Suicide and Abortion?

Question

I was just wondering why people think its ok for abortion to be legal because a woman "has rights over her body", but its illegal for someone to commit suicide?

I for one believe abortion is in fact killing another being, and is wrong without medical reasoning, such as it being caused by rape, or at risk for being disabled.

So I am confused as to why suicide is illegal, when abortion is not.

A woman was recently convicted of at least one count of homicide, for intentionally killing her fetus at 26 weeks pregnancy.

Why do you think that was concidered a homicide, when abortions are not?

i am really enjoying these responses!

for one thing, i think that if a person is in physical pain and is dying of cancer, they should be allowed to kill themselves.

also, suicide IS illegal. obviouslly you cant get arrested if you actually commit suicide, but you can and will be arrested for attempting it. you will also end up in a mental hospital for evaluation.

i also do not think the morning after pill is an abortion.

it is simply flushing out the female uterous, inducing a period, and preventing that egg from implanting into the walls.

one could easily argue, however, because gender is chosen the second the sperm enters the egg...

isnt reproduction amazing??

Answer 1

Our society is full of inconsistencies - that's the short answer. Why can minors have abortions (at least in some places) with no parental consent, but can't take an aspirin at school without written consent? It's basically because politics are controlled not by the people, but by the big-money donators (like Planned Parenthood).

And for everyone who seems to be confused about suicide being illegal - she's right, it is illegal. Obviously they can't enforce it if the person dies, but they make it illegal so that they can legally force you into a treatment center if you make a suicide attempt.


Edit: By the way Alisha, by the time of 3-4 months, the "fetus" looks just like a human baby (only smaller) and has all of its major physical structures in place. From here on out, it is basically just growing larger, its bones are hardening, and its body systems are becoming fully functional. It IS quite developed.

Answer 2

I didn't know suicide was illegal... but thats stupid anyways... once someone commits suicide, they're not living anymore, so therefore how would they recieve punishment?

I don't disagree with abortion. I think it should definitely be an option. Some girls get pregnant very young, and having a baby changes everything and may prevent you from acheiving future goals. What if you weren't able to afford having a baby? It's a huge resposibility to take on if you're not yet finacially secure, or even emotionally or mentally secure. I think some people need to get over this whole "killing babies" thing... You can't have an abortion if your more than 3-4 months pregnant, the fetus isn't even really developed yet. Women should have the right to choose.

Also what about the morning after pill? Do you disagree with that also? Even though you take it the day after you have unprotected sex... it cleans out your body.... does this classify as "killing babies" also? Even though there's nothing there to be killed yet.

Answer 3

I also only think that abortions should be illegal except for medical reasoning. A fetus should have the right to live and having an abortion is killing a being. I don't however think people should be able to commit suicide but abortions are just as bad.

Answer 4

The deal with abortion is a question of when a fetus become a "human and a citizen with human rights". Untill that point has past (2nd trimester), the fetus is still part of the mother, and mom can do what ever the hell she wants. At least that's what the supreme court said.

Suicide is another issue. The thought of people killing themselves is "a danger to themselves and others". What that means, I'm not totaly sure. Regardless, if somone got cancer and know they're gunna die a painful death, that's the question of euthinasia. Assisted suicide. I dunno about that, pulling the plug on a coma pacient.

But, if a guy attempts to kill himself, and fails, he's arrested. I don't get it either.

Answer 5

Everyone has their own opinion about abortion. When I was a teenager in the 80's it seemed that one didn't have to look hard for an abortion clinic. I don't see any around today. I mean, I know they're there, but I don't know where. To me, there could only be one reason to ever get an abortion; and that would be if physically, you were unable to carry the baby without risk to you or its health. But no, it is not illegal, nor is committing suicide. I mean, to me it's the most unforgivable sin, but I have never heard of someone going to "Jail" because they killed themself. I have had one person in my life ever commit suicide and I can say that she never went to jail, but did go to hell. Abortion is infact a sin, because you have taken anothers life. Can it be forgiven? I don't know. Could I forgive someone else for having an abortion? Yes. Could I forgive myself if I ever had an abortion? Never. Personally, I would give my child up for adoption before having such a terrible sin lay on my heart. So I don't know where you are from, but as far as I know, neither are illegal.

Answer 6

I understand what you mean, but the reason behind it is that there are a lot of people that feel a fetus is not "yet" human, so destroying it can't be considered murder. This is puzzling to me, because the baby sure isn't gonna suddenly turn into a zebra or lizard when it's finally born.

Some states are changing their opinions about this issue in general, though. Think about the recent news stories we've heard where men killed their VERY pregnant wives or girlfriends, and faced first degree murder charges - for both the woman and the baby. I think eventually this is going to HAVE to be drawn out to its logical conclusion and people will have to agree that a human fetus is a person, no matter what stage of development he or she happens to be in.

Answer 7

I depends on what you believe. Some don't believe a fetus is a human until it is separated from it's mother. I don't believe that at all. That baby can suck it's thumb in the womb, move around, wiggle it's fingers and toes. Abortion is illegal in some places. There is always some idiot that will do an abortion for a person for the right cash.

Answer 8

You are talking about two different things. Onne neither justifies nor does it condemn the other. People do not believe in murder, but are strong on defense and support for war. It is a matter of extremes. You say yourself that abortion is wrong without medical reasoning. Does that mean that suicide is okay if it makes sense medically? It is not difficult to view one form of killing as okay, and another as wrong. It is all a matter of justification.

Answer 9

Taking care of another person is a huge responsibility and if the woman does not want the baby then most likely she would not be a good parent. Why should there be another child be born in poverty or be moved around in shelters. I think abortion should be legal at early stages of pregnancy

Answer 10

this question would probably be better if posted under law & ethics.

Abortion is not legal everywhere in the U.S., some states and do ban abortion clinics. I know where I live abortion clinics are not allowed.