Abortion and suicide?

Question

Why is it that a woman can take a child's life, but if someone tries to take their own life, authority intervenes?
It seems a little backwards to me.
I mean pro choicers argue that it's the woman's body, the woman's choice. So if some one tries to kill themselves is it their body, their choice?
I want to know what everyone thinks of this?

I'd like to add that I'm against both abortion and suicide.

of course a suicide is failed if it is intervened...It was intervened...duh.

Answer 1

Hi Molly,
I think that your question is both thought provoking and intelligent.
However, I am still reeling over the person who called a baby a tissue sample. How could anyone in this day and age, with access to the information available on any computer, compare the wonder of an embryo to a "tissue sample"?
Have you ever noticed that if at 8 weeks of pregnancy a woman starts spotting every effort is made to comfort and support this woman in an effort to save her "baby"....but the same women going to an abortion clinic to have a "procedure" now has a clump of cells?. That is one of the most crass, crude, inept comments that I have ever heard. I hope that the woman who said that never has to know the pain of losing a beloved "tissue sample". I am afraid that is the only way she will ever know the difference.
But, back to your question. You are entirely right. It does not make sense and it is indeed backwards.
The other situation that has always seemed a tad backwards to me is that we fight against the death penalty, insisting that child murderer/rapists should be protected and then at the same time insisting that the most innocent and pure of all human life should be killed. Confusing messages? I think so.
I also wanted to add, just for the record that the percentage of abortions that are done because the pregnancy was the result of rape is roughly 1%. When a woman is raped, if it is reported, part of her treatment at the hosptial includes medication that will keep her from conceiving. Even without this treatment, due to the trauma incurred, very few women who are raped actually conceive. In addition to those facts does an innocent baby really deserve to die for the way he was conceived? That would indeed be heartless. Many babies are conceived in less than loving conditions but that does not make them any less worthy of life. Who could look into the innocent eyes of their own baby and see anything but love?
Thank you Molly, for posting a thought provoking question and one that I am sure will generate many interesting answers. I will be sure to keep an eye on this question and read all the answers.
Blessings
Lady Trinity~

Answer 2

While I agree with the other answers given, it's like this. The idea was made that the developing baby was nothing more than a mass of tissue, and as such could be removed as if it were nothing more than a tumor. Yeah, I know, but I lived through all of this debate. The landmark case was Roe vs Wade where a would be mother wanted the right to abort her unborn. The case was won, in part, on the issue of when the baby became a legitimate person. The landmark there was the photos of a baby, perfectly formed reaching out to grasp a doctors finger when he had to perform an operation that required him to enter the mother's womb. While Planned Parenthood has been in the fore front of abortion, telling women that it is their choice, and their right to abort if they so choose, the up roar over this has decreased a little. The pictures of babies, perfectly formed, although to immature to survive out side of the womb has helped a lot. Yet there are those who will not be responsible for their actions and would abort a baby.
As for suicide, the common idea is that there is something "wrong" with a person, mentally, or emotionally, for them to want to take their own life. That, in a very basic nutshell, is why this disparity exists. For what it is worth, I am against abortion, and I did participate in many Right to Life rescues during the 1990's.

Answer 3

Both abortion and suicide are very wrong, but abortion is worse, because the person being killed has absolutely no say in the matter.

I am astounded by how many people here seem so completely ignorant about prenatal development. Let me make it simple:

3 weeks after conception: The child's heart is beating.
6 weeks: She has recordable brain waves and tiny fingers.
7 weeks: She begins moving in the womb. If her cheek is stroked, she will move her head.
8 weeks: She is fully formed. All her organs are functioning. If her palm is pricked, she will open her mouth and pull her hand away. She can suck her thumb.
9 weeks: She will grasp an object placed in her palm.

The average age of an aborted baby in America is 10 weeks. Virtually no babies are aborted before 6-7 weeks, due to the risk of incomplete abortion (parts of the baby being left inside the womb).

For more information, see:

Photos and Video of Abortions, Including 1st Trimester Abortions:
http://www.cbrinfo.org/Resources/pictures.html
http://www.abort73.com/HTML/I-A-4-video.html

Photos and Facts About Prenatal Development:
http://www.justthefacts.org/clar.asp
http://www.abort73.com/HTML/I-A-2-prenatal.html
http://www.studentsforlife.uct.ac.za/foetal%20dev%20photos.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/3847319.stm

Pain Perception in the Unborn:
http://www.advocatesfortheinnocent.com/fetalpain.html

Pro-Life Answers to “Pro-Choice” Arguments:
http://www.deathroe.com/Pro-life_Answers/
http://www.pregnantpause.org/abort/choicarg.htm

