Functionalism Perspective on Society
“Abortion”
Police officers with cadaver-sniffing dogs and shovels dug in the backyard of a home where the bodies of four fetuses were found. One male fetus in the 26th week of gestation was found under a bathroom sink, two other fetuses were found in plastic bags in a trunk in Ms. Freeman’s bedroom, and another in a bag in a vehicle parked in her driveway. Apparently, none of the bodies appeared to be full term. Ms. Freeman told the police she had delivered a dead and deformed baby. This leads us to an examination of abortion within the U.S. revealing its methods, social and ethical issues, and psychological aspects.
We might ask ourselves, what is abortion and what effect does it have on society? According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, “abortion is any interruption of human pregnancy prior to the 28th week.” Some abortions occur naturally because a fetus does not develop normally or because the mother has an injury or factors that prevent her from carrying the pregnancy to term, meaning, having a miscarriage. “Other abortions are induced, meaning, intentionally brought on because the pregnancy is unwanted, it presents a risk to a woman’s health, or because the fetus might have severe physical or mental health problems” cites the Columbia Encclopedia. Induced abortion is one of today’s most intense and popular ethical, philosophical, and psychological issues. Nowadays, medical techniques have made induced abortions simpler and less dangerous. But in the United States, debates over abortion are an everyday battle filled with confrontations!
What are the methods for induced abortion? Induced abortion can be performed in two ways, using drugs or having surgery. The safest and most appropriate method is determined by the age of the fetus, which is in the first trimester (the first 13 weeks) of pregnancy while abortions in the second (14 -28 weeks) and third trimesters (29th to birth) require more complicated procedures and a woman’s health presentst greater
Police officers with cadaver-sniffing dogs and shovels dug in the backyard of a home where the bodies of four fetuses were found. One male fetus in the 26th week of gestation was found under a bathroom sink, two other fetuses were found in plastic bags in a trunk in Ms. Freeman’s bedroom, and another in a bag in a vehicle parked in her driveway. Apparently, none of the bodies appeared to be full term. Ms. Freeman told the police she had delivered a dead and deformed baby. This leads us to an examination of abortion within the U.S. revealing its methods, social and ethical issues, and psychological aspects.
We might ask ourselves, what is abortion and what effect does it have on society? According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, “abortion is any interruption of human pregnancy prior to the 28th week.” Some abortions occur naturally because a fetus does not develop normally or because the mother has an injury or factors that prevent her from carrying the pregnancy to term, meaning, having a miscarriage. “Other abortions are induced, meaning, intentionally brought on because the pregnancy is unwanted, it presents a risk to a woman’s health, or because the fetus might have severe physical or mental health problems” cites the Columbia Encclopedia. Induced abortion is one of today’s most intense and popular ethical, philosophical, and psychological issues. Nowadays, medical techniques have made induced abortions simpler and less dangerous. But in the United States, debates over abortion are an everyday battle filled with confrontations!
What are the methods for induced abortion? Induced abortion can be performed in two ways, using drugs or having surgery. The safest and most appropriate method is determined by the age of the fetus, which is in the first trimester (the first 13 weeks) of pregnancy while abortions in the second (14 -28 weeks) and third trimesters (29th to birth) require more complicated procedures and a woman’s health presentst greater
Bibliography: 1. Wicklund, Susan and Hesselheim, Alan. “This common secret: My journey as an abortion doctor.” December 2007. 2. “Abortion in America: The Origins and Evolution of National Policy.” Mohr, James C. September 1979.