Meaning Of Partial Birth Abortion example essay topic

Amanda Jane Ta slim February 18, 2003 Partial Birth Abortion What exactly is partial birth abortion? Webster's College Dictionary defines it as a term used by pro-life advocates as for a procedure called intact dilation and extraction. Pro choice advocates and abortionists call this type of abortion a variety of names such as intact dilation and evacuation, intrauterine cranial decompression, and late term abortion. (Tarne / Powers) Pro-life advocates define partial birth abortion as the murder of innocent children. They view the unborn children and fetuses as living breathing human beings that can feel pain. (J.N.A.) The term partial birth abortion was first used after Dr. Martin Haskell first presented the intact dilation and evacuation technique at the National Abortion Federation Risk Management Seminar. This technique involves dilating the cervix and forcing the fetus into a breech birth position.

The obstetrician would then pull the baby out legs first until the entire body except for the head had been delivered. The doctor would then insert a pair of scissors into the baby's head and then, using a vacuum, proceed to suck the baby's brains out till the skull collapse. (Woodbury 2) One of the reasons why the pro-life activists are so opposed to the procedure is because if the baby had been allowed to be fully delivered, it is highly probable that the baby would have survived. Another reason is the fact that after they have had the abortions, many women have not been able to bear more children due to complications that arise. One example is the dilated cervix.

After the abortion, the cervix is often times unable to recover from the dilation, this leads to an incompetent cervix. This condition is the leading cause of future premature deliveries and miscarriages. (Science) Women have been seriously injured and even died from the complications that arise. In the case of 18-year-old Michelle Madden, the doctor had not removed all of the placenta and several pieces of the baby's skull and a leg bone from her uterus.

Michelle collapsed three days after having the abortion and was rushed to the hospital. She died three days later from a blood infection. Another woman named Cheryl suffered a lacerations to her uterus and colon. Doctors later discovered that the fetus's head had been pushed through the uterine laceration and into her abdominal cavity. She had to undergo a hysterectomy and a colostomy. (Women) Pro-choice advocates prefer to use the term late term abortion.

They define late term abortion or intact dilation and extraction as a procedure that is used only when the life of the mother is in danger or if the fetus is severely handicapped. They believe that late term abortion is a relatively safe procedure that will preserve the life and fertility of the mother. In their opinion, the pro-life or anti-choice activists coined the term partial birth abortion for purely political reasons. (Ban) Pro-choice advocates view late term abortions or intact dilation and evacuation as a procedure that will save the life of the mother and ensure future fertility. There are several reasons why pro-choice advocates want to keep intact dilation and extractions during the third trimester legal.

The number one reason is probably the death or permanent disability of the woman if she continued with the pregnancy. The only other option besides performing an intact dilation and extraction would be to perform a hysterectomy which is considered by doctors to have a higher risk factor to the woman. (Robinson) Another reason is that the fetus is malformed and has severe hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid collects in the fetal head. The size of the fetus's head can become so large that without intact dilation and extractions, the birth of the fetus could easily kill the mother and with no chance of the fetus surviving. (Information) Both the pro-choice and the pro-life advocates have different views as to the meaning of partial birth abortion.

The pro-life view partial birth abortion as murder while the pro-choice view it as a life saving procedure. The debate over the definition will in all probability continue to be fiercely opposite. Which side has the right meaning of the term partial birth abortion? Whose life is more important? The mother or the child?

Is it really the murdering of a living breathing human being? Or is it the saving of a human life?

Bibliography

Page Tarne, Gene and Powers, Michelle "Partial-Birth Abortion: The Name Game" 13 Oct. 1997 J.
N.A. "Partial Birth Abortion: Mercy or Infanticide?" 29 Aug. 2001 Woodbury, Margaret A.
A Doctor's Right to Choose" 24 July 2002 New York "Women Killed By Abortion" Pro-Life America "Science fact vs.
Science fiction: Doctors report Medical Facts About Partial-Birth Abortion"The so-called "partial-birth" Abortion Ban will Harm Women & Imprison Doctors". Robinson, B.A". D&X / PBA Procedures" 5 February 2002 "Information about Hydrocephalus and D&X".