The Controversial Issue of Abortion in Philippines Essay Example

the woman was in danger it appears though, as often is the case with Philippine law, there are other laws that basically negate that exception. With the exceptions unclear, the law is a total ban for practical purposes. The complex ethical and legal debate over abortion shows no sign of abating as activists, legislators, and judges continue to ponder if and when the procedure should be regulated. Abortion: Opposing Viewpoints explores this and several other contentious issues in the following chapters: Is Abortion Immoral?

Should Abortion Rights Be Restricted?? The authors in this anthology present compelling arguments concerning the morality, accessibility, purpose, and effect of abortion. Objectives of the study Abortion becomes a social problem when women use it as an easy way out of things. This research paper try to tackle about abortion and its effect to the mother who doing an abortion. The purposes of this study are to know: 1. Why do women have abortions? 2. What are the emotional after – effects that women go through after they have an abortion? 3. What are some alternatives to abortion? 4.

Is abortion immoral? 5. Should abortion right be restricted? Chapter II: Literature Review Literature on Objective 1 There are probably as many reasons for abortions as there are women who have them. Some pregnancies result from rape or incest, and women who are victims of these assaults often seek abortions. Most women, however, decide to have an abortion because the pregnancy represents a problem in their lives. (Bankole et al. 1998, 1999) Some women feel emotionally unprepared to enter parenthood and raise a child; they are too young or do not have a reliable

partner with whom to raise a child.

Many young women in high school or college find them pregnant and must choose between continuing the education they need to survive economically and dropping out to have a baby. Young couples who are just starting their lives together and want children might prefer to become financially secure first to provide better care for their future children. Sometimes people enter into a casual sexual relationship that leads to pregnancy with no prospect of marriage. Even if the sexual relationship is more than casual, abortion is may be sought because a woman decides that the social status of the male is inappropriate.

Abortion is reported to be sought by some women because of popular beliefs that forms of modern contraceptives are more dangerous than abortion. (Otoide et al. 2001) Some of the most difficult and painful choices are faced by women who are happily pregnant for the first time late in the reproductive years (thirty-five to forty-five) but discover in late pregnancy (twenty-six or more weeks) that the fetus is so defective it may not live or have a normal life. Even worse is a diagnosis of abnormalities that may or may not result in problems after birth. Some women and couples in this situation choose to have a late abortion. Kolata 1992; Hern et al. 1993) Other reason why they have abortion although these are not the primary reasons women choose abortion, the following statements reflect concerns that play a role in influencing women to terminate their pregnancies:' they don't want more children or I'm done with childrearing, I'm not ready to become a mother or not ready for another

child, I don't want others to know about my pregnancy or that I'm having sex, My husband/partner wants me to have an abortion and There are problems with the health of fetus, problems with my own health, My parents want me to have an abortion.

Combined with those reasons previously cited, these secondary concerns often convince women that abortion though a difficult and painful choice is the best decision for them at this time in their lives. (Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1999) Some might argue that we already know why a woman obtains an abortion she does not want the pregnancy and that we need look no further. However, while at one level almost all abortions result from unintended pregnancies, there can be many steps between acknowledging an unplanned pregnancy and having an abortion.

Moreover, many women who have an unintended pregnancy either do not seriously consider having an abortion or do not consider it at all. Some will simply adjust to the pregnancy; for others, an initial desire to discontinue a pregnancy can change because they were either ambivalent themselves or because they acceded to the preferences of others. On the other hand, conditions that was either unknown or was less serious before conception may also change, so that a pregnancy wanted at the time of conception is no longer wanted later on. (www. guttmacher. org/pubs/journals) Literature on Objective 2

It has been discovered that there are many emotional aspects that can affect the psychological well being of women who undergo an abortion. These emotions include guilty feelings, anxiety, depression, loss, anger, and even suicide. Clinical research has found that when women are in trusting, sharing relationships, they

report deep seated feelings of exploitation over their abortion experience. (Alliance Action Inc 1993, 1) A woman reports, "I was unprepared for the maze of emotions that hit me after I had the procedure. Instead of feeling relieved, I was awash in anxiety and confusion. Hutchison. 1997, 23) There are extreme cases, in which the diagnosis is very easy. Such cases include a seventeen-year-old girl who developed lethargy, malaise, and vomiting. Doctors were unable to reach any conclusion about condition, then on the anniversary of her abortion she experienced overt psychosis. Mental examination revealed hallucinations, as well as psychotic thought processes. Guilt is probably the most common symptom of a Post-Abortion-Syndrome, which can lead to depression, complexes, or fear of infertility and of sex. (Alliance Action Inc. 996, 1) Researchers investigating post-abortion reactions report only one positive emotion: relief. This emotion is understandable, especially in light of the fact that the majority of aborting women report feeling under intense pressure to "get it over with. Temporary feelings of relief are frequently followed by a period psychiatrists identify as emotional "paralysis," or post-abortion "numbness. Like shell-shocked soldiers, these aborted women are unable to express or even feel their own emotions. Their focus is primarily on having survived the ordeal, and they are at least temporarily out of touch with their feelings.

