ABORTION

For a long time, there have been countless issues and debates about abortion. The removal or
expulsion of an embryo or fetus from a pregnancy, either accidentally or intentionally, is known
as an abortion. Abortion has advantages and disadvantages, and debaters can choose between
pro-choice and pro-life perspectives. A woman's autonomy includes selecting abortion as an
option for unintended or unwanted pregnancy, regardless of how the fetus is conceived. There
is, however, pro-life, which, due to ethical dilemmas, contradicts pro-choice. The life of a fetus
that has been conceived without the permission of the fetus is advocated by people who are
against abortion.

Follow-Up Questions:

A. What do you want those women to know who opted to stop their pregnancy through
abortion?

When a woman chooses to have an abortion, she should be aware that there are risks
involved when the fetus is removed surgically or with pills. To begin with, a woman should
be aware of her country's abortion laws to determine whether or not it is legal, as medical
experts feel that a woman who has an abortion without the authorization of the government
will be sued. After that, I would recommend having a surgical abortion because it is a safer
option for the woman in the instance that issues emerge during the termination. The
drawback is that the reproductive organs may be permanently damaged as a result of the
fetus being removed from the womb especially unsafe abortion, which implies that abortion
causes cervix weakness, increasing a woman's risk of future pre-term deliveries, genital
traumas, sepsis, hemorrhage, secondary infertility, and ectopic pregnancies. Also, the Royal
College of Psychiatrists, if a woman later regrets her decision to terminate the fetus, she is at
risk of developing mental illnesses. Pros and Cons stated above are the necessary
information needed by women who would undergo an abortion.

B. How do you feel if the woman you are attending to decides to opt for an abortion?

Since the fetus has already been given life, my instinctive reaction to its elimination
would be sadness. Nonetheless, I would be pleased of the mother for openly choosing
abortion and reaching out to us medical experts. It must be difficult for every woman to
choose abortion, but despite their feelings, if abortion is the choice they will make, I will
support them regardless of their situation. Yes, I will feel that the child has been robbed of
life because he or she should be living in this world, but I know that my feelings will never
be valid when it comes to women who have chosen abortion. I may feel sad, melancholy,
fearful, or even devastated, but it makes no difference because I am not in their shoes and do
not know how they felt at the moment they decided to terminate the pregnancy. Women who
have been raped and sexually assaulted must be terrified of having the kid of the man who
treated them like a sex toy. I would tell the woman that women are not fetuses' containers,
and we have every right to choose the decisions that are best for our overall health.

C. What do you think are the factors that prompt a woman to decide on an abortion?

A multitude of variables at several levels influences the decision of whether and how to
terminate a pregnancy. Individually, these factors include their marital status, whether they
were the victim of rape, incest, or sexual assault, which produces trauma and causes them
not to want to continue the pregnancy because it may cause them to become mentally ill due
to the circumstances they were in. Women choose to terminate their pregnancies for a
variety of reasons, including economic independence and education level because abortion
does less suffering than bringing up a child in this lifetime. Interpersonal aspects include
spouse support and parental support. If a woman's spouse, partner, or boyfriend does not
support her pregnancy, the fetus will very certainly be terminated due to her emotional
dependence on her partner. Social standards, theology, the stigma of premarital and
extramarital sex, adolescents' status, and autonomy within society are all societal influences.
Another reason for abortion is if the child has a genetic condition that would be detrimental
to both the mother and the fetal's health. Rather than prolonging the fetus's life, the mother
chooses to stop the pain. The video addressed the reality that each country has its distinct
abortion laws and regulations, which are primarily concerned with women seeking
abortions. At the organizational level, the availability of sex education, the healthcare
system, and abortion restrictions all impact decisions about where and when to have an
abortion. These components are connected to authority and (gender) inequities.

D. What are the conditions that may indicate a therapeutic abortion?

Therapeutic termination, also known as "medically suggested termination" or "medically

Examples of the fetus’s medical conditions:

1. Anencephaly

Anencephaly is a type of neural tube defect which is a medical condition in which

Chromosomal abnormalities are genetic alterations that contribute to the high rate of
miscarriage and stillbirth. Chromosomal abnormalities are a common reason for therapeutic
abortion.

