A Case Against Abortion: Coming to Terms with the Termination of Pregnancy Debate
Keywords:
Foetal rights, abortion, pro-life, pro-choiceAbstract
In modern times, abortion has become an intellectual subject both at domestic and global levels, attracting great academic, legislative, and judicial comments. Its prevalence in the world is increasing rather than decreasing. It is against this backdrop that this study is designed to ensure that the best interest of the unborn child is served. To this effect, the position that should guide healthcare providers when dealing with unborn children at pregnancy is that they have a right to life. Additionally, the study holds that, in the absence of any justified therapeutic reasons, we may assume that the pregnancy should be continued. Thus, the role of the medical practitioner is to provide the unborn child with the best possible condition to continued living. This study examines some assumptions underlying the law’s attempt to deal with claims advanced on behalf of the fetus. The aim is to ascertain lawmakers' perspectives on the fetus and whether it is acknowledged as a separate entity with interests warranting protection. This study makes a case against abortion. It examines pro-life’s argument and the issue of the beginning of human existence. It is argued that (1) life begins at conception, so the law prescribes any act ending it. (2) That the fetus at conception is endowed with legal rights that must be protected. The study then probes into the legal protection accorded by the law to the fetus arguing that, physicians should strive to cater for the interest of the unborn child. At the same time, they should only terminate a pregnancy if it is permitted by the law and not because the mother has a right of what should happen to her body. The study then concludes by exposing the gaps in the current law as well as providing some suggestions on where the law should go.
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