Abortion

RUNNING HEAD: Abortion: The Horrible Killing of Innocent Children

Abortion: The Horrible Killing of Innocent Children

Naomi Kilpatrick

Northwestern State University

Abortion: The Horrible Killing of Innocent Children

"When a bystander can see a fetus flinching at the moment of intentional killing, there is no to close to infanticide about it, it is infanticide."(Williams 2002). Abortion has been a controversial issue, ever since it was first legalized. This paper will explore the different viewpoints of abortion, how abortion is performed, what makes it wrong, and the options a woman has other than abortion.

The definition of abortion is when a pregnancy is ended before the time of birth. The definition of miscarriage is when the fetus is aborted naturally. Induced abortion occurs, when deliberate steps are taken to the end of the pregnancy. Medical abortion, which ends the pregnancy with drugs, and surgical abortion, which empties the uterus with instruments, are the two types of induced abortions (Durrett 2000).

Medical abortion can be used to end a pregnancy in the first seven weeks of the pregnancy. Methotrexate or Milfepristone are the two drugs that can be used to induce a medical abortion. A methotrexate injection stops the division of fetal cells and the growth of the embryo. Mifepristone (RU-486) the abortion pill blocks the hormone progesterone that is necessary for the pregnancy to continue. After either drug takes effect, the pregnancy ends. Then Misoprostol is inserted into the vagina, causing the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. This occurs a few days after the administration of the drug. This process can take anywhere from three days to four weeks (Durrett 2000).

Surgical abortion can be preformed during all three trimesters of pregnancy. Suction

aspiration is the most common method of ending pregnancy in the first trimester The cervix is

numbed with local anesthetic. The cervix opening is then dilated, allowing for the insertion of a

tube attached to a suction machine. The suction then pulls the contents of the uterus through the

tube into a collection bottle. A curette, which is a spoon shaped instrument, is used to remove any

remaining tissue from the uterus. The woman then bleeds as if she is on her menstrual

cycle (Durrett 2000).

Second trimester abortion makes up for about ten percent of all abortions performed in

the United States. In order for this type of abortion to occur, the uterus must be further enlarged,

and suction will not completely empty the uterus, so surgical forceps must be used to remove the

fetus. Any tissue remaining is scraped with a curette .This procedure takes ten to thirty minutes,

and the woman is under general anesthia. Another method that can be used later in the second

trimester is the induction or instillation method. This is done in a hospital, under local anesthia.

The physician injects prostaglandin, urea, or saline solution directly into the uterus through the

Abdomen. The fetus dies, and the uterus contracts within a few hours and the fetus is expelled

some time later. Abortion is rare after the twenty-third week of pregnancy (Durrett 2000).

Abortion is a highly controversial issue. There are two stances on abortion. Pro choice

supporters believe it is the woman's right, because it is her body, and reject the idea that the

fertilized egg, embryo, and fetus have the same stance as a child. Pro life supporter believe that

abortion is murder, and human life begins at conception when the egg and sperm unite.

Therefore the fetus, fertilized egg, and embryo has the same stance and right as a child (Durrett

2000).

D and X abortions produce the most controversy. D and X means dilation and extraction,

also known as partial birth abortion. D and X is usually performed on women, who are between

twenty and twenty four weeks pregnant. The physician delivers all but the head of the fetus

from the uterus. The doctor then cuts a hole at the base of the fetus's skull with scissors, so that

its contents can be removed. This allows the fetus's head to collapse, so it can more easily pass

through the cervix opening (Williams 2002).

Abortion is immoral human life is sacred from conception until natural death. Therefore,

taking the life of a fetus is immoral. Pro choice supporters believe that women should have the

right to control their destinies. However, even the Declaration of Independence states all men are

created equal. If that fetus was allowed to be born, the fetus would grow up to be a man or

woman, who has the right to be treated equal(Williams 2002).

Abortion entails the killing of innocent human life. Although pro choice supporters argue

that abortion destroys a potential human life, which is not murder. However, fertilization creates

a unique individual with a complete genetic code. Therefore making the fetus separate from

his/her mother in a sense (Williams