Race In My Community

Abortion 1

The Legalization of The Abortion Law

Maria Delgado

Com 125 Utilizing Information in College Writing

Axia College of University of Phoenix

Mr. Jonathan Klug

February 11th, 2007

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The Legalization of The Abortion Law

Many women in United States become pregnant each year. Unfortunately many of them as well debates whether or not they should have an abortion, due to the fact that their pregnancies were not planned. The legalization of the abortion was the best decision for all women in United States. Many people do not see the cause and effect of not being able to have an abortion.

Abortion is defined as: "The termination of a pregnancy after accompanied by resulting or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus" (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2006-2007). The abortion law has always been controversial. There are many issues regarding the abortion. Many years back then when abortion was not legal, it was still an issue. Many women used to seek for alternative home remedies risking their life. Honestly consuming herbs to have an abortion can be as well deadly. In countries where abortion is not legal, the abortion rate is also very high. According to Sister Zeus, women have used herbs since the beginning of time in attempts to control their fertility. The information was passed from mother to daughter, midwives and wise woman all possessed this knowledge. Starting in the 1300's on up through the 1800's possessing the knowledge of which herbs caused a woman to abort/miscarry became very dangerous, if discovered a woman would be accused of being a witch and torture to death. Over time those who knew how to safely and effectively use these herbs were murdered or frightened into silence, terror, which persisted for about 500 years. "In Roe V. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), the U.S. supreme court determine that the constitution protects a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. In a companion case, Doe

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V. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179 (1973), the court held further that a state may not unduly burden a woman's fundamental right to abortion by prohibiting or substantially limiting access to the means of effectuating her decision. Rather than settle the issue, the court's decision kindled heated debate and precipitated a variety of governmental actions at the national, state and local levels designed either to nullify the rulings or hinder their function. These governmental regulations have, in turn, spawned further litigation in which resulting judicial refinements in the law have been no more successful in dampening the controversy" (Lewis J. & Shimabukuro, J. O., 2001).

No one has the right to decide what we want to do with our own body or even our life. Those who refute abortion claim that it is the murder of a helpless baby who hasn't yet had the chance to live and function as a human being. However, the debate opposite it is just as fervent; it is a woman's right to chose what happens to her body, and if she decides that is not capable of bringing a child into this world, then she shouldn't be forced to out of nature. "In South Dakota, however the terms of the debate have shifted. This state is currently at the heart of the U.S. abortion wars as residents prepare for a 7 November ballot that will determine whether a ban signed into law in March 15 upheld. The ban criminalizes all abortions. A poll in June found 47 percent of South Dakotans opposed the ban, while 39 percent supported it; following avid campaigning, however, another poll last month found that while 47 percent still opposed the ban, 44 percent were now in favor" (Cochrane, 2006). According to Cochrane these new arguments completely dehumanize women; in other words anti-abortion activists reduce women to non-beings, which I totally agree with. Many things had been said about the abortion

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law, but no one thinks about the effect of not being able to have an abortion. People still don't realize that we are living in the 21st century and that women will do what ever it takes to have an abortion. Abortion has many risks, but it is ones responsibility to take that risk. The RU-486 abortion method is one of those risks. "RU-486 is actually a two-drug abortion technique: The first drug is RU-486 itself, known generically as mifepristone, and the second is a prostaglandin, known by the generic name misoprostol. RU-486 only "works" in a confirmed pregnancy and is only approved for use by the FDA in pregnancies up to 49 days or seven weeks. RU-486 acts by blocking progesterone; as a result of this blockage the woman's body fails to recognize that she is pregnant, and it turn causes the death of her unborn child by cutting off the critical supply of nutrients needed by the developing baby. According to FDA protocols the second drug-the prostaglandin misoprostol is supposed to be given to the woman orally. Its action is to cause uterine contractions that expel the now-dead baby" (Echevarria, 2006). Also according to Echevarria five women died of deadly bacterial infections following RU-486 abortions. I believe every surgical procedure and every drug you take have side effects and risks, so people often uses this tactics to scare women and to convince everyone that abortion is not right. No matter how risky this drug is women still use it to abort their babies, so just imagine if this method was not legal in United States.

According to The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, In United States there is 1.37 million abortions, which is approximately 3,700 abortions per day. Also about 26 million women obtain legal abortion each year, while an additional 20 million abortions are obtained in countries where it is restricted or prohibited by law. 78 percent of all abortions are

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obtained in developing countries and 22 percent occurs in developed countries. As you can see abortion statistics shows that abortions rates are still very high, whether or not is legal.

Two main reasons why women in United States