An educated person who would be a careful and critical
thinker would want to accept the need to clarify the meaning or meanings of
the key terms (words) being used in the discussion of whatever the topic
is. With the topic of abortion there are two terms that may need some
clarifications. With this topic there is a need to look into the meaning of
the terms “sex” and “abortion’
=================================================================
SEX
In the use of this word when discussing abortion the
meaning is mainly in reference to a person’s physical nature and not the act
of physical interactions amongst humans.
Many believe that there are but two sexes when
referring to the physical nature of a human being and that they are termed
“male” and “Female”. Is this true?
That would now depend on what determines the “sex” of a
person. One way is to look at the physical constituents of the human being
and in particular the chromosomes.
If a person would take some time to think about this
and to look into it then it is not hard at all to realize that the physical
record is not so simple and supporting the idea that there are only two
configurations.
There are many sources of research and simple careful
observation that indicates that it is not true that there are only two
configurations whether looking at the physical body or looking at the
chromosomes of a human being.
How is sex determined?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex-determination_system
Consider: Shifting
syndromes: Sex chromosome variations and intersex classifications
David Andrew Griffiths at
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5808814/
Clinicians had previously followed a taxonomy divided
into: 1. Females; 2. Males; 3. Female pseudohermaphrodites (some male, mixed
or ambiguous sex characteristics present with ovaries and XX chromosomes);
4. Male pseudohermaphrodites (some female, mixed or ambiguous sex
characteristics present with testes and XY chromosomes); and 5. True
hermaphrodites (presence of an ovotestis, or both a testis and an ovary).
This classification system, based on the tissue structure of the gonads, is
referred to as the Klebs taxonomy or Klebs system, after 19th century
pathologist Theodor Albrecht Edwin Klebs (Dreger,
1998). Dreger et al.’s paper questioned both the scientific value and
practical clinical benefit of basing classifications in gonadal differences,
suggesting instead a practice of classifying individual specific diagnoses
under an umbrella term of ‘disorders of sexual differentiation’.
X & Y Chromosomal Variations Are Common But
Frequently Undiagnosed
The Focus Foundation is the first and only research-based non-profit
foundation exclusively dedicated to identifying and helping children who
have X & Y Chromosomal Variations, Dyslexia, Developmental Dyspraxia. The X
& Y Variations include 47, XXY OR Klinefelter Syndrome, 47, XYY (Jacob’s
Syndrome) , 47, XXX (Triple X).
There are several variant disorders which include Tetrasomy X, Pentasomy
X, 49, XXXX, 48, XXXY, 48, XXYY, and
49, XXXXY. Although Physicians, ancillary health care providers and
Physical and Occupational Therapists as well as Speech and Language
Pathologists are taught that genetic abnormalities typically impact on a
child’s neurodevelopmental progression, practitioners often receive
insufficient information about X and Y chromosomal disorders or information
may be outdated or inaccurate.
The Focus Foundation’s research efforts are committed to educating health
professionals throughout the world regarding X and Y Chromosomal Variations,
dyslexia and developmental dyspraxia. All three disorders are common but
rarely identified and early treatment promotes recovery and optimal
development. Therefore, identifying and treating these children is very
important for them and their
families.=============================================================================
ABORTION
While the word can be used to indicate several
different things the most popular are presented in works such as the
definition in the Merriam Webster Dictionary
:
the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by,
resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the
embryo or
fetus: such as
a spontaneous expulsion of
a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of
gestation
compare
miscarriage
b :
induced expulsion of a human fetus
c
: expulsion
of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before
completion of pregnancy
compare
contagious abortion
2
a: misshapen thing or person
:
monstrosity
b:informal + sometimes
offensive
:
something regarded as horrifically or disgustingly bad
3:
arrest of development (as of a part or
process) resulting in imperfection
A mission can be aborted
as can the launch of a rocket and the meaning is simply to halt the
activity. There are also legal definitions of abortion.
For medical ethics discussions the
meanings are confined to the medical definitions and even then there are
several different senses of the word. When people discuss abortion as a
moral issue it appears the meanings are confined to termination of
pregnancies. Even then there are multiple meanings beyond the simple :
termination of a pregnancy.
