What's your view on abortion and why?

Question

I'd like to request that anyone asnswering the question please explain his or her answers. I'm not interested in whether you are pro-choice or pro-life. Rather, my goal is to look at the reasons you use to support your position. In other words, no 1-sentence answers please.

Here's what I want to know:

1. When do you believe that a zygote/embryo/fetus/baby can first be categorized as a HUMAN life? (conception? birth? when it could survive outside the womb?, etc.) At what point of fetal development would it no longer be acceptable to have an abortion?

2. Are there exceptions to when it would be okay to have an abortion? Would you allow an exception if the mother's life was in danger or if the pregnancy was the result of rape?

3. Did you or someone you know have or consdier having an abortion? Did this change your view on the subject? (This part may be uncomfortable for some people, so feel free not to answer this part of the question.)

4. Be sure to explain your answers

discombobulated, you're right. I am being very bossy with all the requirements I'm putting on the answers. However, this is the 3rd or 4th time that I've asked this question and each time, half the answers are a couple of sentences and show few signs of critical thought.

Justsyd, thanks for answering each part of the question, but your answer to part 1 was based more on the semantics of the English language, not morality.

Dita, by your logic, it is impossible for fertilization to occur by natural means. However, I'm pretty sure that sex can cause a zygote to be create.

MeatRobot, you contradict yourself. You say that abortions are not acceptable after conception, but go on to say that it's wrong to destroy something once it can think or feel pain.
Feutses don't feel or think until weeks after conception.

Answer 1

1- Human life is considered when the fetus could survive outside of the womb, so that would be around 20 weeks. BUT, even from the first cell division, there is life. The heart starts beating before 4 weeks gestation, by then, the beginnings of the central nervous system is already growing. They have found that fetuses at 8 weeks can feel pain. So to me, that says that since there is life already, and already the ability to feel, it's life. So to me, abortion at any stage isn't right, with a few exceptions that will list next.

2- If the mothers life is in serious trouble, or there is no way that the mother would survive, then I don't think it's wrong. In cases of rape, incest, or abuse, it's up to the woman. I don't think she should have an abortion, but until you have sat across from a woman in any of these circumstances, and seen the pain and fear in her eyes, you can't say. There are also times when I think that women have a right to choose. It's their bodies, and no one has the right to say if they are right or wrong in their decision. I have learned a lot in my practice, and just understanding how to treat people in this situation has been tough for me.

Until you have seen one done first hand, you can't really say what it's really like. I have had to perform some myself, and I vowed never to do them in my practice, so women do have to go somewhere else to have them done. That is a choice that I have made because of the way I feel about it.

3- Because of my work, I know many people that have had or thought about getting an abortion. The ones that do get them usually will regret doing it later in life, especially when they have other children. But I still think a woman has the right to choose, and should be given all available info on both sides.

Answer 2

Ok well...
1. I think it's human life after it's considered a fetus.

2. I am really against having abortions as a form of birth control. It's really upsetting. But if there is something seriously wrong with the baby, the mother, or this was a rape I think it would be up to the mother to decide what to do. And by saying something wrong with mother/baby I mean life threatening. People that have abortions just because they find out their child might have down syndrome or something like that is just disturbing to me.

3. I do know a few people that have had them. I personally don't think I ever could. I have two children and I couldn't imagine not having them. At the same time if I was to get pregnant and I was told that I would die by having the baby I would probably consider abortion. Simply because I wouldn't feel it's right to take my children's mother away from them....it would be a really hard choice and I couldn't even tell you what I would choose if I was in that situation.

I am pro choice but I do think that some of the guidelines to abortion should be changed. I am really against some of these people that use abortion time and time again as a method of birth control...

Answer 3

I personally believe that all zygotes are human. I think that once the heart is formed that it shouldn't be allowed to be aborted....

Only when the mother is in danger of dying, or the child is likely to be born with a fatal disease(like the ones where they die before age 5 or whatever)...just because the father was a horrible person doesn't mean the baby will be the same way and should be given a chance...

There isn't an abortion clinic for miles away, but there have been some girls who were rumored to have had them...no it didn't.

I hope I answered them well enough...

