Should Northern Ireland Still Make Changes to Its Abortion Law?

Northern Ireland remains mum on the issue regarding abortion and still has a ban in place for the controversial activity. However, should they consider foetuses with possible birth defects that could shorten its lifespan for abortion?

Let’s get things straight. The UK legislation protects people from pain and suffering. Even our justice systems encourage people to report pain and suffering as clauses to gain recompense for damages. If children are made to suffer because of their birth defects by being alive, shouldn’t it count as child abuse and pain and suffering charges?

According to Justice Minister David Ford “I believe we owe it to people who have highlighted the case in the media and others who have suffered in silence that we address those issues which have caused significant concern.”

Sarah Ewart made her case public when she said she had to travel to London to have her child aborted because the baby was diagnosed with anecephaly, a severe brain anomaly that lowered the survival rate of her child even if it should survive after childbirth.

Having an abortion law in Northern Ireland would be helpful especially with the proper regulation of the industry and the proper legalities in place. It also lowers costs for those who intend to have an abortion.

Currently, North Ireland only allows mothers to have an abortion if the child is putting the mother’s life in grave danger. I don’t think this would be enough.

Why It’s Lawful to Provide Abortion Services to Raped Women

Abortion had always been a medical ethics issue the world over and in some countries this is allowed to preserve the health of the mother ensuring good quality of service and healthcare for those seeking unwanted children. However, in other countries, abortion is disallowed and some rape victims are even forced to marry their rapists to preserve the life of a child.

In a right-to-life perspective, the child, whether born of rape or not, has the right to live once conceived. All religions and traditions uphold the value of a child. However, the quality of life the child may have can be uncertain especially in a highly-volatile relationship the child might have with his or her mother, forever reminded of the rapist by the child itself.

Even if it may contradict values, the lesser evil is aborting the child of the raped woman because if the child is not raised in a loving atmosphere, the child will only suffer from his or her parents. It is better that the child will not suffer at all in my opinion.

Emotions will always be involved in raising the child and one’s past is always a factor as to how an individual will learn to love another person, let alone a child. I am in full support of abortion laws and newly-proposed laws because in the end, it is where the individuals suffer the least that matters.