The abortion debate mainly revolves around two opposing view: pro-choice and pro-life. The pro-choice perspective supports the right of the women to choose whether to have the baby or not. Since the medieval era abortion has always been considered wrong. Abortion has been stigmatized by the members of the society who consider undesirable or totally undesirable reproductive choice. The arguments within these two positions are based on legal and ethical issues in countries where they are applied. In UK, the abortion law illustrate that pregnancy might be terminated before 24th week of gestation only in some specific circumstances which renders the life or health of the pregnant woman to be at risk or if the pregnancy would result into negative mental and physical impact on the mother. The law also allows post viability abortion on ground that if the fetus is given birth to, it might suffer from gross disability. However, the anti-abortionists argue that life begins after conception and any form of abortion is considered unethical despite the time and circumstances. Even those who partially support it argue that though prevailing circumstances might lead to justification of viability abortion, it would be unethical to allow women to abort on demand. This study aimed at exploring the ethical and legal issues surrounding post viability abortion in UK. The study has utilised systematic review of different legal and ethical literatures including, court rulings, legal papers, and medical journals and books. The study finding has shown that post viability abortion issues still remains an enigma to all parties involved in the abortion debate. The anti-abortionist continues to reject not only late term abortion but any form of abortion and call for a change in legal provision to totally restrict abortions. On the other hand, pro-choice group, reject the argument made by the anti-abortionists and call total abortion right so that women have the right to choose to terminate their pregnancies.
- Quote paper
- Omondi Odindo (Author), 2014, Ethical and Legal Issues Surrounding Post Viability Abortion in the United Kingdom, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1742557