Studies within the first few weeks after the abortion have found that between 40 and 60 percent of women questioned report negative reactions. Within 8 weeks after their abortions, 55% expressed guilt, 44% complained of nervous disorders, 36% had experienced sleep disturbances, 31% had regrets about their decision, and 11% had been prescribed psychotropic medicine by

their family doctor. In one study of 500 aborted women, researchers found that 50 percent expressed negative feelings, and up to 10 percent were classified as having developed "serious psychiatric complications. (www. abortionfacts. om) Studies have shown that most women will feel relief right after having an abortion because they were so distressed over having another child. Some women feel that they have been forced into having the procedure. Others may feel relief right away but then guilt feelings take over. Emotional effects of an abortion affect every woman differently. Sometimes it depends upon one's religious beliefs, moral character, and previous psychological problems. If a female believes God's word and that terminating a pregnancy is murder then she will have great difficulty dealing with her decision.

The same would be true for someone who has a high standard of morality and personal ethics. (www. christianet. com/abortionfacts) Literature on Objective 3 The vast majority of women who get an abortion say that they would have carried the birth to term if they had the support. Pregnant women get abortions for understandable reasons, including poverty, poor health, and a general inability to find care for the child. Providing women with preferable alternatives to abortion will end abortion. Nothing else will. The number 1 alternative for abortion is preventing unwanted pregnancy in the first place.

Not engaging in unprotected sex will eliminate almost all unwanted pregnancies. Of course, by the time most people look for abortion alternatives, the time for prevention has passed. If anti-abortionists actually want to reduce the number of abortions, they can do so by making these abortion alternatives as viable and appealing as possible. For one,

a birthmother can put her unwanted child up for adoption. Anti-abortionists can support adoption by making it a more appealing option. Collectively, this means improving the adoption system and making sure that more children get adopted, and that they get adopted by good families.

Individually, a person can support this by adopting a child. It seems hypocritical for a person to condemn abortion, if that person can afford to adopt a child but chooses not to adopt a child. Many would-be mothers believe their unborn children are better off dead than going through current adoption and fostering systems. (Terkel, Susan N. , 1988, 6) Other alternatives to abortion involve having the mother take care of her own child. These abortion alternatives can come in the form of various arrangements. These arrangements involve offering the mother financial support and/or personal support.

Less women will get abortions if they have help raising their children. This can come in the form of helping them find housing or employment. It could also come in the form of offering them babysitting services. Most plainly, it can come in the form of monetary donations. (www. anti-abortion. info/abortion-alternatives. php) Abortions are not the right answer for women who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. On the contrary, the legalization abortion has hurt many. There is no way to determine if a woman will suffer from an abortion or not. However, the odds are not in her favor.

Despite this, abortions are legal and probably will remain so. Because of this, it is vitally important that women receive counseling before needing an abortion. They need to be educated about the risks and long-term effects that abortions

can have. They need to be given resources for post-abortion syndrome. They need to given a safe environment away from abortions’ are not the right answer for women who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. On the contrary, the legalization of abortion has hurt many. There is no way to predetermine if a woman will suffer from an abortion or not. However, the odds are not in her favor.

Despite this, abortions are legal and probably will remain so. Pro-choice activists are quick to scream that telling a woman that an abortion may not be in her best interest is imposing on her rights as a woman. While fighting for her right to chose, they ignore her when she is hurting and really needs help. Pro-life activists are quick to cry in outrage that babies are being killed. However, they need to realize that the baby is not the only victim in an abortion, the mother is as well. The difference is that the baby does not live to regret it. (www. the-gospel. org/stdy_fmly/abortion_effects. php) Literature on Objective 4

It is moral to some people, and immoral to other people. There is no consensus on the morality of abortion, nor will there ever be. Some people think that the pre-viability removal of a fetus from its' mothers uterus is immoral, because it will not be able to survive once removed (they think that the mother should be forced to give up space in her body, and provide life support for the fetus, even if the fetus will be born dead). Those same people tend to think that if the mother will die before the fetus is viable,

because of the presence of the fetus that she shouldn't be allowed to have an abortion.

Apparently, they think if the fetus can't be born and live, the mother shouldn't be allowed to live either (Their way of thinking: It's better to have neither mother or child, than to have the mother and not the unborn child). (Adler, Nancy, et al. 2003). Abortion is murder. How do you regulate murder? Women, when becoming pregnant, are told that the actions immoral, therefore their character is immoral, and are sometimes forced to discontinue their education or quit their jobs. This isn't a Christian behavior.

