abortion case study

Abortion: “Non” Planned ParenthoodBy:Allison MorrisBrycon CarpenterChloe PurperoNikolai BeerIan Hill

The Team’s Approach

• Social networking to plan our meeting times

• Balanced the work load evenly

• Shared information via Google docs

• Utilized the library as a meeting and research location

Abortion: What’s the big deal?

• Perspectives• Pro-life

• In the middle? (a large range in-between the two extremes)

• Pro Choice

• The key issues• What’s the reason for the big debate?

• What’s influencing the decisions and stance that people take on the issue?

• Stakeholders• Primary vs. Secondary?

• Who’s involved?

• Who should be involved?

• What influence do the stakeholders have?

Some Background

• 13th Century • abortion after five or six weeks was considered homicide, punishable

by hanging.(Rich, 2013)

• In the 1820s…• It was recognized that current abortion methods were resulting in

high mortality rates, and the unsafe practice was outlawed for the sake of women's health.(Rich, 2013)

• 1973 Roe V. Wade case• Legalize abortion in the U.S. (Abortion, 2013)

• April 2007• The Supreme Court upheld a federal law completely banning the use

of late-term abortion (called "partial birth abortion" by opponents). (Rich, 2013)

• March 2011• The health care reform legislation signed into law by US President

Barack Obama maintained a ban on the use of federal money for abortions

The “Facts”

• Since 1984 the number of abortions has steadily decreased. Except for a minor increase in 2002. • Contraceptives• Religion

• In 2005 1.21 million abortion were performed. (legal/recorded abortions)

• From 1973 through 2005 over 45 million legal/ recorded abortions took place

• 50% of women who have abortions are younger that 25• Future

• Teenagers take up 17% of all abortions performed. (Rich, 2013)• Future implications?

• 70 percent, according to a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll continue to support Roe v. Wade in place, but 58 percent of those polled want some limits on the availability of the procedure. (Abortion, 2013)

• Restrictions?• More than 130 anti-abortion laws in the last 2 years• Over 300 anti-abortion laws since 1995 (Abortion, 2013)

Data and Statistics

Some More data and statistics

(Abortion’s in America, 2013)

Key Issues

• Safety• Employees of abortion clinics

• Human rights• Morality and ethics

• Scientific definition• When should it be considered taking a life?

• Between 16 and 20 weeks is a common limit for many pro-choice advocates

• At conception for many pro-life advocates

• Future• Unprepared for a child

• Child’s future

• Health• Mother’s health

• Child’s health

• Financial Issues• Can I support this child

More Key Issues

• Religion• Should religion be involved?

• Early Christian – The Bible• The Orthodox Church - Evangelium Vitae (John Paul II)• The Catholic Church – Thou shalt not kill• Islam – AL 'Quran• Buddhism – Dalai Lama• Hinduism – Gandhi (SPUC, 2013)

• Circumstances of pregnancy (Abortion’s in America, 2013)• Rape? (1 %)• Inadequate finances (21%)• Responsibility (21%)• Woman’s future (16%)• Relationship problems (12%)• Too young (11%)• Too old (8%)• Baby’s health (3%)• Other(4%)

Key Stakeholders

• Primary

• Mother

• Father

• Child

• Close Family

• Secondary

• Extended Family

• Child Support Services

• Community

What We learned?

• How much the issue of abortion dated back

• Be wary of the numbers you get, and always double check your sources

• Surprising Information surrounding abortion regarding religion and other influences.

• The reasons behind of pro-choice and pro-life advocates

• Statistical/Data vs. Morality and ethical

• Lots of bias in the statistics that can be misleading

Conclusion

It seems to be that one is either completely pro-life or some variation of pro-choice. Based on that assumption the “best” options seem to be a compromise of a pro-choice law with “reasonable” restrictions. For example: a time restriction, age of the mother, circumstances of conception, and the health of the mother and baby.

We found issues of morality to be a very touchy subject and nearly impossible to tackle. In an “ideal” situation if would be of the best interest to set morality aside.

References: Works Cited

• Abortion. (2013, June 15). CQ Researcher. Retrieved from http://0-library.cqpress.com.wncln.wncln.org/cqresearcher/

• Jost, K. (2003, March 21). Abortion debates. CQ Researcher, 13, 249-272. Retrieved from http://0-library.cqpress.com.wncln.wncln.org/cqresearcher/

• Rich, A. (2013). Abortion: An Overview. Points Of View: Abortion, 1.

• http://www.spuc.org.uk/youth/student_info_on_abortion/religion?policy_check_on_input=Allow

• Retrieved from http://www.operationrescue.org/about-abortion/abortions-in-america/