In this article, let us once again consider the often used phrase “safe, legal, and rare.”
As has been mentioned elsewhere, this phrase implies that being pro-choice is not extreme.
Rather, it suggests that legal abortion merely ensures women are able to have access to a safe abortion if they find themselves in very difficult circumstances.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how safe abortions actually are.
First it should be mentioned that a fair number of studies have been conducted regarding the effects of abortion. Because of this, there is much that we can say with certainty.
Some of the most dangerous effects include a much higher risk of breast cancer [1], a higher risk for anxiety disorders [2], and an increased risk for developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [3].
Aside from these, however, there are also harmful consequences that appear much sooner. For example, it is estimated that over 140,000 women a year have immediate, medical complications from abortion [4].
Women facing unplanned pregnancies do indeed need our help. But if abortion is the best pro-choice advocates can come up with, I think we should pass.
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References
[1] Coalition on Abortion Breast Cancer. (2007). “The ABC Link.” Coalition on Abortion Breast Cancer, 30 May 2007. Web. 17 Jun 2011. http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/The_Link.htm
[2] Cougle, Jesse R., Reardon, David C., Coleman, Priscilla K. (2005). “Generalized Anxiety Following Unintended Pregnancies Resolved Through Childbirth and Abortion: A Cohort Study of the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth,” Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2005, 19:137-142.
[3] VM Rue et. al. (2004). “Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women,” Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16 (2004)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448616
[4] The deVeber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research. (2007). “Research on Post-Abortion Complications.” The deVeber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research, 10 Jul 2007. Web. 15 Jun 2011. www.deveber.org/text/chapters/Chap1.pdf
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