Many have pondered upon the meaning of abortion. It is defined in "the Webster" as the act of giving premature birth, more specifically the expulsion of the human fetus prematurely at any time before being capable of life outside the womb. It is a surgical procedure to end a pregnancy by removing the fetus and placenta from the uterus. The root word aborior means "to perish by untimely death." Abortion not only kills thousands of babies a day, but can also be harmful to the mother.
It's no secret that abortion has been a controversial topic for years. Many people believe that birth begins at conception and killing this fetus is murder, these are the "pro-life" advocates. Others who believe the fetus is not alive until birth and think that abortions are acceptable are the "pro-choice" supporters. What does that law say? Under the 14th Amendment in the United States constitution women have been given the choice of abortion. Even though abortion may be legalized, the case is not closed. Pro-life activists carry a strong argument, and continue to push their beliefs. They feel so strongly about these beliefs that violence has broken out in many instances. Pro-choice activists, on the other hand, also carry very strong points. They believe that the child inside them is their property and its life doesn't begin until birth. In 1973, the United States Supreme Court decided that as long as the baby lived in the womb, he or she would be the property of the mother. .
Pro-choice activists say abortion is the choice of a woman. Under the 14th Amendment's "personal liberty," women are given the right to receive an abortion. With this concept, and the restrictions on state action, women are allowed the right to terminate her pregnancy if she so desires. They claim that the right to choose to have an abortion is so personal and essential to women's lives that without this right, women cannot exercise their basic fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution (Paltrow 72).
