Abortion Facts

Which ones are the most surprising ?

FACTS ABOUT ABORTION 1. About half of all pregnancies are unplanned. About half of unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. are terminated by an abortion. 2. 52% of women choosing abortion are under 25. Teenagers account for 19%, and women 20-24 account for 33%. 3. 2/3rds of all abortions are by unmarried women, and most have already had a child. 4. Only 8% of abortions are by women who have never practiced contraception ie most women who abort also use contraception. 5. 52% of women having early abortion group and 67% of having late term abortion group suffer from psychological problems after abortion: anxiety, low self worth, guilt, depression, mood swings, sleep difficulties etc. 6. Nearly 40% of women in the survey said they wanted the baby and fewer than 14% said they received adequate pre-abortion counselling or information on alternatives or about the physical and emotional risks involved.

The Abortion Debate

To understand the arguments for and against abortion To know what the law says about abortion To reflect on why some people choose to have an abortion

Pro-Choice

Pro - Life
Can you be pro-choice, but also pro-life ?

Pro-Choice: what are the arguments? Think of 3.

Only A Womans Right:
Pregnancy involves a woman's body, her health and her future, so is a matter of personal choice and a reproductive right, whether or not to continue with it. An embryo has no rights because it is not yet an actual person who can survive on its own. It cannot have rights that override those of the pregnant woman

A Practical Matter
- abortion is a necessary option in certain situations (rape, risk to health, failure of contraception, congenital disorder, or inability to raise a child. - Legal Abortion is better than having back-street abortions without proper medical supervision because women are desperate to obtain illegal abortions.

Rate these arguments 1 -5 stars. Explain why.

Pro-Life: what are the arguments?

The human fetus /embryo is a person and therefore has a right to life. Any action which destroys an embryo or fetus kills a person Often linked to Sanctity of life life is God given and must be protected from conception until natural death. Any deliberate destruction of human life is morally wrong and cannot be justified by any benefits to others, as they come at the expense of the life of a person. Abortion can cause long term psychological suffering (Post traumatic syndrome) Which of these arguments do you find the most convincing ? Explain.

Exam Question
Abortion is always wrong.
Do you agree? Give 3 developed reasons for your opinion Give 3 developed reasons for why people might disagree with you.
Agree: Philosophical: when a person ? Religious: Sanctity of Life Bible & church teaching Moral: always wrong harms woman in the long term Disagree: Philosophical: when a person ? rights of mother > child Religious: Liberal protestants: justice Moral: depends on the situation back street abortions risk

Abortion is only legal if two doctors agree upon one of the following: the child is very likely to be born severely handicapped 2. the mothers life is at risk 3. the mothers physical or mental health is at risk 4. The birth of another child would have a serious negative effect on the other children in the family 1. Abortion should not be carried out after 24 weeks of pregnancy unless for conditions 1 and 2 which can be carried out at any time.

Abortion and the Law

*** Brain Boost: Does the Law fit in with Pro-

Choice or Pro-life?

Legal
A womanseeks anabortion at 3 weeksbecause she already has childrenand would not be able to look afterthemproperly if she has anotherchild weeksthat herunbornchild islikely to be bornwith a serioushandicap Amother is in acritical conditionand continuingwith the pregnancywould put her life at risk She is 27weeks pregnant Awomandiscovers at 28

Illegal
Awomanseeks anabortion at 16 weeks and her GP says she can have anabortion A rapevictimseeks an abortionat 26 weeks Awomanfeelsthat she woul have abreakdown if shecontinuedwith her d pregnancy She is 26 weeks pregnant
A woman has just realised she is 14 weeks pregnant. She has split up with her boyfriend, just started a university course and does not have much money.

Where do you stand ? (Be ready to give a reason)

Pro Life Pro Choice