Abortion & Law

The love between a mother and her child is considered divine, the epitome of affection and sacrifice. Does that mean love is only associated with life? Can’t a mother make a decision that is based on her inability to provide a good quality of life for her unborn child? Is that not love in itself? But then again, shouldn’t that child have a voice?

One of the most pressing issues in today’s world is the ability/inability to make that decision. Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. The reasons may include socio-economic status, threat to the mother and/or mental deficits to the foetus. When properly done, abortion is one of the safest procedures in medicine, but unsafe abortion is a major cause of maternal death, especially in the developing world. (Source: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/).

Pro-Life v/s Pro Choice

There are two distinct schools of thoughts. ‘Pro-Life’ supporters believe in the defending the rights of the foetus. ‘Pro-choice’ supporters believe in defending the rights of the woman. Here is an extract of a hypothetical conversation between the two groups.

Laws around the world

➢ USA:

• While abortion has been legal since the landmark Supreme Court decision of Roe vs Wade in 1973 there has been considerable pushback over the decision.

• Several polls have found the American public equally divided over the issue. Even politicians have had opposing views. Trump is pro-life while Biden is pro-choice.

• If an abortion case reaches all the way to the supreme court again, there is considerable reason to believe that abortion for non-medical purposes may revoked.

➢ UK:

• Abortion has been legal since 1967 and allows it to take place until 24 weeks after gestation.

• Two doctors must agree that having the baby will pose a risk to the life of the mother, the foetus or impact the mental health of the woman.

➢ New Zealand:

• Abortion has been legal since 1977 and as recently as 2020, under Ardern, abortion has also been decriminalised.

• Assent must be taken from two doctors in agreement.

➢ Latin America

• Abortion is illegal in most of Latin America. Few countries permit it only in order to preserve life of the mother.

• In a landmark decision, on 30th December 2020, abortion was legalised in Argentina up to 14 weeks after gestation.

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