The Right To Choose Abortion
...abortion] cases in Singapore [attempted] to determine the number of adverse [psychological] consequences of [abortions] and [the study showed] that the majority of people are psychologically improved” (Ney 508). In other cases, a study found “…that about five percent of women had enduring severe psychiatric disturbances following abortion” (Ney 508). The women who appear to be at more risk for psychologically difficulties are those with “…previous psychiatric or abnormal obstetric history…”(Ney 508). After the abortion, there is a “…post abortion grief and psychosomatic complaints….” (Ney 509). In some cases, women “…developed a depression on the anniversary of an abortion” (Ney 509). Therefore, the complications of having an abortion can have long term affects both physical and mentally. The legal issue of abortions in 1973 was decided by the Supreme Court which “…made abortion on demand legal in the early stages of pregnancy” (Regas 52), permitting greater access for women to have abortions without any legal complications. This was later clarified on “July 3, 1989, when a divided Supreme Court …[limited] a women’s access to abortion”(Regas 53). This legal interpretation gave medical input a greater influence concerning the decision for an abortion. The medical society concluded that “90% of all abortions are done before the 13th week of pregnancy; fewer than 1% of all abortions occur after the 20th week-and most of those are for urgent reasons” (Regas 55). The legal aspect of abortions, being well known now, has eased the procedure itself for the woman. The complex decision to have an “…abortion is a positive moral choice for an unwanted pregnancy ” (Swomley 104). To make women have an unwanted child at this stage is using “a woman’s body against her will and choice…a kind of legalized rape that is morally repugnant” (Regas 57). The issue concerning a potential human life and the concerns of the mother’s own life is “…her moral decision over her own body.” (Regas 56). This allows women to have a greater input on their own later life. Woman may choose to have an abortion for several reasons, such as being sexually assaulted, congenital disorders, maturity issues, and the woman’s own mental health. The unwanted child has a great impact on the mother. The unwanted child is “…more likely to suffer from parental abuse and other problems…” (Welton 124). This may be in fact due to maturity issues. In some cases women are not “…mature enough for the daily and almost life-long demands of parenthood…” (Welton 126). Therefore, the unwanted child could become a legal responsibility of the social infrastructure. Abortion on a fetus having a congenital disorder such as Down syndrome may almost be an easier decision than aborting a regular fetus. This simply may be because the fetus is viewed as having less value. A woman may find it difficult enough to raise a normal child. However, the demand on the parent of this particular child is far greater than a normal child. This unborn fetus, having the extra chromosome which is diagnosed as having Down syndrome, faces “…mental retardation and physical vulnerability …” (Rapp139). There are some negative aspects of aborting a fetus diagnosed with Down syndrome. For example, there is a greater risk of the woman having a miscarriage. For instance, “Four out of five Down syndrome babies die in miscarriage during the first trimester” (Allison 146). The demand on the women’s mental and physical well-being is far greater than a parent without any mental or physical disabilities. The individuals who argue not to abort the unborn fetus...