Pro-Life Vs Pro-Choice
The topic of abortion is among the leading healthcare topics that are surrounded by both social and political controversies. The controversies have elicited an abortion debate better known as ‘pro-life vs pro-choice.’ Pro-life is associated with a stand taken by individuals who are against the practice of abortion. On the other hand, pro-choice is stand taken by individuals who believe that it is right for one to choose whether and when to have children. The paper provides an analytical discussion of pro-life vs pro-choice as an ethical dilemma topic with a pro-choice as a position as it is a basic human right to decide whether and when one should have a child. The analytical paper is based on a case scenario involving a 22-year-old student with an unintended pregnancy at 9 weeks of gestation who requests an abortion from a primary care physician and is aware of the safety of both medical and surgical abortions.
Ethical Theories involved in the Ethical Dilemma
The provided case study elicits an ethical dilemma since the nurse has to advise the patient on whether or not she should resort to abortion. As a health care professional, the type of advice that should be given has to be supported by ethical theories and reasoning. Thus, it is of the essence to consider some of the theories that may apply to the pro-life vs. pro-choice ethical dilemma.
Deontology is one of the most elementary ethical theories that apply to ethical dilemmas. By definition, deontology is an ethical theory deems a particular action as bad or good depending on the set rules and not on the consequence of the action. Thus, the question of whether abortion is right or wrong is pegged on the existing set of rules that guide human behaviour (Medoff, 2016). Deontological ethics present an argument against abortion (pro-life) based on a unique understanding of the nature of human beings. The philosophical perspective of deontological ethics is based on a religious perspective which is Christianity. According to the beliefs of Christians, human beings are created in the image and likeness of God and thus, their life is considered sacred (Medoff, 2016). Thus, deontological ethics argues that each product of human conception should be given the right to life unconditionally.
Deontological ethics further recognizes the possibility of atheist refuting the pro-life argument founded on religious beliefs. Thus, the ethical principle lays out pregnancy case situations and the basic ways in which abortion can be avoided. In the provided case situation involving the 22-year-old patient in the 9th week of gestation, deontologists would argue that even though the pregnancy is unwanted by the mother, the child can be delivered and given to given for adoption by an infertile couple (Templeton & Grimes, 2011). Thus, deontological ethics is pro-life.
Utilitarianism is yet another theory that comes into play when discussing pro-life vs prochoice as an ethical dilemma. Unlike deontological ethics, utilitarianism discerns right from wrong based on the consequences of an action. The ethical theory is more concerned about promoting happiness and well-being for affected groups of people.
From a pro-choice standpoint, utilitarianism considers the mother’s situation and the consequences associated with keeping the baby. In the presented case study, the 22-year-old pregnancy student’s financial situation could be one of the reasons why abortion may be an option. With the lack of appropriate financial means to raise the baby, it would be difficult for the mother to maximize her happiness and that of the baby (Medoff, 2016). Utilitarianism may further argue that giving birth to the child could add financial costs to the 22-year-old student. Thus, the theory of utilitarianism allows the mother to proceed with abortion based on the consequences related to keeping the baby.
Ethical Principles involved in the Ethical Dilemma
Pro-life vs pro-choice ethical debate presents a conflict in the application of various nursing principles. One of the nursing principles applicable to the ethical situation is non-maleficence. The nursing principle imposes an obligation for nurses to do no harm to humans during the treatment process. Regarding the termination of a pregnancy, the principle may be invoked in specific situations such as in situ fetal illness (Gawronski & Beer, 2017). Thus, the theory of non-maleficence is pro-life and may be against the abortion that the 22-year-old student seeks from the primary health provider.
The nursing principle of beneficence equally comes into play regarding the pro-life pro-choice debate. Beneficence is an ethical principle that obliges the nurses to promote good when delivering healthcare services. Doing good is always deemed important because it helps in improving the patient’s outcome and consequently the quality of life (Gawronski & Beer, 2017). According to a clinical opinion by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the beneficence-based obligation is more inclined to the pregnant woman compared to the fetus (Souto et al., 2017). According to the journal, the nurse should be concerned with the protection of the woman’s health and life. In the provided case study, beneficence may limit the nurse from refusing to offer abortion for the 22-year-old student because the decision may impact her life negatively.
