Kemi Olagbegi
Critical Thinking
April 29, 2010
Abortion. The issue of abortion has been disputed for many years but has yet to find a sound solution to its problem. Roughly 1.3 million abortions take place in the United States each year; a startling average of at least 3,700 abortions per day (Abortion Statistics,2010). I believe that abortion is ethically and morally wrong. I do not believe that we have the right to decide whether or not a child should be killed for our own benefits.
According to the legal dictionary murder is defined as, “intentional homicide, without legal justification or provocation (Legal Dictionary,2010).” In both religious and historical documents murder is discussed as being ethically unjust. Throughout the Bible, “Thou shall not kill” is stated several times. Under the Common Law of the United States murder is deemed as illegal under two elements: the act of killing a person and the state of mind of intentional, purposeful, malicious, premeditated, or wanton (Common Law,2010). Abortion is a premeditated action so why isn’t it found to be illegal? "There is no morally relevant difference between deliberately killing a human being who has been born and deliberately killing a human being who is still inside his mother (Foster, 32).”
People disagree over the issues of “pro-life” and “pro-choice” but, I believe that one of the main issues that needs to be addressed is how to reduce unwanted pregnancies and make abortion seem as a less enticing solution for birth control. If we do this the issue of abortion will no longer be a prominent issue in our society. One way America could do this is by increasing our healthcare coverage. In order to make abortion seem as a less appealing solution, I believe that America’s healthcare coverage should expand and cover abortion costs. It has been proven through past research that increased healthcare coverage enhances the distribution of contraception, increases the number of mothers carrying children to full term, and reduced the number of illegal and self induced abortions in America.
Today in society we deal with an ever increasing number of abortions and a healthcare system that does not cover the extent of all our medical needs. Only 14% of all abortions in the United States are paid for by public funds given by the government (Q & A about Abortion,1999). Research has shown that in several of those states, the rate of abortion decreased due to improved health care coverage and distributed enhancements of contraception (Ried,2010). The Washington Post states that, “increasing health-care coverage is one of the most powerful tools for reducing the number of abortions -- a fact proved by years of experience in other industrialized nations” (Ried, 2010). According to United Nation comparative statistics, the United States ranks number one for having the most abortions out of any other developing nation in the world (Reid,2010). This is because other developing nations such as Germany, Japan, Britain, and Canada provide citizens with health care at reasonable costs. Since health care is inexpensive women are impelled to have children because they know they’ll be able to take care of them whenever they need medical attention. These developing nations also have reduced rates of abortion because, sexually active women take advantage of their reduced healthcare and seek contraceptives from their doctors to prevent any future unwanted pregnancies. The main reasons why universal healthcare has been so prominent overseas is because, its “economic (universal care is cheaper), political (the voters like it), religious (it's what Christ commanded), moral (it's the right thing to do) (Ried,2010).”
A two year study in Massachusetts examined the effects of healthcare reform on abortion. When citizens of Massachusetts were implemented with a near universal healthcare coverage, results revealed an evident decline in the states abortion rate. At least 1.5 percent of abortions declined among adult citizens. Abortion rates amongst teenagers declined by 7.4 percent but as abortion rates decreased non-elderly healthcare coverage went up nearly 6 percent. (Gibbson, 2010).
Another reason why our government should increase healthcare coverage is because it would play a vital role in the reduction of illegal and self induced abortions. In 1972, the year before the Supreme Court legalized abortion, there were 1,000,000 illegal abortions. Between 5,000 and 10,000 women died to due to illegal abortions (Willke,2006). Many women also suffered death and severe injuries due to self-induced abortion by using oral and inject able medications, cervical dilators, uterine instrumentation, and causing severe trauma to the abdomen. After abortion was made legal the rate of illegal abortions and deaths significantly dropped. Illegal abortions are no longer as prevalent as they were numerous years ago but, there are cases that exist. If healthcare in America were extended to include abortion, then illegal and self induced abortions would drop dramatically
In conclusion, abortion is a problem that has been rapid in our country for years. In order to control it the most probable solution would be to extend healthcare to include abortion. With this new system in place self induced abortions as well as illegal abortions will drop dramatically, making it safer for women and decrease the overall abortion rate.
