When is it acceptable to force an abortion on a mother?

[Zebra1552]

Let's see. If I got pregnant say, today, I likely wouldn't find out about it for another 5 weeks or so. I'm on several medications which are dangerous for pregnancy and cause damage to a fetus. So that's 5 or so weeks that this fetus is exposed to these drugs...And then you want me to stop taking them so I don't do any more harm to the fetus for another 7.75 months? Or am I allowed to stay on them as they help me with my day to day life?

Presumably you would have the common sense to take precautions like not having sex, using protection, and knowing basic self defense so this situation doesn't arise in the first place. It's your responsibility for what you do with your body, not ours.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Actually, I've heard people say they want a pregnancy. My cousin is one. She loves kids, and she's doing it to have kids, but she loves the pregnancy part.

And for people such as myself, it is an unwanted pregnancy. I don't want to deal with it. Ever. Yeah, I could just give the kid up for adoption (which I would), but I'd still have to deal with 9 months of torture before hand, plus any lasting damage from the birth itself. I won't do it. So for people like me, both the pregnancy and the child are unwanted. And I'll say "unwanted child" all day long. It doesn't hurt my conscience any.

Can't hurt something that's not there, I suppose. You ought to be ashamed.

BTW it's not nine months of torture. The first few months it's usually barely noticeable.

 

[hollyda]

BTW it's not nine months of torture. The first few months it's usually barely noticeable.

Yeah, unless you've actually been pregnant, you're not eligible to make this assumption. And since your icon indicates you're male, that'd be never.

I'm not eligible to make this assumption, either. I've never been pregnant. But I have been around enough women to know pregnancy varies from woman to woman. A few years back, my boss got pregnant and the entire time was hell for her.

 

[selfinflikted]

Yeah, unless you've actually been pregnant, you're not eligible to make this assumption. And since your icon indicates you're male, that'd be never.

I'm not eligible to make this assumption, either. I've never been pregnant. But I have been around enough women to know pregnancy varies from woman to woman. A few years back, my boss got pregnant and the entire time was hell for her.

Yep. My BFF tried for 3 years to get preggers, and when she finally did, she was sick, literally every single day until much later in the pregnancy. Some women have extremely easy pregnancies (or so they say) and some have an awful time with it. One should only judge on a case-by-case basis.

 

[JadeTigress]

Can't hurt something that's not there, I suppose. You ought to be ashamed.

BTW it's not nine months of torture. The first few months it's usually barely noticeable.

Why should I be ashamed for not wanting kids? I would think it would be a good thing for someone who doesn't want kids to not have them. Save them for someone who wants them and will be a good parent to them.

And I was exaggerating with the word "torture", I suppose if you want the kid you'd be willing to put up with the pregnancy. But to someone who wants no part of the process, I would think it could be a bit torturous. But I will say when my sister-in-law was pregnant, it certainly wasn't a walk in the park for her. She was really sick and throwing up constantly. Her daughter was actually a month premature because they had to induce the labor because her blood pressure was getting out of control.

And lux et lex, I agree with you. I take Topamax, which if I recall correctly they're being sued along with several other drugs because of birth defects. If I were to get pregnant despite doing everything I can to prevent that (apart from abstinence and sterilization), and I'm forced to keep the child, should I have to quit taking my medicine even though the baby's already been exposed? I'd be a bad mother as it is, but I'd be a terrible mother without my mood stabilizer.

 

[lux et lex]

Presumably you would have the common sense to take precautions like not having sex, using protection, and knowing basic self defense so this situation doesn't arise in the first place. It's your responsibility for what you do with your body, not ours.

Of course. I use protection. But contraceptives fail. So I was being careful, and not intending a pregnancy. The most damage that can occur with the particular drug I'm on (Paxil for OCD) is during the first trimester. During at least part of that time, I likely will not know I'm pregnant and continue using it. So, should I not use this medication because I am theoretically able to bear children, and it would cause harm to a fetus if I accidentally become pregnant, even though I use contraceptives? Or do I have the right to continue taking this medication, even with the risk of heart defects to the fetus, because it stabilizes my OCD and it is my body?

 

[hollyda]

Of course. I use protection. But contraceptives fail. So I was being careful, and not intending a pregnancy. The most damage that can occur with the particular drug I'm on (Paxil for OCD) is during the first trimester. During at least part of that time, I likely will not know I'm pregnant and continue using it. So, should I not use this medication because I am theoretically able to bear children, and it would cause harm to a fetus if I accidentally become pregnant, even though I use contraceptives? Or do I have the right to continue taking this medication, even with the risk of heart defects to the fetus, because it stabilizes my OCD and it is my body?

Note to self...if I ever decide to try and have a baby, I need to get off my OCD meds (Paxil and Luvox). Frak, that would suuuuuuck.

 

[Zebra1552]

Of course. I use protection. But contraceptives fail. So I was being careful, and not intending a pregnancy. The most damage that can occur with the particular drug I'm on (Paxil for OCD) is during the first trimester. During at least part of that time, I likely will not know I'm pregnant and continue using it. So, should I not use this medication because I am theoretically able to bear children, and it would cause harm to a fetus if I accidentally become pregnant, even though I use contraceptives? Or do I have the right to continue taking this medication, even with the risk of heart defects to the fetus, because it stabilizes my OCD and it is my body?

Again, it's your responsibility to make that decision. If you notice, my original argument is that rarely should we force an abortion- only in cases where she's way too young. Why, then, would I want to tell you what to do?

 

[JadeTigress]

OCD people with crazy drugs, unite!

 

[lux et lex]

Again, it's your responsibility to make that decision. If you notice, my original argument is that rarely should we force an abortion- only in cases where she's way too young. Why, then, would I want to tell you what to do?

So...you'd let me...make my own decision....or...make my own CHOICE?

 

[Zebra1552]

So...you'd let me...make my own decision....or...make my own CHOICE?

Observant. I've only said it twice now.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Observant. I've only said it twice now.

So you're pro-choice? You've done a good job of hiding it.

 

[Zebra1552]

So you're pro-choice? You've done a good job of hiding it.

Oh? Where did I ever say that abortion should be illegal? Quote me. Also, why on earth is my position on this social issue a part of this thread? This is about forcing abortion, not abortion as an issue itself.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Oh? Where did I ever say that abortion should be illegal? Quote me. Also, why on earth is my position on this social issue a part of this thread? This is about forcing abortion, not abortion as an issue itself.

It was just an observation. I was completely under the impression that you were pro-life. Apparently I was wrong.

 

[Texan40]

It would never be acceptable to remove a person's ability to choose.

 

[Zebra1552]

It was just an observation. I was completely under the impression that you were pro-life. Apparently I was wrong.

I am pro-life. Abortion shouldn't happen. It ends life. But it's not my responsibility to allow or prohibit something that doesn't affect me or impose my belief on those who don't share it. I've consistently presented that through many, many, many different issues in these forums- including homosexuality before the new rule.

 

[lawtonfogle]

It would never be acceptable to remove a person's ability to choose.

You sure?

 

[Texan40]

You sure?

I'm quite sure. Removing someone's choices isn't a substitute for morality. I don't believe in "saving" people from the consequences of their actions by eliminating the ability to supply the action itself.

 

[SithDoughnut]

I am pro-life. Abortion shouldn't happen. It ends life. But it's not my responsibility to allow or prohibit something that doesn't affect me or impose my belief on those who don't share it. I've consistently presented that through many, many, many different issues in these forums- including homosexuality before the new rule.

I've always considered that to be pro-choice, but I'm with you and for the record I agree.