Bioethics: A Global Concern for Human Beliefs & Values - Essay Sample

Introduction

Bioethics is understood as the concern issues regarding the questions on basic human beliefs. These beliefs include the health profession, healthcare institutions, the right to life, the justification of life technology improvements, the responsibility of the society, and medicine. This study also concerned with the application of various values during any biological and medical procedures. Over a long period, the issue of bioethics has been an apprehension to very many people worldwide, thus causing disagreements among people who have different opinions on how life should be dealt with (Ribeiro et al. 87). Because of the advancing technology, there have been other issues arising concerning the bioethics. There have been questions about the issue of bioethics due to the varying controversies that have led to very many arguments. In the past, there have been issues that do contradict the arising new questions on bioethics. In this paper, the concept of abortion being a bioethics concern is discussed basing the discussion from various opinions from different people.

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Abortion

Abortion has been the most crucial issue when it comes to bioethics. Over the past years and in the current generation, abortion is still an issue that raises so many arguments among many people. The bioethical issue on abortion has equally raised subjective matters among very many people. Despite these, there is no moral consensus that has been established so far on this bioethical issue. Besides, this polarizing and disruptive issue has led to various debates about sexuality, medicine, science, morals, autonomy, religion, and even politics (Tong 249). There are three main concerns when it comes to describing abortion. Firstly, reproductive autonomy versus heteronomy. Secondly, the tangibility of life versus sanctity of life and thirdly, abortion as a moral neutral versus abortion as a crime. Abortion becomes crucial as it involves making decisions that involve unborn children who, at the moment, cannot make decisions by themselves. Regarding the moral status of the unborn children, people are concerned about what duties do the adults have concerning this embryo, which later becomes a fetus, and to what extent do they matter.

In this case, the aspect of personhood arises as a philosophical and legal argument about the rights that are given to them. Since the legalization of abortion in the United States, there have been so many debates and protests among Americans. However, both sides have not had any agreement due to severe disputes. The most well-known abortion cases in the U.S. is that of Roe Vs. Wade, and this case made the abortion laws what they are currently (Clayton 323). Abortion was made legal under the constitutional privacy right in 1973, and every person has his/her perspective towards abortion, mostly being pro-choice or pro-life.

Nonetheless, there are anti-abortion groups who are strongly against the legalization of abortion, thus encouraging citizens to opt for other choices other than abortion. As a result, since 1984, there have been over 200 cases of murders of abortionists and clinic bombings (Ribeiro et al. 89). Statistics state that almost half of the women in the U.S will abort their pregnancies during their reproductive period, and seventy percent of these women will plan to get children one-time in the future. Also, three-quarters of those women having an abortion are 'not ready to get a child'; half 'do not want to become single parent' and two thirds' cannot afford it' (Ribeiro et al. 93).

Concerns

One concern of abortion is identifying the moral status of the fetus. Hence, identifying moral status is important when assessing abortion ethics. For instance, when the fetus or embryo attains moral value and if it is wrong to interfere with it beyond this stage (Tong 258). During the pregnancy period, it is difficult to select the stage at which abortion should not be allowed since, during this whole period, the fetus is growing thus, no clear distinction point other than birth. Development stages such as human appearance, viability, sensitivity to pain, and conception have been argued as indicators of when such 'value' and 'status' is attained. Viability during the assessment is considered to be an inaccurate indicator, and it is comparative to the availability of resources and skills needed for the fetus's survival outside the womb. Another view is that there is no specific stage where the value is acquired; however, as the fetus/embryo continues to grow, it is increasingly becoming wrong to terminate the pregnancy. Besides, there is the possibility for a diverse assessment of wrong from various cases, depending on the situation.

Among the debated arguments concerning the issue of abortion, maternal versus fetus rights are the most outstanding arguments. From a different conscious, it is argued that from a view of a parent that is the pregnant woman, it is up to them to choose what they want concerning either her body or her life together with that of the baby's. According to feminist activists, it is claimed that for a woman to acquire equal rights concerning freedom of sex, abortion should, therefore, be freely available. In other circumstances, where women are considered proficient in coming up with informed choices, their anatomy is valued, and they are permitted to make decisions on what will happen to their bodies without being coerced to act against their desires.

On the other hand, if a fetus has an equal right to life to other human beings, it might be argued that it is upon the moral duty of the society to protect the fetus (Clayton 325). The debates concerning the right to life for a fetus is viewed as the same case, where a woman has been disputed because the fetus is considered to be a potential life that depends on the pregnant woman for survival. Thus, the woman is already a person with a completely formed life and should thus have a choice over the fetus's potential life.

Laws

In the United States, the set abortion laws do discriminate against people living with disabilities making it both legal and unethical at the same time. According to the amended abortion legislation in the United States, medical abortion is legal and allowed at any stage of the pregnancy period. Medical abortion, which is the termination of pregnancy, is allowed in cases where there are likely risks to occur as if the baby to be born will have mental, physical disabilities. The insinuation of this is because of cases where children born with such conditions are likely to be killed as they are termed as disabled. Therefore, being 'handicapped' affects the right to life of the fetus or embryo up to the time of birth. It was reported that a woman decided to terminate her pregnancy in 2003 after discovering that the fetus would be born with a cleft palate and lip even though the pregnancy was already over 24 weeks (Clayton 327). As a result, a lady who was born with a Jaw defect decided to pursue a judicial decision review by the law enforcement agency. The police failed to investigate abortion after the legal time limit, and she questioned the understanding of 'serious handicapped' and claimed that it amounted to illegal murder.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is evident that bioethics is very broad and entails very crucial and significant concepts. One of these concepts includes abortion, which has had much influence on society today. Abortion is a very sensitive matter when it comes to its nature and the whole process of making decisions to the concerned parties or individuals. Arguments surrounding this issue are very crucial in that they are not likely to be easily simplified. These arguments may go on for a very long time bearing in mind that there are two sides to it. People may try to solve it philosophically, but still, no solution will be found or even an agreement. According to professional guidelines and the law, the health practitioner can know what actions to take at each step of the way. Hence, the issue of pregnancy termination should be based on the individual's moral standpoint. However, these bioethical issues will continue to affect families, raise the same questions leading to more debates and arguments among people if a solution will not be found.

Works Cited

Clayton, Thompson J. "You Can't Always Get What You Want: A Gewirthian Model of Rational Autonomy in Abortion." (2015).
https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/999vy/you-can-t-always-get-what-you-want-a-gewirthian-model-of-rational-autonomy-in-abortion

Guvercin, Cemal Huseyin, and Kerim M. Munir. "A comparative analysis of bioethical issues from viewpoints of Religious Affairs Administration in Turkey, Roman Catholicism, and Orthodox Judaism." Acta bioethical 23.2 (2017). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5675570/

Ribeiro, Dilza Teresinha Ambrós, José Hiran Gallo, and Guilhermina Rego. "Bioethical Principals In The Conduct Of Doctors." International Archives of Medicine 10 (2017). http://imedicalpublisher.com/ojs/index.php/iam/article/view/2738

Tong, R. P. (2018). Feminist approaches to bioethics: Theoretical reflections and practical applications. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Feminist-Approaches-To-Bioethics-Theoretical-Reflections-And-Practical/Tong/p/book/9780813319551