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It is commonly acknowledged that the ethics of abortion have long been a source of discussion and debate, with debate spanning decades. The term literally refers to the act of terminating a pregnancy by either extracting an embryo or the fetus before it reaches development (Forster 52). Miscarriage is the term for an unintentional abortion; conversely, induced abortion is the term for a planned abortion. The removal of the fetus when it has the capacity to survive in the outer environment is referred to as late termination of pregnancy in some cases. In industrialized countries, the practice is permitted under certain situations and is carried out using current techniques that are both safe and considerate of the individual's future health, and physical, biological, and psychological needs. Modern surgical techniques and medications, followed by family planning options such as the pill, are used to keep a woman's life normal. This method is safe because it protects the woman from the long-term mental and physical repercussions of abortion. On the other hand, over 47,000 people die each year as a result of abortion, and over 5 million people become bedridden as a result of induced abortion. Abortion rates have risen substantially in recent years, reaching 56 million cases in 2002. However, between 2003 and 2008, there was a significant drop in incidences, which was ascribed to widespread family planning and condom use programs. Side effects from induced abortion, whether surgical or via pill, are possible. Abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are some of the symptoms. Abortion carries the risk of serious complications including bleeding, infection, and organ damage. Abortion is also linked to a decline in both emotional and physical health. These unpleasant emotions can manifest themselves in a matter of days or years for some women(symptoms such as sleeping disorder, guilt, and depression).
The moral status of the embryo and fetus is a major philosophical subject in the abortion debate. If the unborn is a person with the same right to life as any other human being born, very few, if any, abortions could be justified, because killing children because they are undesired, illegitimate, or disabled is not ethically permitted. The morality of abortion, on the other hand, is not so clear. Even if the claim that a fetus is a person is accepted, it does not follow that it has a right to utilize the pregnant woman's body. As a result, the morality of abortion is determined not only by the moral condition of the fetus but also by the moral standing of the mother.
The easiest way to relate to abortion on an ethical level is to describe and evaluate the theoretical approach's subject: utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is a consequential ethical theory based on the Principle of Utility that advocates for the maximization of society's overall well-being. Jeremy Bentham is a major utilitarian philosopher who proposed that a decision is ethically correct when it provides total utility and the greatest good for the largest number of people with the least amount of pain. Predicting the consequences and impact of an action, or the eventual results, is central to utilitarianism. It disregards the intentions of the user. As a hedonist, Bentham believes that happiness is the only thing worth having in life and that pleasure and suffering are the major motivators in humans. Utilitarianism, on the other hand, might have a detrimental impact. When it comes to providing the most joy to the greatest number of people, it's often necessary to sacrifice your personal pleasure and happiness in order to create greater results overall. To attain a utilitarian end, some people's rights to seek the greater good may be ignored or even violated. Utilitarianism has also been criticized for ignoring the importance of one's obligation and duty to others. Each of these ethical theories has a common action result. It may not be the primary focus of the action, but it is the principal result of the activity's consequence.
When it comes to abortion, utilitarianism is the most applicable theory since it focuses on the consequences rather than the moral problems concerning when human existence begins. The debate over abortion is a result of divergent morality, and should we terminate just because we have the power to do so? My viewpoint may differ from those of others, but I am pro-choice. I believe that a woman's right to make the final decision concerning her own body should be respected. Pregnancy is a significant responsibility that not everyone is capable of handling and forcing a woman who is not ready to have a child to do so should never be a mandate, especially when mistakes can occur.
Even though we are dealing with a human being, it is critical to emphasize the mother's or parents' status and circumstances. Bentham's version of utilitarianism, called Act utilitarianism, is particularly useful because it separates each scenario from all others, which implies that the decision to abort the kid or live with the repercussions would largely be up to the mother. Rape, incest, deadly abnormality, financial instability, and the mother's safety must all be considered in a utilitarian perspective. Forcing the woman who became pregnant because of the violent conduct to give birth could inflict psychological injury to both the victim and the child in the instance of rape or incest. Rape will most likely be accepted more openly, as will the possibility of poor mental health, late marriages, and even relationship failures. The advantage to the mother and everyone else involved from aborting it may be sufficient to justify the means.
To conclude, utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that analyses morality based on a variety of elements. Furthermore, I believe that having an abortion will make life much more pleasant for people who are directly and indirectly engaged, but it should not be used as a contraceptive.
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