, etc.), a figure of 1,800,000 is probably more Realistic. Live births have hovered around the 3,600,000 figure for several years. There Fore: Almost every third baby conceived in America is killed by abortion. In the U.S., Page5 about 40% of the total are repeat abortions. About 43% of American women will have one (or occasionally more) abortions during their life. Women’s centers and hospitals perform more than a million abortions per year. Abortions are obviously in great demand. But Why? Women have many reasons for not wanting to be pregnant, and thus to seek an abortion, May be related to: *Age: Most abortions are done on women under the age of 25. *Marital Status: Most women seeking abortions are unmarried; many are separated from spouse. *Economic status: Many are poor In a study by Torres and Forrest (1998) –based on 1987 data—women gave an average if 3 reasons for wanting an abortion: *The vast majority (in excess of 90%) of abortions are sought for personal reasons: *21% feel that they do not have the financial resources to bring up child *21% feel that they are not ready for the responsibility of bringing up a child. *16% feel that their life would be changed too much. She might have a plan for her (education, developing a career, etc.) that does not allow for having a child at the present time. She might be looking after an elderly parent and does not have sufficient time or energy to commit to a baby. *12% feel that her relationship with her partner is in difficulty. *11% feel that they are too young, and not sufficiently mature to become a mother. *8% of the cases, her children are grown and she does not want to start another or that she has all the children that she wants. For whatever reasons a mother may have to have an Abortion, it always involves risks, trauma and side effects. Because induced abortion is an unnatural, hostile penetration of a closed and safeguarded biological system (the child in the womb) the mother is always exposed to risks and to short-and long-term complications, both physical and psychological. Incomplete abortions resulting in blood clotting, bleeding, hemorrhage and infections are not uncommon. Menstrual disturbance, miscarriage, tubal pregnancies, and sterility always are risks and tend to multiply with successive abortions. Page 6 Cervical laceration and uterine perforation can result from suction and D&C procedures. Convulsions, severe vomiting and diarrhea are commonplace with prostaglandin abortion. Cardiac arrests and maternal death have also been reported. Long-term psychological effects, which are just now beginning to be studied seriously, include guilt, anxiety, depression, anger, sense of loss, nightmares, flashbacks, deterioration of self image, and even suicide. In the book “Blood Money,” by director and owner Carol Everett reveals facts about a sordid industry that preys on women in crisis pregnancies. She state that most abortion counselors were paid to sell abortions regardless if they were pregnant or not. She goes on to mention that they killed and injured not only babies, but mothers as well. She makes the statement that Abortion is the larges uncontrolled industry in our nation. “Most clinics are run in chains because they’re so profitable. She states, “Where else could someone like me make $150,000 to $250, 000 a year?” After six year, Carol left the abortion industry in 1983 b...