-
The accidental termination of a pregnancy:
miscarriage
-
The natural termination of a pregnancy prematurely:
spontaneous abortion or miscarriage
-
The deliberate termination of a pregnancy
-
The deliberate termination of a pregnancy for the
purpose of saving a life: therapeutic abortion
-
The deliberate termination of a pregnancy for the
purpose of terminating fetal development
-
Therapeutic medical abortion done because the
pregnant woman has a health condition threatening the life of the
pregnant woman.
-
Therapeutic medical abortion done because the
development in utero presents a health condition threatening the life of
the fetus.
-
Elective abortion is done because a woman chooses
(elects) to end the pregnancy.
There are different methods for deliberately
ending a pregnancy. As technologies have progressed the most popular
has become a chemical, pharmaceutical means via pills. There are
problems in the USA as the laws are not uniform across all states and in
some locations various means are illegal. There are also moral
considerations that impact the availability of various means for performing
abortions.
CASE: WALMART DISCONTINUING THE SALE OF THE MORNING AFTER PILL
DESCRIPTION: Walmart has discontinued the sale of the morning after pill.
They state it was a business decision. Preven, the leading manufacture of
the morning after pill will no longer be disturbed do to ethical reasoning
of the Walmart Corporation.
www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/05/14/health/main47233.shtml
For the promotion of emergency birth control procedures such as Preven
and Plan B see this site:
http://www.emergencybirthcontrol.org/
For opposition to such measures see this site
http://www.all.org/issues/bcos.htm
The history of abortion in the United States
- 1859: The American Medical Association (AMA) condemns abortion except
as necessary to preserve the life of either the mother or child (?)
- 1875: Every state in the United States has adopted laws banning
abortion.
- 1916: Margaret Sanger
forms the Birth Control League (now Planned Parenthood) to promote
contraception and abortion.
- 1959: The American Law Institute (ALI) proposes the "Model Penal Code"
urging that abortion be performed in licensed hospitals when necessary to
preserve the mental or physical health of the mother or in cases of rape
or incest.
- 1965:
Griswold v. Connecticut. Supreme Court hands down decision that
legalizes contraception and defines the "right to privacy."
- 1967: Colorado becomes the first state to allow abortion for cases of
rape, incest or threat to the mother's life.
- 1970: Fourteen states were allowing abortion in certain circumstances.
- 1973:
Roe v. Wade. Stating that a constitutional "right to privacy" exists
that protects a woman's decision to have an abortion, the U.S. Supreme
Court legalizes abortion on demand. The Court permits states to outlaw
abortions from viability until birth (third trimester) except when
necessary to preserve the mother's life or health.
- 1973:
Doe v. Bolton. The Supreme Court defines "health" (of the mother) to
include all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial and the
woman's age. This basically allows a woman to have an abortion at any time
during her pregnancy and for any reason.
- 1976:
Planned Parenthood Association of Central Missouri v. Danforth. A
Missouri abortion law, requiring the consent of parents in the case of
minors, and husbands in the case of a married woman, is ruled
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
- 1992:
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. This
decision outlaws any restrictions that "impose an undue burden" on a
woman's "right" to an abortion.
- 1993: President Bill Clinton signs five executive orders into effect,
allowing fetal tissue research and harvesting, RU486 research, abortion
counseling in federally funded family planning clinics and abortion
services in U.S. military hospitals.
- 1994: President Clinton signs into law the
Freedom of
Access to Clinics Entrance Act (FACE), which
respects the first
amendment rights of pro-lifers to peacefully protest, demonstrate and
provide sidewalk counseling at abortion clinics but attempts to place
safeguards against unlawful acts of intimidation and violence conducted
against medical workers, neither of which are constitutionally protected
or ethically acceptable..
- 2000:
Stenberg v. Carhart. On a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court declared
that Nebraska's partial birth abortion law unconstitutionally placed an
undue burden on a woman's so-called right to a late term abortion.
- 2022:
DOBBS v.
JACKSON WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court
issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, overturning Roe
v. Wade, eliminating the federal standard protecting the right to
abortion. Across the nation, states reacted by implementing bans or
protecting access to abortion.
Abortion cases in the United States Supreme Court
- 1965:
Griswold v. Connecticut
Legalizes contraception and defines the "right to privacy."
- 1971:
United States v. Vuitch
Mental health as an indication for abortion
- 1972:
Eisenstadt v. Baird
Unmarried persons may use contraceptives.
