The paper will talk about sex selective abortion and its negative impact on public health. The paper will also critically justify the statement “sex- selective abortion should be prohibited” through different arguments in the perspective of ethical and legal issues of health and social care.
It was said that “Abortion is defined as the emptying practice of a pregnant uterus up to the twenty four weeks of pregnancy”. However, unprompted abortion normally is called miscarriage. Abortion refers to the abolition of a fetus or embryo from the uterus just before its stage of viability. Sex selective abortion was defined as the practice of prenatal discrimination, in which a fetus is aborted just after the identification of its sex. This practice is promoting sex inequality in the society. Moreover, Sex-selective abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy based on the expected sex of the unborn baby. In general, female fetuses are the main victims of sex selective abortion in many countries in the world particularly in Southeast Europe, India, Pakistan and the People's Republic of China.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. PREVALENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS OF SEX-SELECTIVE ABORTION
3. DISCUSSION
3.1 Arguments on Sex-Selective Abortion
4. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the ethical and legal implications of sex-selective abortion, focusing on its negative impact on public health and its role in perpetuating gender inequality. The central research objective is to provide a critical justification for the statement that sex-selective abortion should be prohibited by analyzing various biomedical, ethical, and legal perspectives.
- The prevalence of sex-selective abortion in countries like India and China.
- Public health consequences, including severe sex ratio imbalances and social instability.
- Ethical arguments regarding the moral status of the foetus and the prohibition of prenatal discrimination.
- Legal frameworks and the role of international policies in addressing gender-based selective termination.
- The tension between women's reproductive autonomy and the social harm caused by sex selection.
Excerpt from the Book
Arguments on Sex-Selective Abortion
There are particular rational arguments based on ethical and legal issues in health care which could be supportive banning sex-selective abortion:
Sex selective abortion is denied and it should be prohibited through the discussing arguments ethically in the view points of various biomedical principles.
According to communitarian, community benefit is more preferable than an individual what might restrict the freedom of individual for long term benefits of the society. Though, selecting sex of foetus is the mother’s right, while consideration of the social violence mother’s autonomy could be limited. Sex selective abortion should be prohibited for the benefits of whole community in the world. Sex selective abortion is harm for the society due to create imbalance sex ratio and increase the gender discrimination (Beauchamp and Childress, 2001).
Beauchamp and Childress (2001) defined consequentialism is a theory holding such actions what is right or wrong depends on their good and bad consequences. So sex selective action is not supported by consequentialism as such practice leads very bad impact for the society, so it should be prohibited due to reduce the sex imbalance and female inequalities in the society. In addition, virtue ethics and moral theory is the part of consequentialism. Moreover, virtue ethics is the branch of moral philosophy what can evaluate the harm or bad of any actions. So, on both view of point sex abortion is immoral and unethical and sex selective abortion act as social harm so it should be prohibited.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides the foundation for the paper, defining sex-selective abortion and its global prevalence while highlighting the ethical and legal necessity of discussing its prohibition.
PREVALENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS OF SEX-SELECTIVE ABORTION: This section explores the demographic reality of sex-selective practices, particularly in Asia, and analyzes the resulting public health challenges such as skewed sex ratios and social disruption.
DISCUSSION: This core chapter evaluates the ethical validity of banning the practice, balancing arguments regarding individual autonomy against broader societal harm, while integrating various moral and biomedical principles.
Arguments on Sex-Selective Abortion: This sub-chapter details specific rational and moral arguments, including consequentialism and the principle of beneficence, to support the implementation of bans against sex-based termination.
CONCLUSION: This final chapter synthesizes the previous arguments, reaffirming that the prohibition of sex-selective abortion is a justified necessity to protect the dignity of life and mitigate gender discrimination.
Keywords
Sex-selective abortion, Public health, Gender inequality, Prenatal discrimination, Ethics, Legal issues, Sex ratio imbalance, Son preference, Biomedical principles, Reproductive rights, Female foeticide, Social harm, Autonomy, Prohibition, Human rights
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the negative impact of sex-selective abortion on public health and critically justifies the argument that this practice should be legally prohibited from an ethical and legal standpoint.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The core themes include the demographic consequences of prenatal sex selection, the moral status of the foetus, cultural factors like "son preference," and the conflict between individual reproductive autonomy and societal well-being.
What is the main objective of the author?
The objective is to provide a robust argument for the prohibition of sex-selective abortion by evaluating it against various moral philosophies and documenting its detrimental effects on gender equality.
Which scientific and ethical methods are utilized?
The paper employs a critical literature review, analyzing biomedical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and the theory of autonomy to assess the practice of sex-selective abortion.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the prevalence of the practice in specific countries, the public health consequences such as sex ratio imbalance, ethical arguments for banning it, and a counter-analysis regarding women's autonomy.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
Key terms include sex-selective abortion, gender inequality, public health, prenatal discrimination, ethics, son preference, and reproductive autonomy.
How does the author view the role of "son preference" in this practice?
The author identifies "son preference" as a primary cultural driver in patriarchic societies that leads to the systemic devaluation and abortion of female foetuses.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the "principle of autonomy"?
The author acknowledges that while autonomy is a strong argument in favor of reproductive choice, it is ultimately outweighed by the social harm and the denial of the right to life for the female foetus.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Kamalesh Dey (Autor:in), 2015, Sex-selective abortion. Why it should be prohibited, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/333872
