Debate on Abortion

Abortion is one of the most contentious issues in the 21st century as it has ignited a heated debate regarding its legality. The controversy regarding its legality emanates from the diverse perception of the benefits and consequences of abortion. Over the years, different ethical theories and principles have been applied to the issue with diverse outcomes. The present report supports the utilitarian perspective on abortion by highlighting the social, economic, and medical benefits of making the medical practice legal.

Utilitarian Perspective on Abortion

            Abortion refers to the process of removing the embryo from a woman’s womb before it gains the ability to survive independently. Abortion has been a long-standing ethical issue due to the question regarding the commencement of life and the considerations made to either save the mother or the fetus. In this context, utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory that perceives abortion via the principle of utility (Furedi, 2016). The principle of utility in this context promotes the maximization of welfare in society. The utilitarian ethical perspective supports abortion by addressing the underlying controversies regarding the value of human life. This perspective places no absolute value on human life, effectively avoiding the moral question of when life begins. The utilitarianism ethical perspective also suggests that every issue should be judged on its merit. In this context, the decision to have an abortion is all up to the mother after analyzing the consequences it is likely to have on her life. Under the utilitarian ethical perspective, therefore, circumstances such as financial instability, severe fetal abnormality, and rape can be considered as valid reasons for procuring an abortion. This perspective is further explicated through nursing ethical principles to elaborate on the benefits of abortion for the woman.

Beneficence

            Beneficence is a nursing ethical principle that encourages the decision-maker or an individual to do what is good and right under the current circumstances. In this context, giving priority to “doing good” support the utilitarian ethical perspective of maximizing the outcomes for the parties involved to make a solution to an ethical dilemma such as abortion ethically acceptable. Therefore, the individual has an ethical and moral obligation to make an attempt to increase or generate a larger percentage of good over evil where possible (Thomson, 2020). Maximizing the good in the context of an abortion enables an informed decision after evaluating the risk posed by the pregnancy to the mother. Abortion is, therefore, permissible in case of severe fetal abnormality. The benefits of saving the mother’s life, in this case, outweigh the need to carry the pregnancy to term as it may cause more complications. Although opponents of this perspective may suggest that advancement in medical technology can help to address the majority of fetal abnormalities, it exposes the mother to additional risk that may have an adverse impact on her health. Also, allowing a fetus with severe abnormalities to develop increases the possibility that the child will have deformities or abnormal growth and development. This will expose the mother to psychological challenges that parents of children with deformities or abnormal growth experience.

Respect for Autonomy

            The principle of respect for autonomy ties into the utilitarian ethical theory by emphasizing the need to make decisions that allow people to be autonomous in their actions. Every individual should be allowed to make decisions that are practical and applicable to their lives. Therefore, a person should have complete control over their lives because they best understand the circumstances of their current lifestyle (MacKinnon & Fiala, 2018). In the context of abortion, the mother should have the freedom to choose the outcome of her pregnancy because she best understands her motivations, emotions, and physical capabilities. While laws that prohibit abortion are enacted through consensus, they represent the majority view but not the view of everyone. The minority who oppose the laws still have the right to decide for themselves without coercion through policies established by the majority. In case a person is financially unstable or lacks the means to provide for a child, they deserve the right to terminate the pregnancy at the opportune time to avoid the challenges of raising a child in a financially unstable environment. It would be pointless to carry the pregnancy to term only for the child to suffer from malnutrition and lack of access to quality healthcare and education.

Justice

            Justice, as a nursing ethical principle, supports the utilitarian theoretical perspective on abortion by emphasizing the need to focus on actions that present fair outcomes to the parties involved. The outcome of the decision should benefit the parties involved unless there are extenuating circumstances. The majority of women seeking abortion have a valid reason that the opponents failed to understand. While abortion may be perceived by many as ending an innocent life, they failed to consider the circumstances that caused the mother to make the decision. It would be unfair to expect a woman to carry to term an embryo or fetus with severe abnormality as it would cause more complications during or after delivery (Lee, 2010). In case the mother decides to carry the embryo to term, she exposes herself to health complications during delivery that could adversely affect her health. Abortion in this context can be considered as Justice because the mother is saved the pain and agony associated with complications during pregnancy and delivery, and the child is not exposed to discrimination and harassment as it would be born with deformities or severe medical complications.

Do Less Harm

Finally, the nursing ethical principle of doing less harm supports the utilitarian ethical perspective on abortion by emphasizing they need to make a decision that causes the least amount of damage or harm to the parties involved. In this context, a person is obligated to make a decision that will do harm to the fewest people or cause the least harm possible to everyone involved. Utilizing this principle to address the circumstances that may necessitate an abortion focuses on causing the least harm to the fewest people possible. As aforementioned, the majority of women seek to procure an abortion for valid reasons ranging from financial instability to rape. Therefore, abortion helps to mitigate the impact that an unwanted baby would have in society (Sumner, 2017). Before procuring an abortion, the mother is usually in a dilemma attributed to their circumstances. A decision to carry the pregnancy to term under unfavorable circumstances often attract consequences that would have otherwise been avoided by terminating the pregnancy. It is, therefore, prudent and reasonable for a woman who is genuinely unable to bring a pregnancy to term safely to procure an abortion.

Conclusion

            The utilitarian ethical perspective supports abortion by emphasizing the need to maximize the outcome for the parties involved. In this context, saving the mother’s life outweighs is permissible when carrying the pregnancy to term is likely to cause more complications for the mother, and the child is also likely to be born with deformities or disabled, thus, exposing them to unwarranted ridicule and discrimination. Also, the mother should have complete control and autonomy to decide whether to carry the pregnancy to term or terminate it. The outcome of the decision should benefit the parties involved unless there are extenuating circumstances. Finally, the decision to procure an abortion should cause less harm to the fewest number of people possible. Termination may be a better option in cases where the baby is likely to be born with deformities or disabled, thus requiring special care.

References

Furedi, A. (2016). The Moral Case for Abortion. London: Palgrave Macmillan, UK.

Lee, P. (2010). Abortion and Unborn Human Life, Second Edition. London: CUA Press.

MacKinnon, B., & Fiala, A. (2018). Ethics: theory and contemporary issues. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Sumner, L. W. (2017). Abortion and Moral Theory. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Thomson, J. J. (2020). A Defense of Abortion / Eine Verteidigung Der Abtreibung: Englisch/Deutsch. [Great Papers Philosophie]. Berlin: Reclam Philipp.