Bibliography
Abortion Statistics." AbortionNO.org / The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2010..
Brind, Professor Joel. "Q & A about Abortion." Pro-Life Action League. N.p., 23 Aug. 1999. Web. 23 Apr. 2010..
"Common law - JurisPedia, the shared law." JurisPedia, the shared law. N.p., 25 Mar. 2010. Web. 12 May 2010.
"Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health." Guttmacher Institute: Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2010..
Foster, J. 1985, May. 6. "Personhood And the Ethics of Abortion". Abortion And The Sanctity of Human Life. Ed. J.H. Channer. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. 42-53.
Gibbson, David. "Massachusetts Study: Health Care Reform Reduced Abortions." Aol News:Politics News, Analysis, and Opinion for the U.S. and the World. N.p., 18 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2010.
Klick, Jonathan , and Thomas Stratmann. "The Effect of Abortion Legalization on Sexual Behavior: Evidence from Sexually Transmitted Diseases." The Journal of Legal Studies, 32.2 (2003): 407-433. JSTOR. Web. 23 Apr. 2010.
"Legal Dictionary." Duhaime.org - Bringing Legal Information To The World. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010..
Palme, Professor Jacob. "Reliability of contraceptives (prophylactics)." Psychology Free Online Medical Advice, Mental Health, Anxiety, Relationship Advice. N.p., 22 July 2008. Web. 22 Apr. 2010..
Reid, T.R.. "T.R. Reid - Universal health care tends to cut the abortion rate - washingtonpost.com." washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines. N.p., 22 Apr. 2010. Web. 26 Apr. 2010..
"What's Wrong with America's Health Care." aflcio.org - America's Union Movement. American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations , 20 Apr. 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.
Willke, Mrs. J.C.. "Why Can't We Love Them Both? On Line Book by Dr. and Mrs. Willke.." Abortion Facts - Information on abortion you can use. Heritage House '76 Inc, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2010..
Critical Thinking
April 29, 2010
Abortion. The issue of abortion has been disputed for many years but has yet to find a sound solution to its problem. Roughly 1.3 million abortions take place in the United States each year; a startling average of at least 3,700 abortions per day (Abortion Statistics,2010). I believe that abortion is ethically and morally wrong. I do not believe that we have the right to decide whether or not a child should be killed for our own benefits.
According to the legal dictionary murder is defined as, “intentional homicide, without legal justification or provocation (Legal Dictionary,2010).” In both religious and historical documents murder is discussed as being ethically unjust. Throughout the Bible, “Thou shall not kill” is stated several times. Under the Common Law of the United States murder is deemed as illegal under two elements: the act of killing a person and the state of mind of intentional, purposeful, malicious, premeditated, or wanton (Common Law,2010). Abortion is a premeditated action so why isn’t it found to be illegal? "There is no morally relevant difference between deliberately killing a human being who has been born and deliberately killing a human being who is still inside his mother (Foster, 32).”
People disagree over the issues of “pro-life” and “pro-choice” but, I believe that one of the main issues that needs to be addressed is how to reduce unwanted pregnancies and make abortion seem as a less enticing solution for birth control. If we do this the issue of abortion will no longer be a prominent issue in our society. One way America could do this is by increasing our healthcare coverage. In order to make abortion seem as a less appealing solution, I believe that America’s healthcare coverage should expand and cover abortion costs. It has been proven through past research that increased healthcare coverage enhances the distribution of contraception, increases the number of mothers carrying children to full term, and reduced the number of illegal and self induced abortions in America.
