- Question
Should abortion be legal?
Throughout the world, abortions and a woman's right to have them remain taboo. As abortion is illegal in many countries, women sometimes going to extreme and dangerous lengths to obtain them. Going beyond whether or not terminating a pregnancy is right or wrong, what are the pros and cons of abortion? And should abortion as a medical procedure be legal?
Abortions should be legal.
This position holds that abortion should be legal. It argues that the choice belongs to the woman as a matter of bodily autonomy, that pregnancy carries real health risks, that banning abortion drives women to unsafe procedures, and that the state should not impose religious morality.
Abortion should only be allowed in extreme situations.
This position holds that abortion should be permitted only in extreme situations. It argues that termination is justified in cases such as rape or incest, when the pregnancy endangers the mother's life, or in some cases of severe foetal disability — balancing the rights of two individuals.
Abortion should be illegal.
This position holds that abortion should be illegal, as morally and ethically wrong. Its arguments contend that a foetus is a person who can feel pain, that adoption is always an alternative, that many women come to regret abortions, and that it is impermissible within many religious beliefs.