Answer 4

1. I believe that the z/e/f becomes a human being when the cerebral cortex forms, starting at the outset of the second trimester of pregnancy. Of course, I cannot prove this, but first trimester abortions are the only elective (non-medically necessary) abortions that are morally okay with me.

2. In the first trimester, the woman's desire not to be pregnant is enough reason. After that, IMO, it should be a case of significant threat to the woman's life or health, or lethal fetal anomaly.

3. I won't go into detail, but yes, I or someone I know had or considered having an abortion, and NO, it did not change my POV.

Answer 5

it is my opinion that after the 12th week during the first trimester.. the cells are an infant and human.. past this point abortion as an option is out..

exceptions that is would be ok to abort.. if there was a serious, quality of life defect.. not limb defects, I know some very amazing people that were born with missing limbs. .. If there is a threat to the mother.. but it would be the mother's choice to continue at the risk of her life to have the child.. rape i would say it is up to the mother as soon as the rape happens.. to either take the pills or keep the child.. herself or give up for adoption...

i know people that have chosen to abort.. and i have had friends keep an unwanted pregnancy and the child bring unexpected amounts of love and joy.. it is a personal choice and i always try to give alternatives.. for and against..

in my opinion if you are competent enough to do the deed and not wear a cap or be on the pill.. then you need to take responsibility for the life you create.. there are ways to prevent..

Answer 6

I believe life starts at conception, its really hard to define human and not human any other way. Babies can smile and have finger prints long before the can survive on their own. They can also feel pain long before they are born.

I think that if the mother was in danger or had been raped, she should have the choice; although I personally whould try to keep it.

Lots of couples can't have children of their own, and many that want to adopt can't because there aren't many children available. Some friends of mine had to go to China to adopt because they couldn't get a child in the U.S.

Even if it is unwanted, unplanned, or the mother has no intention of keeping it; she should still have it. She decided to have sex, pregnancy is one of the possible consequences; an innocent child should not be robbed of a chance for life because it is "unwanted" by its mother.

Answer 7

1. If it is the product of sperm and egg, it's the beginning of life for any species - at least for those species that have sperm and eggs.

2. While I think that abortions should be safe and legal, other forms of contraception are much less harmful and are more cost effective. My personal feeling is that it should be the least preferred option and "couples" should take the time to plan ahead...

3. Yes, we considered an abortion but luckily the reasons for it were not valid. Both the potential situation and the possible solutions, abortion for one, were very traumatic and we did not approach them lightly - nor would I want to repeat the experience again.

Answer 8

+PAX

1. Human life takes place at conception. A human would not conceive a chicken or a donkey but a human.
2. No-God decides life and death. Unless it is an ectopic in which both mom and baby will die and baby has no chance of life.
3. Yes- My feelings on abortion were sealed many years ago in the ER when a young girl delivered a early second trimester who fit in the palm of my hand. A little boy...perfect in every way. He tried so hard to breath...then died in my hands. She had pulled the laminae rods out which had been inserted into her cervix to dilate her by her abortionist earlier in the day. She decided she didn't want to go through with it so she pulled them.

I cried my eyes out at home that night. I can't imagine what she felt.

j

Answer 9

1) at conception,the only non-subjective beginning

2)Tubal pregnancies and similar truly mortal dangers to life when there is no other possibility of saving both- and these are very rare. Not for other physical,emotional, economic social or personal reasons at all for it's still killing an innocent human
No, killing the innocent child who is the fruit of rape is still killing an innocent human life. Womwn who are raped need help not adding killing the baby to the horror of it all.

3) Many i have known well have considered abortion and some have done it and none I know of the latter has not regretted it and many are still going through deep mourning.
No, these experiences have deepened by hatred of abortion and its effects

Answer 10

1.I believe the fetus is human only after it's a completely developed baby, so maybe somewhere in the third trimester. I believe abortion should be allowed up to this point.

2.Again I believe abortion is fine up to the point when the fetus is a recognizable baby. I don't believe the mother's life should have to be at risk for her to get an abortion, I believe abortion should be available for all women, regardless of circumstances.

3.The only person I know who had an abortion is my mother (before I was born) and she is the best person I know.