The abortion debate

One of the most controversial topics today, the abortion debate pits the rights of a mother against the rights of a fetus. The most common positions on the issue are "pro-choice" and "pro-life." These two points of view hinge on legal and moral considerations. Another common viewpoint is a more pragmatic blended, which states that abortion should be prohibited except for specific cases.

"Pro-choice" advocates stress a woman's right to choose whether and when to interrupt her pregnancy. In their view, a woman should have absolute control over their bodies and, by extension, beyond the survival of the fetus inside her. The "pro-life" camp argues that life begins at conception and any interruption of pregnancy after the formation of the embryo is tantamount to murder.

There is a basic and important legal debate rages, especially in the United States. Roe v. Wade was a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that is still relevant today. The Court voted 7-2 to overturn all state laws prohibiting abortion. The court concluded that such laws violate the constitutional right to privacy of a woman. Since then, the moral debate has taken on political importance.

There are other points of view over the cut "pro choice" and "pro life" positions. For example, some pro-choice advocates believe abortion is morally permissible after the second quarter. Similarly, some pro-lifers allow abortion in extreme cases such as rape or incest. Approximately two percent of pregnancies occur in these conditions.

The abortion debate introduces a larger, overriding question: When the government must intervene in the personal lives of citizens, 'and when to avoid it?