Muse – Abortion

I started writing about this topic on Friday afternoon. Then wrote some more on Saturday evening, but ultimately paused as I started to reconsider just what I was writing about. I first set out to explain so called ‘Partial Birth’ abortions, but that isn’t a very fat topic, unless you start to get into the rest of the debate. So I sat on it and now comes Monday with no entry as promised.

But I do my best to deliver what I promise(even though I’m late or fall short at times), so we have this effort, expanded into general discussion of the abortion issue as well as the specific legislation that has been in the news as of late.

As is obvious to most, abortion is a hot, emotional debate. I found that getting straight facts is difficult, simply because both pro and con sides show an annoying tendency to let their emotions bleed into the subject. Understandable I suppose, but ultimately counterproductive.

I, myself, am pro-choice. I’m sure many assumed that much already. And in the recent months I’ve refined my stance on the subject to a razors edge that cuts straight to the cold, logical center of the matter.

I believe abortion should be legal because it has no measurable or measured detriment to our society. While on the other side it has potential positives when it comes to society as a whole. The main crux of this being the fact that most pro-life folk will immediately start pushing adoption as an alternative to abortion. Ignoring the ‘why should the lady go through 9 mo of labor just to give the kid away’ argument many pro-choice folk counter with, I pose this.

As it stands the adoption system these days remains full of children who aren’t adopted. They’re taken care of my orphanages and the like until(I assume) they are of age and are released to make it on their own. Considering the number of abortions that are likely performed in the US, there may well be a flood of children into the adoption cycle, which will increase the cost of taking care of them and likely result in many more who are never adopted.

It’s a drain on resources, to be straight. As repugnant as it might be to some, abortion keeps costs like that down, which is a good thing, I believe. Of course, if my reasoning on this is faulty to anyone, do correct me. And if you can think of valid social detriments from abortion, do list them.

Beyond the financial concerns, I believe that it is the choice of the parents what to do with their children. This being a greater influence before a fetus is birthed. It remains a part of the woman’s body and her choice(along with her husband) as to what to do with it. Be that birth it or abort it.

Now, I’m not pro-abortion, as some pro-lifers like to spin things. I find them to be generally disgusting, but I don’t let that visceral reaction sway my logical reasoning. But it does guide me to further details. I believe that abortion should be closely regulated and trends and figures watched to guard against abuses.

Women should be required to have a counseling session to be certain that their choice is well thought out and afterward to help any depression that follows. Doctors should be monitored to make sure none of them violate state or local rules on what abortion techniques are allowed during which trimesters and the like.

And lastly, responsibility needs to be urges. I would prefer that those who are likely to have abortions learn to use protection or get themselves sterilized if they don’t want kids. The best way to reduce the abortion rate is to remove the need for them. The choice, however, should remain.

Now, lets see about the procedure in question. As that is what the current issues are about. One of several procedures that are performed in late term abortions.

It is called ‘Partial Birth’, but that is not the true name or even an accurate name for it. The procedure has a few names, including Intrauterine Cranial Decompression and Dilate and Extract procedure(D&E).

The procedure itself is relatively simple in explanation. A drug is given to dilate the woman’s cervix, the fetus is partially removed from the womb, feet first. A sharp object is inserted into the back of the fetus’ head and then replaced with a tube that draws out the brain. The head compacts and the fetus is removed from the body. To term it a birth would assume that a viable baby is being destroyed, which isn’t necessarily true since some D&X procedures are performed second term and early third before they fetus can survive outside of the womb. Nor is the procedure done(or not supposed to be) during labor.

It is one of the safer forms of late term abortion, if a bit gristly in the telling. There are several other methods of early and late term abortion, some of which are even more ‘medieval’ than this one. Most involve dismemberment of the fetus in the womb(dangerous) or poisoning of the fetus before it is expelled(also dangerous I’m sure). There is also RU 486 which is hardly a perfected abortion drug with quite a few side effects. When it comes to late term, the only other truly viable procedure is a full cesarean section, which is no small or minor surgery.

I think one of the problems with this issue is that, in the fury to ban or allow it, we’ve left it ill researched and explored, such that procedures are still basic and more or less direct rather than having any technical finesse. Meanwhile we’re having one of the safer and comparably humane procedures banned, while leaving the rest perfectly open to use. Or so some say, while others say the bans cover several procedures. It’s hard to know who to believe. I haven’t found straight text of the legislation to read yet to read and see just what it says it bans.

At the core, I believe the middle ground is the best again. While abortions should be legal and researched to be safer and effective, they do need to be regulated while responsibility is firmly pushed among the social consciousness. Allow the option, but don’t recommend it.

Talk back to me in notes, readers, I’m interested in what you think about the issue and my take on it. Especially if you have some good rebuttal for me. 😉

Resources

Abortion Procedure Information

Abortion Law

Abortion: All sides of the issue

ACLU: ‘Partial Birth Abortion’ Bans: Myths and Facts

Why Abortion is Biblical

Why Abortion is Moral

Pro-Life America

My Views as a Pro-Life Woman