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Definition
- In the US most abortions are performed during the first 14 weeks
- They can be performed in some states up until 24 weeks
- In the US abortions after 24 weeks are only performed because of health complications
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| Simple Facts About Conception |
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Definition
- The heart starts beating between 18 & 25 days.
- The brain and all body systems are present by 8 weeks and functioning a month later.
- Everything that determines the individuality and originality of a person is established at conception.
- At 8 weeks, the baby will wake and sleep, make a fist, suck his thumb, and get hiccups.
- At the end of 9 weeks, the baby has his own unique finger prints.
- At 11-12 weeks, the baby is sensative to heat, touch, light and noise. All body systems are working. He or She weighs about 28g and is 6-7.5 cm long.
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Term
| Some Arguments for Pro-Life (Abortion: No) |
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Definition
- An abortion can result in medical complications later in life; the risk of ectopic pregnancies doubles, and the chance of a miscarriage and pelvic inflammatory disease also increases.
- Abortion should not be used as another form of contraception.
- For women who demand complete control of their body, control should include preventing the risk of unwanted pregnancy through the responsible use of contraception or, if that is not possible, through abstinence.
- Many Americans who pay taxes are opposed to abortion, therefore it's morally wrong to use tax dollars to fund abortion.
- Those who choose abortions are often minors or young women with insufficient life experience to understand fully what they are doing. Many have lifelong regrets afterwards.
- Abortion frequently causes intense psychological pain and stress.
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Term
| Some Arguments for Pro-Choice (Abortion: Yes) |
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Definition
- Nearly all abortions take place in the first trimester, when a fetus cannot exist independent of the mother. As it is attached by the placenta and umbilical cord, its health is dependent on her health, and cannot be regarded as a separate entity as it cannot exist outside her womb.
- The concept of personhood is different from the concept of human life. Human life occurs at conception, but fertilized eggs used for in vitro fertilization are also human lives and those not implanted are routinely thrown away. Is this murder, and if not, then how is abortion murder?
- Adoption is not an alternative to abortion, because it remains the woman's choice whether or not to give her child up for adoption. Statistics show that very few women who give birth choose to give up their babies - less than 3% of white unmarried women and less than 2% of black unmarried women.
- Adoption is not an alternative to abortion, because it remains the woman's choice whether or not to give her child up for adoption. Statistics show that very few women who give birth choose to give up their babies - less than 3% of white unmarried women and less than 2% of black unmarried women.
- Abortion is a safe medical procedure. The vast majority of women - 88% - who have an abortion do so in their first trimester. Medical abortions have less than 0.5% risk of serious complications and do not affect a woman's health or future ability to become pregnant or give birth.
- In the case of rape or incest, forcing a woman made pregnant by this violent act would cause further psychological harm to the victim. Often a woman is too afraid to speak up or is unaware she is pregnant, thus the morning after pill is ineffective in these situations.
- Abortion is not used as a form of contraception. Pregnancy can occur even with responsible contraceptive use. Only 8% of women who have abortions do not use any form of birth control, and that is due more to individual carelessness than to the availability of abortion.
- The ability of a woman to have control of her body is critical to civil rights. Take away her reproductive choice and you step onto a slippery slope. If the government can force a woman to continue a pregnancy, what about forcing a woman to use contraception or undergo sterilization?
- Taxpayer dollars are used to enable poor women to access the same medical services as rich women, and abortion is one of these services. Funding abortion is no different from funding a war in the Mideast. For those who are opposed, the place to express outrage is in the voting booth.
- Teenagers who become mothers have grim prospects for the future. They are much more likely to leave of school; receive inadequate prenatal care; rely on public assistance to raise a child; develop health problems; or end up divorced.
- Like any other difficult situation, abortion creates stress. Yet the American Psychological Association found that stress was greatest prior to an abortion, and that there was no evidence of post-abortion syndrome.
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Term
| Reference Sites (Pro-Life) |
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Definition
- http://womensissues.about.com/od/reproductiverights/a/AbortionArgumen.htm
- www.AfterAbortion.org
- www.prolife.com
- www.nrlc.org
- www.prolifeaction.org
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Term
| Reference Sites (Pro-Choice) |
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Definition
- www.naral.org
- www.prochoice.org
- civilliberty.about.com/od/abortion/tp/Pro-Life-vs-Pro-Choice.htm
- www.protectchoice.org
- http://www.abortionfacts.com/life_or_choice/pro_choice.asp
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