ASSESSING LATE TERM ABORTION PHILOSOPHY ESSAY

Today, the United States faces an array of controversial issues. Having recently elected the first, black president, in addition to dealing with an economic crisis, and not to mention our ongoing involvement with the Middle East, Americans constantly deal with not only political controversial issues, but also ethical controversial issues. While certain issues have been discussed more recently, other issues have been considered, or rather, debated, for decades. Abortion, for example, is one of those complex topics that both states and individuals have struggled with. Though abortion is often considered a “taboo” topic, late-term abortion is an even more controversial issue, primarily because the fetus is significantly further along in development. Is it ethical to abort a baby that is viable (fetal development at which the fetus may survive outside the womb)? Or rather, is it ethical to dictate someone else’s decision pertaining to their body-especially in extreme, but common, instances where rape is involved? Statements such as these are some of the many valid points brought up when asked the question; should later-abortions (abortions performed during the second trimester) be legal?