Christians should show compassion, by supporting those that make mistakes and become pregnant. They should not be playing the blame game, and should be instructing women and men in the truths about abortion. Abortion is murder, and replacing another sin to substitute the sin of fornication is not appropriate. (www. abortion- considered-immoral) Catholic Bishops of the United States that addressed the American Catholic responsibility in opposing abortion in the political sphere. These bishops maintain that the most basic human right is the right to life.

Since human life is sacred from conception until natural death, they contend, abortion is immoral. The bishops argue, furthermore, that the legalization of abortion in the United States has created a cultural environment in which other infractions against life such as fetal experimentation, infanticide, and euthanasia have become more acceptable. (www. bookrags. com/researchtopics/abortion/) Literature on Objective 5 . Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in American society and politics today. Since 1973, when the Supreme Court legalized abortion in its landmark Roe v.

Wade decision, opposing groups have sought to

increase or restrict access to abortion, leading to intense debates among political leaders and activists, state and federal governments, and religious organizations. The abortion debate is often considered a two-sided controversy, but it is actually a multifaceted issue that involves questions about biology, morality, and legal rights. For example, people who consider themselves pro-life argue that abortion destroys human life, which they believe begins at conception.

Therefore, abortion is immoral and should be illegal. Some pro-life advocates allow exceptions in the case of rape, incest, or when the mother’s health is at risk. People who identify themselves as pro-choice contend that a woman’s right to make decisions concerning her body and her future outweigh the rights of the fetus. Some pro-choice supporters endorse restrictions on abortion, such as informed consent laws, which require that a woman receive state-authored literature on abortion before undergoing the procedure, and mandatory waiting periods.

One of the most controversial restrictions on abortion requires minors to notify or obtain the consent of at least one parent before having an abortion. (Gilchrist, A. , et al. (1995) In 1976, a landmark Supreme Court case, Bellotti v. Baird, challenged a Massachusetts statute that required a minor to obtain parental consent before undergoing an abortion. The existing statute afforded a young woman the right to petition the courts if her parents refused to consent to the procedure. In addition, the statute required the courts to notify the minor’s parents if she filed a bypass petition.

The Supreme Court decided that the law requiring parental consent was constitutional, but, as stated by the Court, “every pregnant minor is entitled in the first instance to go directly to court

for a judicial determination without prior parental notice, consultation or consent. ” The Court also held that minors have the right to confidentiality, and courts thereafter were prohibited from notifying a young woman’s parents if she petitioned for judicial bypass. Other provisions regulating parental consent and notification laws that Bellotti v.

Baird set down included the requirement that a pregnant teen be given the opportunity to prove that she is mature enough to make the abortion decision on her own. If she proves that she is mature enough, the court must bypass the parental involvement requirement, a process known as judicial bypass. If the court decides that she is not mature enough, the minor must be given the opportunity to show that abortion is in her best interest. If she makes this showing, the court must grant her request.

Finally, according to the court decision, the hearing must “be completed with anonymity and sufficient expedition to provide an effective opportunity for an abortion to be obtained. (www. enotes. com/should-abortion-article) Review of Related Literature The researchers conduct an interview to confirm their findings, the following statement are the person who undergo with the abortion. a. I primarily did it out of shame, but it left me carrying guilt and shames the rest of my life. I couldn't bear having my very large, strict, Roman Catholic family learn that I was pregnant or that I would have a child out of wedlock.

I still feel haunted over the fact that I took this life. Adoption didn't seem like a viable option, because the pregnancy would have been public and I would still have to bear the shame and stigma brought

on by my family, my faith, and society. However, I could never escape my own judgment of myself. There will always be abortions until society becomes more forgiving and accepting of mistakes. I still think abortion is taking a life, but I see it as a form of self defense on the woman's part. It is sad that an innocent child is caught in the middle.

I had a abortion it hurts so bad. The reason I did it I had no type of support from my mother or the guy I was with. I cry almost everyday but I decided to heal myself by lighting a candle and praying for god’s forgiveness and asking my baby for forgiveness. I know in my heart I will never get another abortion. b. I seriously regretted my abortion. It causes me to be depressed and change as a person all together. I stopped hanging around my friends or anymore who tried to make me feel good or happy, because I didn’t think I deserved the attention or love.

I never visit my family and it's usually short visits. I have increased my alcohol intake significantly, with a drinking problem not to mention mood swings and depression. I wake up crying and end up messing opportunities up with work or social functions. I have serious sleep issues and I try to shake it off and smile and act like I'm okay, but I’m really not. The pain I have been feeling ever since I got an abortion. It's not a physical pain it’s just an emotional pain that I have inside me. I never knew I would remember this for

the rest of my life. c.

