Should women be permitted to have abortions late in their terms, even after a fetus is viable outside the womb?

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Health Debates

18 Contributors
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Yes
11% of users

  • There are circumstances where late-term abortions should be permitted.

    Contrary to anti-choice propaganda, most late-term abortions are the result of finding out about serious health problems or birth defects late in the pregnancy. Some problems with the fetus are difficult to diagnose, and are only determined late in the pregnancy. If a parent finds out that their child will have a very short and painful life after it's born, it is reasonable to allow a late term abortion. The way this is done is that the fetus is given an injection to stop its heart so that it feels no pain, then labor is induced and the baby is stillborn.

    Yes N Schroeder 60

  • Women bear the burden of the child, so should bear the decision capability themselves.

    Women have the right to the decision for themselves, whether it is early or late in the pregnancy. The matter of everyone else is of no matter to the bearer of the burden, and it is their life, no one else's who should make the decision on the idea.

    Yes Bear
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No
89% of users

  • I oppose late term abortions, as the fetus can typically feel pain at that point, and they could live outside of the womb.

    Once a fetus is viable outside of the womb, I believe that women should have to carry the baby to term. At that point, they can then give the baby up for adoption. The fetus can feel pain in the womb, at that point, and it is like killing a living being, because they have a heartbeat and are capable of breathing on their own, outside of the womb.

    No TMacias

  • women should not be able to have abortions at all unless...........

    women should never have the right to abort a unbornchild ever unless there has been a rape and there is evidence, or the birth could risk her life and the child's. you should never take a life that isn't yours to take just because you don't want the baby give that child up instead of being selfish. and i would certainly call it murder because why would you carry a child for that long and then all of a sudden get an abortion. that's caerly cold-hearted let me leave you with this how would you like to spend you last days on earth in the womb

    No Anonymous

  • Women should not be permitted to have late-term abortions when the fetus is viable outside the womb, because that constitutes murder.

    I don't believe that a woman should have the right to terminate a baby that would be able to live outside of the womb. Doing that is no different than shooting an infant in the head. It is murder. I find it repulsive that it would even be considered by people. Just because a baby hasn't been born, it doesn't mean that it should be killed. It is still a life, and it should be respected.

    No SilentIgnacio

  • I do not believe that women should be able to have abortions when the fetus is a viable life; at this stage in gestation abortion really is murder.

    While I support a woman's right to choose, I feel that women forfeit that choice once their fetus becomes a being that is capable of living separate of its mother. At that point, the fetus also has rights.

    No ToughEfrain26

  • Abortion should only be acceptable when the mother's life is in danger, or if there is severe emotional distress involved, such as rape or incest.

    Abortion is not acceptable at any term. Whether or not a baby can survive outside the womb is not a determining factor as to whether or not they are a person deserving of the right to protection of life. Because they are incapable of making the decision on their own, they should be fully protected under the law, and every means should be employed to put abortion at any stage of pregnancy to a stop. The only time abortion should be allowed is when the mother is in mortal danger or under extreme emotional duress.

    No MariaR

  • Fetuses should not be aborted in late-term pregnancy, because they are self-aware.

    The U.S. Constitution is designed to protect the minority and the weak. Killing fetuses, simply because they aren't wanted, is unwarranted and should be punished by the full extent of the law. If a mother killed her baby outside of the womb, the nation would be shocked. But, if it's still inside her, all of a sudden it's okay. It's not okay to kill a fetus during late-term pregnancy.

    No TawdryAmado76

  • Third-term abortions are no different than murder, and should not be allowed

    Women should not be allowed to have abortions late in their terms. The fetus, in the last 3 months especially, is a viable human being with feelings. Allowing abortion this late is no different than murder. It is disgusting that any woman would even consider a third-term abortion. In those rare circumstances where a woman was a victim of rape or violence, and an abortion might be acceptable, the woman should undergo the procedure in the first term.

    No TedieDelight

  • Women should not be allowed to have late term abortion

    Since the baby would now be able to support its self on its on outside the womb getting a late abortions is now actual murder. This is because the child (once it is born) is now able to do things in life.

    No Anonymous

  • I disagree that women should be allowed late term abortions since the fetus can now survive on its own.