Today in society we deal with an ever increasing number of abortions and a healthcare system that does not cover the extent of all our medical needs. Only 14% of all abortions in the United States are paid for by public funds given by the government (Q & A about Abortion,1999). Research has shown that in several of those states, the rate of abortion decreased due to improved health care coverage and distributed enhancements of contraception (Ried,2010). The Washington Post states that, “increasing health-care coverage is one of the most powerful tools for reducing the number of abortions -- a fact proved by years of experience in other industrialized nations” (Ried, 2010). According to United Nation comparative statistics, the United States ranks number one for having the most abortions out of any other developing nation in the world (Reid,2010). This is because other developing nations such as Germany, Japan, Britain, and Canada provide citizens with health care at reasonable costs. Since health care is inexpensive women are impelled to have children because they know they’ll be able to take care of them whenever they need medical attention. These developing nations also have reduced rates of abortion because, sexually active women take advantage of their reduced healthcare and seek contraceptives from their doctors to prevent any future unwanted pregnancies. The main reasons why universal healthcare has been so prominent overseas is because, its “economic (universal care is cheaper), political (the voters like it), religious (it's what Christ commanded), moral (it's the right thing to do) (Ried,2010).”
A two year study in Massachusetts examined the effects of healthcare reform on abortion. When citizens of Massachusetts were implemented with a near universal healthcare coverage, results revealed an evident decline in the states abortion rate. At least 1.5 percent of abortions declined among adult citizens. Abortion rates amongst teenagers declined by 7.4 percent but as abortion rates decreased non-elderly healthcare coverage went up nearly 6 percent. (Gibbson, 2010).
Another reason why our government should increase healthcare coverage is because it would play a vital role in the reduction of illegal and self induced abortions. In 1972, the year before the Supreme Court legalized abortion, there were 1,000,000 illegal abortions. Between 5,000 and 10,000 women died to due to illegal abortions (Willke,2006). Many women also suffered death and severe injuries due to self-induced abortion by using oral and inject able medications, cervical dilators, uterine instrumentation, and causing severe trauma to the abdomen. After abortion was made legal the rate of illegal abortions and deaths significantly dropped. Illegal abortions are no longer as prevalent as they were numerous years ago but, there are cases that exist. If healthcare in America were extended to include abortion, then illegal and self induced abortions would drop dramatically
In conclusion, abortion is a problem that has been rapid in our country for years. In order to control it the most probable solution would be to extend healthcare to include abortion. With this new system in place self induced abortions as well as illegal abortions will drop dramatically, making it safer for women and decrease the overall abortion rate.
Bibliography
Abortion Statistics." AbortionNO.org / The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2010.
Brind, Professor Joel. "Q & A about Abortion." Pro-Life Action League. N.p., 23 Aug. 1999. Web. 23 Apr. 2010.
"Common law - JurisPedia, the shared law." JurisPedia, the shared law. N.p., 25 Mar. 2010. Web. 12 May 2010.
"Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health." Guttmacher Institute: Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2010.
Foster, J. 1985, May. 6. "Personhood And the Ethics of Abortion". Abortion And The Sanctity of Human Life. Ed. J.H. Channer. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. 42-53.
Gibbson, David. "Massachusetts Study: Health Care Reform Reduced Abortions." Aol News:Politics News, Analysis, and Opinion for the U.S. and the World. N.p., 18 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2010.
Klick, Jonathan , and Thomas Stratmann. "The Effect of Abortion Legalization on Sexual Behavior: Evidence from Sexually Transmitted Diseases." The Journal of Legal Studies, 32.2 (2003): 407-433. JSTOR. Web. 23 Apr. 2010.
"Legal Dictionary." Duhaime.org - Bringing Legal Information To The World. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010.
Palme, Professor Jacob. "Reliability of contraceptives (prophylactics)." Psychology Free Online Medical Advice, Mental Health, Anxiety, Relationship Advice. N.p., 22 July 2008. Web. 22 Apr. 2010.
Reid, T.R.. "T.R. Reid - Universal health care tends to cut the abortion rate - washingtonpost.com." washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines. N.p., 22 Apr. 2010. Web. 26 Apr. 2010.
"What's Wrong with America's Health Care." aflcio.org - America's Union Movement. American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations , 20 Apr. 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2010.
Willke, Mrs. J.C.. "Why Can't We Love Them Both? On Line Book by Dr. and Mrs. Willke.." Abortion Facts - Information on abortion you can use. Heritage House '76 Inc, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2010.
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