Roe -vs- Wade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Roe -vs- Wade - Essay Example Is it ethical to allow the taking of a life, especially in those instances where there is no pressing medical reason that mandates a termination of a pregnancy? Is abortion wrong from a moral point of view? According to the religious beliefs, especially of Catholics, life is God given and therefore a woman who chooses to terminate the life of a fetus is in effect, taking into her own hands, a decision that only God can make. Abortion is equated to murder of the fetus and the woman who engages in it held liable for the act of killing another human being. Similarly, doctors who perform abortions were also held accountable, which is part of the reason why in some states, public opinion against abortion has reduced the number of clinical outlets and medical establishments where abortion can be safely performed by qualified medical personnel (Joffe, 2003). In pointing out the importance of the Roe v Wade decision, Joffe (2003) has described how, prior to the legalization of abortion, physicians performing therapeutic abortions were placed in an untenable position because of the fierce public opposition to abortion on religious grounds. But the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v Wade has proved to be a boon for those women who are victims of rape or illness that interferes with their ability to successfully carry a pregnancy through to term. While earlier, it was difficult for them to terminate a pregnancy due to the public opposition to abortion, the decision in Roe v Wade has made abortion legal, thereby ensuring that woman seeking abortions can now have the procedure performed by qualified medical personnel. But Roe v Wade has gone beyond merely allowing abortions to proceed when there are extenuating circumstances; it makes the decision on whether or not to have an abortion solely the woman’s prerogative. Irrespective of the woman’s reasons for choosing to have an abortion, the decision in Roe v Wade