    Women who have babies in secret and dump them in the trash can be held accountable for murder if that baby dies from exposure. Aborting a late term pregnancy is no different because the fetus could well survive on its own. If the mother doesn't want the baby she could instead have a Caesarean section and put the infant up for adoption. Better yet she can do the humane and honorable thing and carry the fetus to term and give birth. The time to prevent unwanted pregnancy is before it happens--not after!

    No N3vinFace

  • When the fetus is viable outside the womb, the fetus becomes a human being and abortion at that point should be considered murder.

    I support the right to have an abortion, but late-term abortions are not the same as early abortions. When a fetus has developed all the necessary bodily functions to survive outside the womb, I believe it is no longer a fetus, but a developed human being. A baby takes time to develop, and if the woman has not decided to have an abortion by the time the baby has developed, she should have to deliver it and give the baby up for adoption.

    No EImerBuddie

  • Besides being pure debaughtery, fetuses can survive outside of the womb at the late stages of a pregnancy, therefore it falls under the category of murder.

    There are an increasing number of premature birth babies (i.e. one pound 4 ounces) that are surviving and thriving as adults. If the pregnancy is in the late stages, then other options need to be considered such as adoption.

    No Ramon Griffith

  • While I am 100% pro-choice, I cannot find a single valid reason for ending the life of a child who can survive out of the womb.

    I consider myself pro-choice, having had 5 abortions myself (all of which took place in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy). The way that I view things, a woman can do with her body whatever she wants. If she doesn't want to carry a child, she has the right to terminate a pregnancy. What I do NOT believe a woman has the right to do, is end the life of a baby which is capable of surviving outside the womb. In my mind, that is murder and it is inexcusably wrong. If the pregnancy is far enough into the second or third trimester that the baby can live once forced labor begins, what reason is there to choose death for it instead of letting it live and be adopted by couples unable to have children. I don't see how this has anything to do with a woman's body at that point. Once a baby is outside of her body, I do not believe she should be able to sentence it to death with no medical reason for doing so. It no longer concerns her and it should not be allowed in the United States of America.

    No taffydelite

  • No, that would be murder!

    Pro-life and the majority of pro-choice agree on this one. "No", it is not alright to abort in the third trimester - when a child has the ability to live on its own. And, majority agrees because it sounds like what it is - murder. Just like you can't kill your kids, when they live under the same roof as you, you can't kill a baby just because it is occupying your body for a bit. After all, you created him/her. You should have to live with it until it is ready to escape your physical grip. We can't even kill a deadly cancer that is infesting our body and killing us. Why should we have the right to kill an innocent child who is doing nothing but asking to be nurtured by it's mom? Should we show more respect to the cancer? The only way that I would find a third trimester abortion to be even part way justifiable is if the mom's life is in jeopardy.

    No MohaI0v35

  • I oppose a woman's ability to have an abortion if the fetus would be viable outside the womb because this is essentially murder.

    Allowing women to have abortions when the fetus is able to survive outside the womb is immoral as it is essentially murder. Currently in the US legal system anyone who murders a pregnant woman can be charged with two counts of murder. One count for the mother and one count for the baby. It seems hypocritical to allow a mother to kill her baby free of charge when another cannot. Woman who wish to abort their babies this late term should be required to give birth to the child and place it for adoption. This would allow the child a chance at life and cause no reproductive issues for the mother later in life.

    No VampireShu

  • A woman should not be allowed to have an abortion late in pregnancy, or if a fetus is viable outside the womb.

    A woman should not be allowed to have an abortion late in pregnancy because it's murder. If a fetus is able to survive on it's own that is actually taking a viable life. It makes no sense why a person would wait several weeks to make such a critical decision like that and it's wrong to let things go that far and then kill a baby.

    No CestbardeI

  • No, women should only have the right to abort early in the pregnancy when the fetus is not viable.

    Women should only have the right to an abortion before the time table that physician's generally agree that a fetus is viable. After the fetus is considered viable outside the womb then have an abortion is really stopping a life unjustly and without reason. It is immoral to stop a life unjustly.

    No SlayClim
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Should women be permitted to have abortions late in their terms, even after a fetus is viable outside the womb?
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