If weren’t prepared to risk having a baby, don't have sex. That’s what I learned for now on I taking care of my body, Adoption, or look into having a family member adopt which is a lot cheaper, and better, especially if you're interested in watching the child grow without the responsibilities of taking care of him or her. I so much wanted to give the baby to a loving family, someone who could raise it the way I couldn't do. I know in my heart I will never get another abortion. d. It depends on the person. I know it is wrong and immoral if you do it again and again.

It’s immoral in some cases and not in others. You know something is bad when you feel it in your gut. I will never do it again I swear. e. I made a choice that changed my life forever; I chose to take my child's life. I had become pregnant after what was supposed to be a summer fling. All I could think about was I was too young, my boyfriend was too young, my parents would disown me, and a baby would change my life. Every person has a right to life. No doubt the mother has a right to decide what shall happen in and to her body; everyone would grant that.

But surely a person’s right to life is stronger and more stringent than the mother’s right to decide what happens in and to her body, and so outweighs it which defends abortion as the mother is of more importance. For me, I wish I had taken

steps to check out the way the innocent were murdered because it may have had an affect on my choice. I am now a Christian, which eases my pain, but does not get rid of it. There are not many days that go by when I don't think about my child. I was not so smart in making a choice I made, and I will suffer from that choice always.

I am 24 now and I know that when I get married that all the emotions will come back once again when it is time to have children, (if that is possible because of the abortion). I have just gotten to the point I can talk about what I did, and I even want to help others. Chapter III Conclusion After a thorough study of the problem, the researchers came up with the following conclusions: 1. Abortion is immoral, a woman must first understand what abortions are and why women choose to have them. 2. Who put choice above life at one stage, will find it hard not to do the same at later stages.

A very fine line is crossed when someone decides it is ok to kill an unborn child and no one is safe on the other side of that threshold. 3. If abortion were made illegal it would still take place – under unsanitary conditions that would endanger additional lives. 4. Abortion should not even be legal in the case where it's either the life of the mother vs the life of the child --after all, it's only a woman. 5. The baby has a right to life too. Give a baby up

for adoption before abortion Recommendation After conducting this study, the researchers came up with the following recommendations: 1.

Based on the result of the interview reduce abortion is helping women and couples get better information about sexuality, reproductive health and contraception. 2. Better access to modern contraceptives, so they can prevent unintended pregnancies. For national, regional and local policymakers, and government agencies at all levels, this means taking the necessary steps to address this problem 3. Those who are so virulent against abortion should campaign for factual education about birth control. 4. We need to accept the reality of our sexuality and treat it responsibly so abortions never happen except in the most extreme scenarios. 5.

Young couples who are just starting their lives together and want children might prefer to become financially secure first to provide better care for their future children. 6. This study will also be helpful for the future researchers who would like to continue the study about abortion. The researchers recommend that future researchers will then focus on other variables. Chapter IV Definition of Terms •Anxiety - it is the displeasing feeling of fear and concern. •Incest - sexual relations between close relatives. •Lethargy - a condition characterized by extreme fatigue or drowsiness or prolonged sleep patterns. Malaise - a feeling of general bodily discomfort, fatigue or unpleasantness, often at the onset of illness. •PAS - Post-Abortion-Syndrome •Pro-life - specifically opposed to advocacy, practice or legalization of abortion. •Vomiting - to regurgitate the contents of a stomach. •Wedlock - the state of being married; matrimony. •Pro choice – is an ideology that supports the right to make a decision and support the

decision itself. •Pro life - A person who considers themselves Pro-life is someone who is against abortion. References Adler, Nancy, et al. (2003)”Abortion among Adolescents. American Psychologist, 59(3), 211-7. Alan Guttmacher Institute, (1999) New Civil War: The Psychology, Culture, and Politics of Abortion. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Alliance Action Inc. (1996): Public Opinions on Abortion and the Death Penalty. Boston: Northeastern University Bankole et al (1998, 1999) “Psychological Responses after Abortion. ” Science, 41-4 Gilchrist, A. , et al. (1995) “Termination of Pregnancy and Psychiatric Morbidity. ” British Journal of Psychiatry, 167(2), 243-8. Hutchison. (1997) Rethinking Abortion: Psychology, Gender, Power, and the Law. New York: Routledg.

Kolata 1992; Hern et al (1993) “The Psychological Complications of Therapeutic Abortion. ” 742-9. Otoide et al (2001) “Appraisals of Undesired Pregnancy and Abortion. ” Archives of General Psychiatry 77-84. Terkel, Susan N. , (1988) Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments. Sisters, OR: Multnomah, www. enotes. com/should-abortion-article www. bookrags. com/researchtopics/abortion/) wwww. abortion- considered-immoralww. guttmacher. org/pubs/journals www. abortionfacts. com www. christianet. com/abortionfacts www. anti-abortion. info/abortion-alternatives. php www. the-gospel. org/stdy_fmly/abortion_effects. php