Abortion is a surgical or medical procedure that puts an end to pregnancy. Is abortion really moral? Should pregnant minors be able to have an abortion without parental consent, or is it ultimately the decision of the parents? Would you consider a fetus the equivalent to a human being? Reasons for abortion may include unwanted pregnancy, the pregnancy poses a threat to the woman's health, or indicators of serious abnormalities in the fetus exist. Also, what are your opinions on stem-cell research?

In my opinion, having an abortion is 100% completely up to the pregnant individual, and no one else. I think pregnant minors should be able to have an abortion without parental consent (without their parents knowing) by a liscensed medical doctor or surgeon. A minor's parents might not allow the minor to have the abortion, forcing the minor to remain pregnant due to their parents religious idealogies. The pregnancy may pose a threat to the woman's health, or the woman may just decide they do not want to be pregnant for 9 months. I know I wouldn't want to carry a fetus around for 9 months.

"Fake abortion clinics" also exist, where, generally conservative based groups advertise themselves as an abortion clinic. They take you in, test you to see that you're pregnant. If you're positive, they will bring you a doll, cut off its head with scissors, and tell you that is what abortion is. They may also tell others with similar agendas, who will contact you by phone or in person, and constantly harass you.

Some conservative extremists work in pharmacies and deny women prescriptions for birth control pills. It is not up to the pharmacist to decide if the prescription is right for the individual or not, it is up to the doctor.

Stem cell research is necessary in order to find various cures and treatments for diseases. I can't believe someone would actually believe that a microscopic single celled organism is the equivalent to a human being (yes, there are people out there like this).

To be honest this is the only part of what you said I agree with, being pregnant myself I can say that I believe the child in my stomach is a human being, although I can't guarantee that my child has soul at this early point in my pregnancy but I can say that I do believe it's a human being.

I agree with that, and as far as stem cell research, I think if it is proven to be a way towards a cure for somethings than go for it. It's better that all those fetus' that have been given up be used for something to help people. But if there is no proof that they can find a cure using it. Than no.

I also think that yes minors should have parental consent to have an abortion because abortions can hurt the female body, they can also cause women to never be able to have children again.

Also if it could hurt the womans health to carry a child then yes, I guess abortion would be the smart thing, but if there is no risk of it, then have the baby. But I still believe fully that it's the womans choice.
-Kim

Well, if you're not smart enough to use the proper protection and practice unsafe sex and you get pregnant, deal with it. Have the child and put it up for adoption. If you're too stupid to not use protection and get pregnant, then it's your fault, not the child's. Allowing minors to have unsafe sex, get pregnant, then abort the child because they decide they don't want to be a parent is stupid. They didn't care to be responsible during the sex, they obviously aren't responsible enough to choose rather or not to have the abortion.

I think it's ok, but only in an emergency. If the woman and the fetus are in fatal danger, the woman takes priority (imo). However, if you wer just stupid or just decide you don't want to have a baby, too bad, just do an adoption.

You can't seriously assume that every woman seeking an abortion merely practiced unsafe sex. For example, say you have young woman who iss sexually assaulted by a man at school a few months ago. She did not agree to do anything with him. Now she feels she might be pregnant. You can't possibly blame her for this, and she should not be forced to have a baby. Just deal with it? That's horrible!

Sure, there are risks involved with having an abortion. Any doctor will explain to you these risks. However, giving birth may endager a woman's health as well. It depends on the individual's health and body, and in my opinion, it is completely up to the pregnant woman.

I find it ironic that some of the people who are "pro-life" also laugh at and pity pregnant teenagers, when the teenagers are forced to keep their pregnancy because of people like them. I see this happen all the time. (Not necesarily anyone from this forum)

(edit: typos)

I say no matter what, have the child. It's innocent no matter what, and some women don't even show until 8 months in some cases. Then the child would almost be ready to be born, and you're getting rid of it. I say just have the poor little innocent thing and put it up for adoption to someone who can give it a shelter and a nice home.

