Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Debs.]

There are always multiple sides and for a pregnancy there is always at least 3 sides Mother Father Child(ren).

There is a point when the unborn baby changes from a bunch of cells into a person - when is that point?

As with all morally taxing matters, there are many aspects....but one remains at the zenith; "the mother bears the child", and with the greatest of respect to fathers, or rather 'Dads' (as distinct from those whom only contribute semen to the zygote) it is still she alone whom carries the personal, moral, medical and emotional implications for her pregnancy: either full-term or fore-shortened (for what-ever reason) and it is only she; ideally with the support of a partner and/or family whom can know in her heart and mind what is for the best.

As a woman, my personal feelings concerning sentience and pregnancy are that birth represents the beginning of a person`s life....with the pregnancy, forming a part of the mother`s life.

[FRE07962128]

To add my two pennies worth...

I agree with Debs that it is a decision for the woman on whether she is ready or suitable for carrying, then nuturing a child through to adulthood and beyond, which is a life long committment. It is a woman's body that creates and supports this new life, and as the woman should have soveriegn rights over that body, if a woman believes she cannot realistically provide a satisfactory life for the infant, with all of life's basic needs and the emotional support it requires, then she alone should have the right to terminate.

However, that stated any decision by her should be made before 20 weeks, unless a major medical complication arises, after which time the embryo has the potential to live without the mother's body.  Medical staff have often reported that aborted embryos of over 20 weeks have shown signs of life for some time after.  This has indeed caused distress to staff who according to medical journals do not want to carryout abortions unless for pressing medical reasons.

Emotions, physical considerations, practical implications, human rights, and, yes, religion, all are involved in this very complex subject which has few, if any, easy answers.  We can only trust and hope that a honourable consensus will avail, with the wise and good establishing a decision that will satisfy the majority in this country.

I am pleased that this is all open to an across party free vote for our politicians to vote with their moral conscience, conforming we trust with the wishes of their constituents, rather than a political view.  

But, I do feel that it is a great handicap that there is not a majority of female politicians in Westminster to properly represent the views of woman, and we can only put our faith in men to express our concerns and wishes.  May God help them in their task.

  

[Debs.]

To add my two pennies worth...

I agree with Debs that it is a decision for the woman on whether she is ready or suitable for carrying, then nuturing a child through to adulthood and beyond, which is a life long committment.  If a woman believes she cannot realistically provide a satisfactory life for the infant, with all of life's basic needs and the emotional support it requires, then she alone should have the right to terminate.

However, that stated any decision by her should be made before 20 weeks, unless a major medical complication arises, after which time the embryo has the potential to live without the mother's body.  Medical staff have often reported that aborted embryos of over 20 weeks have shown signs of life for some time after.  This has indeed caused distress to staff who according to medical journals do not want to carryout abortions unless for pressing medical reasons.

Emotions, physical considerations, practical implications, human rights, and, yes, religion, all are involved in this very complex subject which has few, if any, easy answers.  We can only trust and hope that a honourable consensus will avail, with the wise and good establishing a decision that will satisfy the majority in this country.

I am pleased that this is all open to an across party free vote for our politicians to vote with their moral conscience, conforming we trust with the wishes of their constituents, rather than a political view.  

But, I do feel that it is a great handicap that there is not a majority of female politicians in Westminster to properly represent the views of woman, and we can only put our faith in men to express our concerns and wishes.  May God help them in their task.

  

Succinctly well-observed Lizzie....`may the Lord help them with their conscience and rectitude.

[Vmax]

Abortion is a terrible thing, especially I would imagine for the lady going through it. My worry has always been that abortion is used by some as a quick fix to a problem. Surely if you are responsible you should take adequate precautions ( Male and female), and if not be grown up enough to deal with any 'accidents'.
 I would agree the limit should be lowered as the thought of a living viable baby being terminated is, to me, just awful. Obviously some social and medical circumstances make it difficult/ impossible, but abortion should, IMO, be an absolute last option. Lots of couples are waiting to adopt so, if at all possible, that should be the option. I'm sure also that abortion leaves terrible mental scares with some Ladies.
I have a relative that was very early so I suppose that helps me come to these conclusions. This is just my old fashioned opinion and I hope it doesn't offend...

[FRE07962128]

Abortion is a terrible thing, especially I would imagine for the lady going through it. My worry has always been that abortion is used by some as a quick fix to a problem. Surely if you are responsible you should take adequate precautions ( Male and female), and if not be grown up enough to deal with any 'accidents'. I would agree the limit should be lowered as the thought of a living viable baby being terminated is, to me, just awful. Obviously some social and medical circumstances make it difficult/ impossible, but abortion should, IMO, be an absolute last option. Lots of couples are waiting to adopt so, if at all possible, that should be the option. I'm sure also that abortion leaves terrible mental scares with some Ladies.
I have a relative that was very early so I suppose that helps me come to these conclusions. This is just my old fashioned opinion and I hope it doesn't offend...

I know and understand where your thoughts are on this and in a perfect world this is how it should be, but in too many cases the people involved are neither responsible enough to take precautions or grown up mentally to make the ideal decisions for themselves and the child.  Indeed often the couples are no more than children themselves, but it must be that the girl / woman, with perhaps assistance from their mother if possible, make the decision that is right for them at that instance in time, providing as I would advocate it is before 20 weeks.

[amigov6]

This has nothing to do with politics or religion. Politics is legal financial fraud & religion at it's best is for often well educated but weak minded folk to fall back on in the misguided belief they'll go to heaven so don't fear death. Most of us live in the real world & have grasped the concept of a lifespan & are happy with it.
   For many years i brought my son up as a single DAD but i appreciate that's not always the case, so despite that i still believe it's the woman's choice to abort if she's not ready for parenthood.