Assignment #4 - Abortion Essay

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School

New Mexico State University *

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Course

317

Subject

Philosophy

Date

Dec 6, 2023

Type

docx

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Uploaded by AgentWildcatMaster189

In 1973, the US Supreme Court overturned a Texas statute that made abortion illegal unless a woman's life was in danger (Temme & Marshall, 2023) . The case was filed by unmarried woman Jane Roe, who wanted to legally end her pregnancy. The court acknowledged that the constitutional right to privacy was broad enough to encompass a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy (Temme & Marshall, 2023) . Roe v. Wade, a landmark Supreme Court case, legalized abortion nationwide, removing nearly all state restrictions on abortion except for lifesaving or health-preserving reasons. Roe's decision made abortion services safer and more accessible, setting a precedent that influenced over 30 subsequent Supreme Court cases on abortion restrictions (Temme & Marshall, 2023) . Around 42 million women worldwide choose abortion annually, with 20 million procedures being unsafe (Haddad & Nour, 2009). Unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal mortality, with 68,000 women dying annually (Haddad & Nour, 2009). Developing nations face social, religious, and political obstacles, with 97% of unsafe abortions occurring ( Abortion 2021). To combat this, women and healthcare providers must be educated about contraception and legal abortion, while having better access to safe services, and addressing cultural and social misconceptions ( Abortion 2021). Since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, over a dozen states have banned most abortions, including medication abortions, overturning the Roe v. Wade decision (Stein, 2023) . Advocates are promoting the use of prescription drugs mifepristone and misoprostol to increase access to abortion services in limited options (Stein, 2023) . Medication abortion accounts for 54% of abortions in the US, with a 95% success rate (Informatics Inc, 2023) . However, it should not be delivered through mail across state lines due to risks of

forgoing an ultrasound. Taking a medication abortion by mail has more risk than an abortion in an office setting, as it may lead to an ectopic pregnancy, which is a rare but dangerous risk (Informatics Inc, 2023) . At a rate of more than 1 million a year, reducing the annual number of abortions is the goal (Director et al., 2021) . To achieve that objective, there are various approaches, some of which will benefit women and some of which won't. Opponents argue that making abortion illegal is the best way to reduce it, but evidence shows women continue to have abortions in illegal countries under unsafe conditions, resulting in tragic deaths and injuries. Anti-abortion efforts in the US have made abortion inaccessible by barring public funding, increasing costs, decreasing doctors and clinics, imposing waiting periods, and mandating rigid parental involvement laws, making safe abortions beyond the reach of the young and poor (Director et al., 2021) . To reduce abortions, it's essential to decrease unintended pregnancies, which account for half of all US pregnancies (Director et al., 2021) . This can be achieved through sexuality education, insurance for family planning, increased emergency contraception access, and programs addressing domestic violence and sexual abuse. Unfortunately, unintended pregnancies are inevitable and birth control methods are flawed. To reduce abortions, women should have access to health and safety resources. Financial constraints often lead women to choose abortions, but providing education, career opportunities, healthcare, childcare, and housing can help reduce this (Director et al., 2021) . Moderate politicians often support anti-abortion activists' restrictions, such as biased counseling and public funding bans, while supporting others but not all. The 95-10 initiative by Democrats for Life, which aims to reduce abortions by 95% in 10 years, lacks support for

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