Abortion Essay example -- essays research papers

Abortion has been and still is one of the most controversial topics in American culture. The reason for the controversy is the different viewpoints of this very personal matter. Some believe that abortion is the same as murder. Others believe it’s a personal choice which only they have the right to make. Due to the nature of the procedure and the concerns associated with ending a pregnancy, abortion will continue to top the list of â€Å"touchy† subjects in American politics and culture. As a pro-choice advocate, it is important for the right to have an abortion to be established and protected. An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. The most common abortion procedure is the vacuum aspiration or suction curettage.   Ã‚  This is performed during the first trimester of a pregnancy. â€Å"†¦   The physician will then gradually widen (dilate) the cervix.   When the cervix has been dilated to the width appropriate for your stage of pregnancy, the physician will insert a small tube (cannula) which is attached to a suction machine.   The machine’s suction empties the contents of the uterus through the tube†¦The entire procedure takes just a few minutes†. On the other hand, the most controversial abortion procedure is the Partial-Birth abortion. This procedure, performed past the first trimester, has been banned in many states, including New York. â€Å"†¦the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, Bush administration lawyers said the procedure was never medically necessary to protect a woman's health and caused undue pain to the fetus, making t he procedure inhumane.† (2) The procedure is also known as dilation and extraction, or D&X, and dilation and evacuation, or D&E. â€Å"In a regular D&E abortion performed in the second trimester, a patient's cervix is dilated and the fetus is dismembered and removed by forceps†. (3) In 1973 abortion was legalized in the United States. In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to forbid a woman to have an abortion during her first trimester of her pregnancy. The Court also ruled that second trimester abortion was to be regulated by the state and only when the Woman’s health was at risk. This decision was a big step in the fight for women equality in the United States. It gave women the right to decide when or whether or not to become a mother. This was unheard of before. Before Roe v. Wade, women were having illegal... ... away with passing this first act it is only a matter of time before abortion is banned all together. This will mean a step back for all women in the fight for equal right in the United States.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What will happen if it is banned all together? Well for starters, the practice of illegal abortions will be reinstated in the country. Young girls will go to these â€Å"doctor† and put their lives in their hands not knowing exactly what the outcome will be, because as with any illegal practice it will not be performed in a safe environment. It will not be followed up with proper medical attention. As a result, women will die. They will be forced to put their lives and their relationships with their families at risk. It will no longer be a personal matter or a private choice because once a woman who is afraid to have an illegal abortion and instead keeps an unwanted child will have to deal with the consequences. This might lead to losing a job, dropping out of school or even becoming mentally and emotionally unstable. I am pro-choice. I want my rights protected and I believe every woman whether she is pro-choice or pro-life will appreciate at least having a choice.