A Comparison of Abortion and Other Historical Genocides:
http://www.blackgenocide.org/abortion.html

Answer 4

I don't believe either is right. And I agree with you all the way on this. I went to school with a girl who is actually the child of a rape victim she told us that her mother kept her because it was not her fault that she was raped, now that right there show how much love someone can have for life. I know that all women could not be strong enough to do that but if you can look at that child everyday because of what happened there is always adoption. As far as people that consent to sex they know what their risk are with getting pregnant and if you don't want a child don't have sex. I can't understand why people don't get the fact that abortion is not birth control. My first child was not a planned pregnancy but I had her anyway you know why because she deserved a chance at life like any other child does, and I couldn't imagine my life without her. Children are wonderful gifts from God that shouldn't be disposed of like they are nothing, after all it is a life. You can't kill a baby after it is born because it is murder so what makes it right to have an abortion.

Answer 5

I have to say that you obvoiusly don't know much about suicide as this is completely different to abortion. For someone to commit suicide they are a very mentally sick person and see no other option than killing themselves. When people decide to have an abortion it would be one of the most thought out decisions of their lives. Psychological help and counselling are offered before and after an abortion to ensure that you are making the correct decision.

To say that for someone to kill themselves; it is their body, their choice is just plain stupid on your behalf.

I have come out the other side of an unsuccessful suicide attempt! I don't know why I wanted to kill myself, I was very sick with depression at the time and saw it as a way to make the pain of hating myself go away. If I ever had an abortion though I do not see this as killing an innocent child. I would have it done if Ithought that it was best for me-- it is my body and it would be my child so yes I am allowed to be selfish and make up my own mind about terminating a pregnancy.

Most people who want to harm and/or kill themselves need help to ensure they don't do it but those who have an abortion need support and encouragement because it would be a very traumatic decision to make.

Answer 6

I'm with you, Molly.

I agree that both abortion and suicide are wrong. Too many people see them as an "easy out," however. I don't think there is much that can be done to legislate against either one, unfortunately.

But we can try to convince people that they are wrong, and I would start by telling people--everyone who will listen--that all human beings are valuable. Life should not be taken simply because it seems easier than the alternatives.

Unwanted pregnancies can easily be balanced by the demand for children by childless couples, or even couples who have tried and could only get boys but wanted a girl, or vice versa.

It takes courage to face an unwanted pregnancy and it takes courage to face life's problems, and we should encourage people to be courageous, and always go forward.

Oddly enough, I support capital punishment, but believe we may use it more than we should. I think there are crimes which justify it, but many could be punished as well or better by life without parole. There is a difference between taking the life of a criminal and taking the life of an innocent child or taking one's own life because one hasn't the courage to face the next day.

Answer 7

I am for abortion. Every woman has the right to choose and abortion is 100% legal. If a person wants to kill themselves then they have the right to do so. The only way suicide would be stopped is if the person was threatning to kill themselves in front of other people and if that is happening that is only a cry for help cause if your going to kill yourself your not going to tell anyone or shout out "I'm going to kill myself".

I have not had an abortion but if for some reason i wanted to then i would because:
My Body
My Sexuality
My Uterus
My Vagina
My Morals
My Life
My Choice
Not Yours

Answer 8

I think that abortion and suidide are both wrong. They are both forms of selfishness. If u were responsible enough to lay down and get pregnant then be responsible enough to take care of it or give it to a family that can't have babies on there own. As for suicide it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. To do that shows that u are thinking of yourself and not all the damage that is going to be left behind. There are always solutions to every problem u just have to be aware enough to contact the right resources.

Answer 9

Let me start by saying that I don't agree with suicide or abortion. I think that some people look at the pro choice on abortion and suicide as:
When a person has an abortion they are taking someone else's life. They're mudering someone that's innocent because they weren't ready to take responsibility for their actions.
With a suicide thought it's their life. They choose to end it and no one understands how things are with them except them....but they're to afraid or unwilling to confront their problems.

Answer 10

People make mistakes. Do you think that a poor young woman walking down the street one day was raped and became impregnated...do you think she should have to keep and love this baby out of this horrible ordeal? I think it's totally up to the woman. I think it would be hard to deal with.
As for those silly women who use it as a form of birth control, i think these ladies should be fixed so that they can't have children. If you think you are responsible enough to have sex, then you should be responsible to pay for the circumstances that comes with the fun.

As for suicide..most people aren't really trying to kill themselves, they're just reaching out for attention.
If someone wanted to die, they'll do it right the first time.

These are very controversial subjects. You will find a great variety of answers, and they're all right, because they are all peoples values, beliefs, and opinions.
Good luck with your question..hopefully you can find the answer you're looking for here.