Name: De Guzman, Cameron Josh B Section: 2BSN-A

BIOETHICS
Abortion Rights and/or Wrongs
By Tarris Rosell, PhD, DMin
Kate is a 17-yearold patient, unmarried and 8 weeks pregnant. She is a rather remarkable girl in that
she lives independently while still a senior in a high school. She tells you that she was an adoptee
given back to foster care, and then abused in that system. She is now an emancipated minor who
works 30 hours per week at a service industry job while also ranking in the top 10% of her class. She is
college-bound, with a full-ride scholarship for pre-med undergraduate studies at a prestigious university.
Kate has absolutely no family support, and the former boyfriend who is the father of her unborn
child/fetus simply disappeared upon learning of the pregnancy. Your patient is scared, uninsured, and
says she doesn’t want to be pregnant or a mom (“Perhaps someday, but not now!”). She rejects the
adoption option, based on her own experience growing up. She is finding a way for abortion.
Reflection Questions:
1. Why is abortion a controversial moral issue?
Abortion is one of the numerous controversial moral issues-most people are on one side or the
other so few are still uncertain with the idea. It is a complicated problem for all genders who face the
ethical dilemma of whether or not to end the pregnancy.
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. However, different kinds of abortion are Natural
(spontaneous or accidental), Therapeutic Abortion, Eugenic or Selective Abortion, and Indirect abortion.
Natural Abortion is where the removal of the fetus through natural or accidental causes it is also called
a miscarriage. On the other hand, Therapeutic Abortion is the expulsion of a living fetus to save the
mother from danger and complications during childbirth. Another type of abortion is Eugenic or
Selective Abortion, where the fetus has been discovered with defects and genetic disorders, and with
the recommendation of the doctors, it is best to terminate the pregnancy. Lastly, Indirect abortion is the
removal of the fetus as a secondary effect of a legitimate or licit action that will also endanger the life of
the mother.
For some people, abortion is one of the most politically divisive of all the family-issues topics.
Many unwanted or unplanned pregnancy has been solved by abortion. Though a pregnant woman’s
decision either to abort or to give birth dramatically affects her family life. Abortion by definition means
removing the fetus or embryo from the woman’s womb before it can live outside the uterus. This issue
has been controversial over the world for many years. Many people are against it while people are
saying it is the right of the woman to choose whether to keep the baby or eradicate it. Some believe
that abortion is the murder of innocent lives, therefore, means that it is against the law. Knowing that a
fetus is a potential human being, it should have a right to live in this world. We have no right to take or
condemn one’s life and we see abortion as taking one’s privilege to live.
2. What is pro-life and pro-choice views of abortion? What are pro-life and pro-choice views of
abortion?
Abortion has two points of view named, pro-life and pro-choice. One side seems occupied with
women's rights, while the other is associated with saving babies. Both pro-life and pro-choice motives
and objectives are quite complex and diverse. Sadly, both terms are often overly simplified, leaving the
one-party believing a harsh misunderstanding about the other. People who oppose abortion often call
themselves pro-life. However, the only life many of them are concerned with is the life of the fertilized
egg, embryo, or fetus. They are much less concerned about the life of women who have unintended
pregnancies or the welfare of children after they’re born.
 Pro-life defines as opposed to abortion. This movement has grown into a thriving community of
those who meet political issues with the mindset that all human life is valuable. Whether you are a
preborn baby, a newborn, an elderly person, or someone with disabilities and special needs, your life
matters. At its core, the pro-life movement is about the value and equality of all human beings. Also,
despite being accused of being conservative and religious dogma, the pro-life movement is composed
of an incredibly diverse population. The movement includes but is not limited to, both feminists and
atheists. A comprehensive pro-life ethic, such as that proposed by the Roman Catholic Church prohibits
abortion as well as euthanasia, assisted suicide, and the death penalty as they believe it is a mortal sin
to God. In cases where the pro-life ethic conflicts with personal autonomy, as in abortion and assisted
suicide, it's considered conservative. In cases where the pro-life ethic conflicts with government policy,
as in the death penalty and war, it's said to be liberal.
Pro-choice simply means, favoring the legalization of abortion. It is the belief that every woman
should be endowed with the right to her own life and body. Therefore, denying a woman an abortion is
denying her the right to bodily autonomy. People that supports pro-choice believe that each individual
has unlimited autonomy in decision making and concerning their reproductive systems, as long as they
don't breach the autonomy of others. According to Planned Parenthood, a strong pro-choice
organization, these terms are defined much differently: “Generally, people who identify as pro-choice
believe that everyone has the basic human right to decide when and whether to have children. When
you say you’re pro-choice you’re telling people that you believe it’s OK for them to have the ability to
choose abortion as an option for an unplanned pregnancy — even if you wouldn’t choose abortion for
yourself.” Directly below this statement, Planned Parenthood defines pro-life individuals as those who
are mostly concerned with their own choice or the way they move with their lives. They simply stated
that every person has the right to choose and as one of God's gift to humans are wisdom,
understanding, and knowledge.
3. What is the moral duty of the nurse in this situation?
Nurses have huge respect for human rights, including cultural rights, the right to life and choice,
to dignity and to be treated with respect. Nurses have an ethical and spiritual responsibility to defend
and support life. The current healthcare issue is the right and duty of nurses to abortion versus the
interests of patients choosing abortion. With growing political action on abortion legislation in every
jurisdiction, nursing is troublesome in terms of support for patient rights and pro-life professional
activism. The role and responsibility of the nurse as well as the rights of patients are supported within
the law and within the ethical framework provided by the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics
for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2001).
If abortion is contrary to the personal legal, ethical, and religious beliefs of the nurse, the nurse
has the freedom to refuse to engage involuntary termination of pregnancy, except in an emergency
case where the interests of the patient do not warrant substitution and should not be subject to
pressure, censorship or punishment on grounds of such rejection (ANA, 2001, Provision #4, #5, & #6).
When delivering care, it should be professional, compassionate, and non-judgmental. Although the
nurse should be conscious that the rules on abortion are more constitutionally binding throughout the
state of practice.