I guess where I disagree with Jennifer is that I believe should not be considered a baby. 8 months pregnant, of course you pretty much have to go through with it. Oh, and congratulations to ChaosAndSin on your pregnancy! :D

Notice I said "just stupid or decide they don't want to have the baby"... obviously if the woman was assaulted, etc. then that's different.

@Jennifer: What if the mother of the future baby is in danger due to the baby, and the baby won't live? Should both of them die? I think not.

Yes, I have to agree that after the second Trimester Abortion should be strictly regulated to Dire circumstances.

I agree.

Dude, I did say if they go out and practice unsafely. Not if they're sexually assaulted, there's a big difference between some girl just being loose and a girl getting attacked.

I'm sorry, I was under the impression we were discussing the morality of abortion in general. Note that condoms are only approximately 90% effective. Is there a way to prove if protection was used or not?

Dude, again. You're not reading thoroughly, there are more ways to practice it safely. When I said they shouldn't have an abortion just because they practiced unsafe sex that just wasn't just narrowed to not using a certain theory.

Not everyone has access to birth control pills.

Lmfao. Then don't have it, if you can't practice it safely, and you're not responsible enough to have it and get pregnant, then don't have it. It's as simple as that. By this point dude, you're just arguing for argument's sake.

:lol: I do enjoy a good discussion. I still can't understand what's so bad about having an abortion after practicing it unsafely. Especially minors may practicing it unsafely. It is a mistake that can be avoided (considering they cover it in school), but they do it anyway. It is very hard being a teenager, if you haven't noticed. Along with having it for 9 months, comes constantly being verbally attacked and being judged, stereotyped, and pitied. I've seen it on more than one occasion. Riding the school bus home, some immature kid sees that girl walking down the street, rolls down their window and yells [instert bad words here]. Old ladies at the mall giggle and crack jokes about that teen they see.

What's so bad about it? The simple fact that the teenagers, yes I do mean the girl and the father should learn how to be responsible. If you're old and mature enough to have sex, and you practice it unsafely then you should be made to be responsible for the life you started. If kids can go out and have sex with whoever they want and not have to worry about what to do if they get pregnant then they'll never learn anything, they'll just have unsafe sex, get pregnant and have an abortion. It's common sense dude.

I agree with C&S, however if the woman is in danger, I don't understand why they shouldn't be allowed to have an abortion. But if kids aren't responsible and mature enough to have sex, then that's their problem.

Of course, I don't agree with minors having sex irresponsibly. But from what you say, it seems you think of being a pregnant teenager as a punishment for practicing unsafe sex? Like, by prohibiting abortion, they will learn their lesson and practice safe sex? Not going to happen.

Obviiously something needs to be done, if they are going to sleep around, make sure they have the baby and put it up for adoptions, there are thousands of people looking for infants. And you're putting alot into what I'm saying and taking what you want out of my posts. I didn't say it was punishment, but it's not right for a teenage girl and boy to go out, hump all they want, unsafely, conceive a child then decide to abort it because they don't want to be parents. Also in the U.S all free health clinics offer free birth control pills, and other several forms of it. They also offer the morning after pill. Now, you can't say that protection isn't available for everyone.

I agree with everything you just said :)

And if one wants to adopt, there are plenty of children to adopt from foster families. Forcing minors to remain pregnant after having unsafe sex won't stop them from practicing unsafe sex. People make mistakes, and everyone deserves a second chance. Being a pregnant teenager can be quite a humiliating experience, which is why your argument really does sound like a punishment to me. I think schools just need to continue to encourage minors to practice no, or at least, safe sex, by stressing protection from STDs. It is the responsibility of the parent(s) to teach their children what they believe is right. Fortunately, I may choose to live in an area where I am comfortable with the law. (Trying to wrap up my arguement)

You talk as if you're a pregnant teenager or have been with someone who was pregnant. If you have, then in my opinion, your views are a little askew. If you're not a pregnant teen, or with one, then where in the world do you get the right to speak for pregnant teens and say what they will or will not learn from?

Now this topic is getting out of hand. Why don't we stray back to the original topic Abortion, and leave the teen pregnancies for another time. We don't want this to turn into a name calling contest. At this point you both are just saying the same thing too each other over and over again.

