Zakaria Habi
Mr. Cormier
CLN4U1-02
October 11, 2012
Abortion: The Right to Life Abortion is the termination of a fetus (a developing human being in the womb) or an embryo prior to its due date. ¹ In Canadian law, abortion was decriminalized in 1988 and is acknowledged by Canada’s Supreme Court and the government as a medical procedure covered under the Canada Health Act (CHA, 1984). All women regardless of age, economic status, or a place of residency, are to have access to the procedure. ² The topic of abortion is a controversial issue that generates many opinions among the people of who are pro-life, pro-choice or just undecided on abortion. Reasons as to why abortion is such a heated topic has a lot to do with what is the definition of a human being. Is it when the sperm and egg start to fertilize and become an embryo? Or maybe it is after the first trimester of pregnancy ends (first three months of a pregnancy) when many parts of the fetus’ organs such as the heart and brain are already developed and working? People who advocate pro-choice come from a variety of backgrounds such as students, teachers, lawyers, health-care workers and lawyers. They are also from different ethnic, socioeconomic backgrounds and religions. Individuals who advocate pro-choice do not necessarily agree with abortion, but instead agree that women have the right to decide between the choice of carrying on with their pregnancy or having an abortion. They rather make the decision than having a politician or a law tell them what they can and cannot do. As the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition defines its as, “ The pro-choice position is neither for or against abortions, instead, simply advocates that government should not interfere in such decisions that are best left to individuals.”³ Many pro-choice religious groups find no condemnations of abortion in the bible, many believe that it is up to the individual and his/her conscious to determine whether abortion is or is not sinful or immoral.4 Many people feel that they do not want to take responsibility and care for another human being when they alone do not feel they know what they yet want to do. Especially in the cases of abortion many are teenage females who are still in high school and do not wish to be overburdened with adding the responsibility of another human being. Individuals who are pro-choice also believe in having the child and then giving it up for adoption, which is a popular choice for many pregnant females who are past the first trimester of their pregnancy. After the first trimester abortion becomes harder and involves more risk. Being pro-choice about abortion, in my opinion, is the better choice as abortion has to do with the individual as it affects the person psychologically, physically and the access barriers they might encounter in having an abortion, if it is illegal. Many studies have been performed to examine if having an abortion can and would lead to psychological effects and possible links to mental illness, anxiety or depression. The results that came back mainly showed that having an abortion does not lead to having psychological problems. In a study done a very small percentage, 3% to be exact, have long term feelings of guilt and some of those individuals feel that the abortion was a mistake.5 Many women feel relieved after the abortion was done although looking back they admit that it was regrettable, but the right decision at that time.6 A study done by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges found that unwanted pregnancies doubles the risk of having mental issues, however that the rate does not change whether the woman chooses to have an abortion or to keep the baby.7 Also abortions should be legal because many times unwanted pregnancies are due to rape and incest. If the woman keeps the baby, it will be a constant reminder of the harsh act of rape or incest. This will lead to emotional instability as the mother will have a hard time to
