Abortion Flashcards
What is abortion?
Intentional destruction of foetus or premature expulsion of foetus from womb, causing death
Why might a woman have an abortion?
Career Family life Finance Mental health Physical health Plans for life Rape
What are alternatives to abortion?
Adoption
Foster
Family help
What is personhood?
Stage at which foetus given legal status as person
What is potentiality?
Foetus is potential person, therefore many argue should be given legal status as person
What is viability?
Stage at which baby could survive outside womb if born prematurely
How long into pregnancy does foetus start showing signs of life?
Neurological activity - 14 days
Heartbeat - 22 days
Quickening (interaction) - 16/17 weeks
What are some arguements FOR abortion?
Women should have right to control body Rape Ball of Cells aren’t human Have to resort to dangerous back-street abortions Too young Large family already Low quality of life
What are some arguements AGAINST abortion?
Each person is unique
Denial of human rights
Doctors take hippocratic oath
Lead to guilt/scars
People don’t have complete control of body
Disabled kids can enjoy fulfilled life
Can be put up for adoption
Children is blessing from God (life is sacred)
If abortion illegal, government would invest more into supporting mothers
HOGBADDIC
What is a pro-life group?
SPUC - founded in 1967 to oppose 1967 abortion act. Aims to end abortion & advocate for value of all humans & consistent life ethics.
LIFE - give free emotional help, counselling & skilled listening. House & support mums & babies & provide free pregnancy tests and baby supplies.
What is a pro-choice group?
Abortion rights UK - aim to oppose any restrictions in women’s current rights & access to abortion & improve abortion rights to abortion. They also support LGBTQ+ organisations.
MSI - they deal with safe abortions, life saving procedures after unsafe procedures & deliver sexual and reproductive health care for al. Aim is by 2030, no abortion will be unsafe & anyone who wants contraception can get it. In 2020, they reached 12.8 million people in 37 countries.
What are some bible quotes for abortion?
“God created an in his own image” - if God is creator of life, it’s his choice when it ends. He has ownership
“Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I knew you… I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” - God has known you from the womb, and has a plan for your life
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them… the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” - everything God has made is equally important to him; young person’s life is as important as adult’s
“You knit me together in my mother’s womb” - God is author of life, & has created us in a way which reflects design & care. He has planned our existance
What are the Churches’ attitudes to abortion?
“Abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes” - Roman Catholic
“We therfore believe abortion is an evil.” - Anglican
“In circumstances of extreme distress… the right choice is sometimes the lesser of two evils” - Anglican
“The unborn child is fully human, a person made in the image of God “ - Presbytarian
“ As a church, we are in favour of allowing the parties concerned to terminate the pregnancies in the following cases: risk to mother’s physical r mental health, gross abnormality of foetus & pregnancy result of rape.” - Methodist
Which philosophers supported abortion?
Plato + Aristotle
What did aristotle believe regarding the female embryos?
They developed more slowly