How do you figure that? I haven't said anything like what I just said in any previous post, neither did I hint at any signs of flaming or name calling. I made my opinion.

Seriously. They are talking about abortion, and there is no name calling whatsoever. They make good points. :)

(I'm a guy. XD ) I'm speaking on behalf of someone I know who was sexually assaulted, and often thought about the possibility of pregnancy. She was tested, and turned out negative. But she thinks, what if she was pregnant?

I'm speaking on behalf of every pregnant teen who I've been witness to being harassed by random strangers and witnessed to by born-again-Christians.

My views are not a little askew. My grandmother was raped and chose to remain pregnant, because that was what they believed in. She gave birth to my mother.

I'm sorry for being a little rash, I really meant to state that the thread was beoming repetitive, and it was turning into a "Why do you get to stand for young teens" kind of disscusion. Anyways, I'll just kind of leave this disscussion alone. Have fun :P

But that would make your opinion a little askew because the only experiences you have had with teenage pregnancy are bad ones. My sister got pregnant by her boyfriend when she was 15, she had the baby when she was 16, and had another one before she ever turned 19 (She was married by that time). You're speaking for all Teenagers who get pregnant in general not just the ones that got assulted, or had bad experiences during pregnancy. I've known several teens who got pregnant and one of thems mother made her keep the baby, and now she couldn't be happier because she has a healthy son. My older sister and I also had a mutual friend who got pregnant and had twin girls, when she found out she was pregnant her mom wouldn't let her get an abortion, she was really irresponsible and her mom decide to make her keep them, to learn from her mistake, and by the time they were born she was so happy to have not given them up. In both cases the girls and their boyfriends we're irresponsible and got pregnant their parents made them keep the baby and they learned from it -Kim


By the way, you can't say every pregnant teen is going to be harassed, or assaulted, you can only speak for the people you know. You can't say that being forced to have a baby won't do a pregnant teenager girl and the man any good, because you don't know for sure. So, from your personal experiences it could be a bad thing, but you can't say it wouldn't do anyone any good. - Matt.

The bottom line is, I don't believe abortion is murder. I believe that a minor should be completely responsible for their bodies, and should be able to make the decision whether to have an abortion or not, without parental notification. ^_^

Well, when you can't justify the things you say, then you' obviously don't know what you're talking about. Why is it there are so many things that a teenager can't do until they're 18? Such as buy most R-rated movie tickets, buy tobacco, get their own utilities in their name, get a vehicle solely in their name, open a bank account for just themselves. These things can't happen until the teenager is 18, but you're saying even if you can't buy something as small and everyday as tobacco it is okay to conceive and end a baby's life before he or she is even born?

What's there to justify? Abortion is merely a medical procedure to put an end to pregnancy. Its not murdering a child, its vacuuming a clump of cells from the womans body. I know there are limitations to minors such as driving, seeing R rated movies, etc. Those limitations I agree with, but that is off-topic. I don't see what parental consent has to do with having an abortion. The parents dont know what is best for the daughters health, her doctor knows best.

Your point about this is saying two totally different things. Teenagers shouldn't be doing all of those things because they are legally irresponsibly for themselves. They're parents are, and they are also physically and mentally not fully adults. A teenager should not buy an R-rated movie because they are not as mature as adults to handle it; tobacco is just very harmful and I frankly don't think anyone should buy it; getting a vehicle solely in their name and opening a bank account is purely about the fact that they are leaglly a part of the home of their parents or guardians, and it should stay that way. Teenagers are not truly responsible enough to live on their own.
Now what does abortion have to do with any of that, other then the fact that girls don't have to tell their parents about abortions (which I disagree with)?
When you say end a baby's life before s/he is even born, what life? It has not been given life yet! It's not even a baby, it's just a fetus! I realize that abortion destroys potential life and potential accomplishments and potential offspring that may do who knows what. However, if it is known that the baby will die soon and the mother is in danger, I feel that the only fair way to both the child and the mother is to give the mother an abortion, and that is also the only time where I justify it.