3. Meckel-Gruber Syndrome

It is a rare genetic condition that happens only when both parents have the recessive gene
for it. It causes a number of congenital abnormalities, including an abnormally large fontanel
and poor liver and lung development. It is always lethal.

Examples of the Mother’s Health Condition:

1. Amniotic Band Syndrome

Amniotic bands could become life-threatening if it will wrap around the head or
umbilical cord of the baby.

2. Premature Rapture of Membranes (PROM)

PROM is a condition in which the bag of waters (amniotic sac) ruptures first before the
pregnancy reaches full term. If PROM starts before 24 weeks of gestation, doctors may propose
a therapeutic termination because the shortage of fluid will adversely impact the baby's organ
development. The pregnant woman would be at higher risk of infection.

E. Describe the Philippine Reproductive Health Bill about abortion

Unfortunately, the Philippines does not have any laws making abortion legal. Abortion is
still illegal in the Philippines in all situations, and it is severely vilified. The country's penal
code continues to restrict abortion access, with no clear exceptions even in cases of pregnancies
risking the woman's life or health, those resulting from rape or incest, and those with fetal
disability. Although the Philippine government reported to the Human Rights Committee in
2019 that abortion "to protect the life and health" of a pregnant woman may be supported under
existing penal laws, this recognized exception has not resulted in improved access to safe and
legal abortion or a reduction in clandestine abortions in the country. According to independent
investigations, 610,000 illegal and unsafe abortions occurred in the country in 2012, up from
560,000 in 2008.
 F. Give your own personal opinion about the conclusion and the result of the debate.

First and foremost, I commend the debaters for presenting straightforward information about
abortion, whether pro-life or pro-choice. They did an outstanding job of informing people
who do not have an understanding about abortion. Apparently, the video's conclusion is not
adequately communicated, and in the end, no options whether pro-life or pro-choice are
chosen. Both sides debate the four pillars of medical ethics, which are autonomy,
nonmaleficence, benefit, and justice. Being pro-choice does not imply that every woman
should terminate her pregnancy simply because she wants to or because it is allowed in her
home country or state. Women who decide to abort the embryo, fetus, and baby have
unspoken reasons that led them to abort the baby. Women die due to pregnancy and
childbirth complications and conditions. Some mothers have a baby that has a genetic
disease that does not guarantee survival, so they choose to end the agony instead. The risks
outweigh the benefits regarding both their maternal and fetal health. On the other hand, there
is pro-life. While the pro-choice movement advocates for the mother, the pro-life movement
advocates for the fetus who was conceived without their knowledge or consent. Since an
embryo generated at conception is genetically similar to a baby, child, and adult, life begins
when the embryo is conceived. The maxim of all health practitioners is to do no harm;
however, it changes depending on the situation. Abortion is thought to be detrimental to a
woman's reproductive organs, which can lead to serious health problems later in life. I do not
have a firm opinion on the subject, regardless of which side I am on. Personally, I do not
have the right to choose between the two options because I am not in the position of every
raped and sexually assaulted victim who chooses to abort the baby due to the physical,
emotional, and mental trauma they are experiencing. I just hope that people will be more
open to discussing abortion in the future. This is a sensitive topic, but it needs to be publicly
discussed for the views and opinions of people to be heard and understood. Women are not
just sex toys, fetus carriers, the weaker sex, and dependent on men.

REFERENCES:

Czukas, E. (2019, November 6). Understanding the Medical Indications for Ending a Wanted Pregnancy.
Verywell Family. Retrieved February 14, 2022, from
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[Link]. (2016, May 18). Unintended Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in the Philippines. Guttmacher
Institute. Retrieved February 14, 2022, from
[Link]

Res, E. (2018, February 18). NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic. NCBI. Retrieved February 14, 2022,
From [Link]