Pro-choice Ethical Theories and Principles
Utilitarianism is one of the ethical theories that support my pro-choice stand. According to the theory, it is of the essence to consider the impact that the pregnancy will have on the mother once the baby is born (Souto et al., 2017). The student may not be at a position to raise the child and most importantly, the 22-year-old feels that she is not yet ready to be a mother. Beneficence, on the other hand, puts the patient’s life and health ahead of the fetus thereby approving induced abortion.
Nursing Standards or Codes
One of the nursing standards associated with abortion is the provision of safe abortion services to the individuals who need them. Before an abortion procedure is started, the healthcare service provider needs to educate the expectant mother about the procedure and the risks that might be associated with the procedure. By explaining the procedure in totality, the expectant mother is well aware of consequences of the procedure thus making it possible for her to settle for the decision with full knowledge of the significant risk that it might present. In as much as there are risks associated with the procedure, nurses and other healthcare service providers must ensure that safety is observed when delivering abortion services to the patient.
Legal Considerations
The pro-choice stand on the issue of abortion involves various legal considerations that the primary care provider must observe. One of the legal considerations is the delivery of safe abortion to those who need it (Kahn, 2019). Although abortion is legal for various indications, individuals who seek them end up with unsafe abortion that affects their reproductive health and may prevent them from getting a child in future (Kahn, 2019). Apart from the effect on reproductive health, unsafe abortion is associated with an increase in maternal mortality and morbidity. Individuals who practice unsafe abortions are subject to legal actions.
The other legal consideration associated with pro-choice is the recommendation to decriminalize abortion. According to the international, regional and national human right bodies, it is of the essence to decriminalize abortion, provide proper abortion care and protect the lives and health of women seeking abortion (Kahn, 2019). According to human rights organizations, women have the right to decide if and when they want to have children. Although for a long time, the law has prohibited abortion for quite some time, it is important to have a proper interpretation of the law and ensure that it protects the life and the health of the women involved. The human rights organizations argue that some women resort to the act because of unfortunate occurrences such as rape and lack of financial capability to raise the unborn child. In the presented case study, it is important to provide abortion services to the patient because she may be financially incapable of raising the child.
The other ethical consideration associated with the pro-choice stand on abortion is the removal of barriers that impede the provision of abortion services to the patients. Some of these barriers include lack of access to information, third party authorization, and a restriction of the type of healthcare service provider who offers abortion services. With the barriers that are not codified in the law, it is difficult for women to gain access to safe abortion services (Kahn, 2019). Scrapping off the barriers may make it possible for the women to easily access abortion services.
From a human rights standpoint, it is important to regulate policies that are associated with abortion services. The regulation of the policies is critical in respecting and protecting the rights of the women and ensuring that they achieve positive health outcomes as far as abortion services are concerned (Kahn, 2019). The regulation of these policies equally makes it possible for individuals to access relevant information on the use of contraceptives and family planning.
In conclusion, the pro-life vs pro-choice debate is one of the few controversial topics in the healthcare sector. I feel that women should be allowed to decide if and when they want to be parents. As illustrated in the paper, the pro-choice standpoint is supported by the ethical theory of utilitarianism and the nursing ethical principle of beneficence. It is important to look into the health and financial implications of keeping the baby. I believe that it is important to allow women to make a choice.
References
Gawronski, B., & Beer, J. S. (2017). What makes moral dilemma judgments “utilitarian” or “deontological”?. Social Neuroscience, 12(6), 626-632.
Kahn, L. (2019). Is There an Obligation to Abort? Act Utilitarianism and the Ethics of Procreation. Essays in Philosophy, 20(1), 24-41.
Medoff, M. (2016). Pro-choice versus pro-life: The relationship between state abortion policy and child well-being in the United States. Health care for women international, 37(2), 158-169.
Souto, S. L. U., Ferreira, J. D. L., Ramalho, N. M. G., de Lima, C. L. J., Ferreira, T. M. C., Maciel, G. M. C., … & de Lima, L. F. (2017). Nursing Care For Women In Situation Of Unsafe Abortion. International Archives of Medicine, 10.
Templeton, A., & Grimes, D. A. (2011). A request for an abortion. New England Journal of Medicine, 365(23), 2198-2204.