The pros and cons of abortion - should abortion be legal?

Abortion is understandably a highly charged topic, which is capable of dividing people. Those who are against abortion believe that it is completely unethical and essentially a form of murder, while the pro-choice group believe that the decision over whether to terminate should lie with the woman and her individual conscience and not be a matter for the law and the government. Abortion in the USA has been legal in all states since the the decision by the Supreme Court was made in Roe v. Wade in 1973.

I list below the main arguments used for and against the lawful termination of unwanted pregnancies in the pros and cons of abortion - should abortion be legal?

Abortions happen before the fetus has developed into a human being and so it cannot be classed as killing a person.

A fetus has not developed enough biologically to feel pain when aborted.

No baby should be born that is unwanted. A baby that is brought up poor and without the necessary love and practical support it needs is much more likely to be caught up in social and individual problems, such as criminality, addiction, unemployment, and family breakdown.

Without legal abortions, history tells us that there would be “back street” ones, which can make women sterile, or even kill them.

Giving up a baby for adoption can be equally as emotionally painful and damaging for a mother as abortion.

Women should have control their own bodies and be able to choose for themselves, rather than a decision being forced on her by the government.

It is not fair that a young woman pays for one single mistake for the rest of her life.

Most anti-abortionists are opposed to it on religious grounds. Church and state should be separate, without religious groups forcing their views upon others through legislation.

Abortion gives potential parents the option not to have babies with life-threatening conditions, or that are severely disabled. It is simply not fair to give birth to a baby who is likely to suffer a lifetime of acute disability.

A human fetus is a human life which is valuable and should be protected. Abortion could therefore be seen as a form of murder.

A fetus is capable of experiencing pain and may well suffer severe pain during an abortion.

There are strong religious arguments against abortion. The sixth commandment in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament says “Thou shalt not kill”.

Abortion causes tremendous emotional and psychological harm to the mother (and often fathers too!).

There are many childless parents seeking to adopt - abortions are denying these parents the chance to raise a child.

Given all the types of contraception that are available to women (and men), it is completely inappropriate for abortion to be used as a way of avoiding unwanted children.

Doctors sign the Hippocratic Oath – they should be healing and saving lives, not destroying them.

Selective abortion, where babies with genetic abnormalities are terminated is motivated by prejudice against disability and is an unethical form of eugenics.