Sanctity of Life and Quality of Life There are different views about whether life is sacred, or particularly special (sanctity and about of life) the importance of whether life is ‘worth living’. quality of life; Abortion involves ending a pregnancy and the life of a foetus. There are different reasons for getting an Abortion abortion and different attitudes to abortion. Reasons for Having an Abortion There are different reasons why someone might want to have an abortion. These are reasons why an abortion may be allowed in the UK: Reason Examples Attitudes Some pregnancies make a woman very For people who are not completely ill, such as ectopic pregnancies where against abortion in any circumstance, the foetus grows in the wrong place this is probably the reason that most The mother’s people would find acceptable for having life is in danger, Alternatively, someone may have a an abortion, because a life is at risk, or or her health is medical condition which needs treating, health is in danger at risk and the foetus would be killed by, or needs to be removed for, the treatment, Some may only accept this if there is a e.g. chemotherapy for cancer serious and immediate risk The pregnancy If the pregnancy is the result of rape, the Many people accept abortion in such or raising a child woman might find it very hard to carry circumstances because they feel that it is would be too her rapist’s child unfair to prolong the traumatic ordeal of difficult for the rape, or to place an unbearable mental woman to cope Someone might have a mental illness, or financial burden on someone with mentally or and would be placed under great strain physically Others feel that while the woman might to go through with a pregnancy (or might be unable to look after a child, she endanger the Someone may have several children should be supported through the wellbeing of already and be unable to afford to raise pregnancy, and give her child up for existing another adoption children) This could be that they will be born Some people feel that it is unfair to The foetus without a particular organ functioning bring children into the world who might would be born properly have a low quality of life, or a low life with a serious expectancy. The foetus might have a genetic disease, disability such as Down’s Syndrome Some people feel that parents should
Sanctity of Life and Quality of Life There are different views about whether life is sacred, or particularly special (sanctity of life) and about the importance of quality of life; whether life is ‘worth living’. Abortion Abortion involves ending a pregnancy and the life of a foetus. There are different reasons for getting an abortion and different attitudes to abortion. Reasons for Having an Abortion There are different reasons why someone might want to have an abortion. These are reasons why an abortion may be allowed in the UK: Reason Examples Attitudes The mother’s life is in danger, or her health is at risk Some pregnancies make a woman very ill, such as ectopic pregnancies where the foetus grows in the wrong place Alternatively, someone may have a medical condition which needs treating, and the foetus would be killed by, or needs to be removed for, the treatment, e.g. chemotherapy for cancer For people who are not completely against abortion in any circumstance, this is probably the reason that most people would find acceptable for having an abortion, because a life is at risk, or health is in danger Some may only accept this if there is a serious and immediate risk The pregnancy or raising a child would be too difficult for the woman to cope with mentally or physically (or might endanger the wellbeing of existing children) If the pregnancy is the result of rape, the woman might find it very hard to carry her rapist’s child Someone might have a mental illness, and would be placed under great strain to go through with a pregnancy Someone may have several children already and be unable to afford to raise another Many people accept abortion in such circumstances because they feel that it is unfair to prolong the traumatic ordeal of rape, or to place an unbearable mental or financial burden on someone Others feel that while the woman might be unable to look after a child, she should be supported through the pregnancy, and give her child up for adoption The foetus would be born with a serious disability This could be that they will be born without a particular organ functioning properly The foetus might have a genetic disease, such as Down’s Syndrome Some people feel that it is unfair to bring children into the world who might have a low quality of life, or a low life expectancy. Some people feel that parents should