- 1973:
Roe v. Wade
Decriminalizes abortion on demand, stating that a constitutional
"right to privacy" exists that protects a woman's decision to have an
abortion. The court permits states to outlaw abortions from viability
until birth (third trimester) except when necessary to preserve the
mother's life or health. However, the ruling in Doe v. Bolton
(see below) makes such permission moot because of that decision's
definition of maternal health.
- 1973:
Doe v. Bolton
Defines "health" (of the mother) to include all factors - physical,
emotional, psychological, familial and the woman's age. This basically
allows a woman to have an abortion at any time during her pregnancy and
for any reason.
- 1975:
Bigelow v. Virginia
States may not prohibit ads for abortions that are legal in other
states.
- 1975: T.H. v. Jones
A minor's privacy rights include contraception.
- 1975: Planned Parenthood v. Fitzpatrick
Parents, husbands need not consent to abortion.
- 1976:
Planned Parenthood Association of Central Missouri v. Danforth
A Missouri abortion law, requiring the consent of parents in the case
of minors, and husbands in the case of a married woman, is ruled
unconstitutional.
- 1977:
Carey v. Population Services International
Minor's right to access contraceptives.
- 1977:
Beal v. Doe
Abortion funding under Medicaid.
- 1977:
Maher v. Roe
Equal protection required in funding abortion.
- 1977:
Poelker v. Doe
Public hospitals and abortion.
- 1979:
Bellotti v. Baird II
Minor's right to privacy includes abortion.
- 1980: Planned Parenthood v. Minnesota
Can't deny abortion funding only to Planned Parenthood.
- 1980:
Harris v. McRae
Hyde restriction of Medicaid funds.
- 1980:
Williams v. Zbarez
Equal protection and "therapeutic" abortions.
- 1981:
H.L. v. Matheson
"Mature" minors and parental notification.
- 1981: Planned Parenthood v. Kempiners
Informed consent and abortion funding.
- 1983:
Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health
Abortion regulations rejected.
- 1983:
Planned Parenthood v. Ashcroft
Abortions may not be restricted to hospitals.
- 1983:
Bolger v. Young Drug Products Corporation
Contraceptive ads in the mail are now okay.
- 1983: Planned Parenthood v. Heckler
Parental notification and access to contraceptives.
- 1986: Babbitt v. Planned Parenthood of Central and Northern Arizona
State funding of organizations that provide abortion or abortion
counseling.
- 1989:
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
Upheld restrictions on public funding, use of public facilities for
abortion and abortion counseling.
- 1990:
Ohio v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health
Parental notification upheld.
- 1990:
Hodgson
v. Minnesota
Notification of both parents is not required for a minor's abortion.
- 1991:
Rust v.
Sullivan
The government has no obligation to pay for women to exercise their
"rights."
- 1992:
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey
This decision outlaws any restrictions that "impose an undue burden"
on a woman's "right" to an abortion.
- 1993:
Bray v. Alexandria Women's Clinic
Federal civil rights laws do not provide class protection to women
seeking abortion.
- 1994:
National Organization for Women v. Scheidler
Upheld without comment a lower court ruling allowing the Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act to be used against pro-life
organziations.
- 1994:
Madsen v. Women's Health Center
Held that buffer zones around abortion clinics do not infringe on
free speech rights.
- 1997:
Schenck
v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York
Upheld fixed protest-free buffer zones around abortion clinics.
- 2000:
Stenberg v. Carhart
On a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court declared that Nebraska's partial
birth abortion law unconstitutionally placed an undue burden on a
woman's so-called right to a late term abortion.
- 2000:
Hill v.
Colorado
Upheld protest-free floating "bubble zones" around abortion clinics.
- 2022:
DOBBS v.
JACKSON WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION
June 24, 2022 overturning Roe v. Wade, eliminating the federal standard
protecting the right to abortion. Across the nation, states reacted by
implementing bans or protecting access to abortion.
Sample of Cases that involve the Abortion Issue:
A. Parents' rights vis a vis their pregnant daughter(12 years old) threat
to life of daughter, refusal on religious grounds and the court rules for daughter
B. RU-486 PILL: the "morning after pill" now being made
available.
C. The use of the drug Thalidomide that caused abnormal fetuses and
requests for abortions
D. Availability of Pregnancy Tests: 7 to 10 days after fertilization
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