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utsfl:classroom:seminars:pba330h [2020/10/28 01:45] – some additional concluding thoughts from PBA230H balleyne | utsfl:classroom:seminars:pba330h [2021/03/11 20:09] (current) – balleyne | ||
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- | Abortion advocates sometimes claim that " | + | Abortion advocates sometimes claim that " |
- | The detailed answer is that advances in medicine and proper maternal healthcare are what make pregnancy safe, not abortion. | + | The detailed answer is that advances in medicine and proper maternal healthcare are what make pregnancy safe, not abortion. |
+ | |||
+ | FIXME this content is good, but it needs to be explained in a more accessible way, otherwise people get lost in the stats and don't get the bigger point. Some slides/ | ||
===== Illegal Abortions ===== | ===== Illegal Abortions ===== | ||
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* Responds to the claim that "the risk of death associated with childbirth is approximately 14 times higher than with abortion" | * Responds to the claim that "the risk of death associated with childbirth is approximately 14 times higher than with abortion" | ||
* Calhoun argues that there is no credible scientific evidence to support this claim | * Calhoun argues that there is no credible scientific evidence to support this claim | ||
- | | + | * For your own background information, |
- | * The number of deaths resulting from pregnancy is difficult to determine because there is lack of consensus regarding the time line | + | * Understanding the Maternal Mortality Rate: |
- | * Should a death within a month, six months, or a year after birth be attributed to pregnancy? | + | |
- | * The numerator of maternal deaths includes deaths from ectopic pregnancies, | + | * The number of deaths resulting from pregnancy is difficult to determine because there is lack of consensus regarding the time line |
- | * "40 percent of the deaths are never represented in the denominator, | + | * Should a death within a month, six months, or a year after birth be attributed to pregnancy? |
- | * " | + | * The numerator of maternal deaths includes deaths from ectopic pregnancies, |
- | * Women who are aware they are pregnant "have already survived beyond the period of pregnancy' | + | * "40 percent of the deaths are never represented in the denominator, |
- | * 19.7 cases per 1000 pregnancies in North America, and the leading cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester | + | * " |
- | * While these deaths are tragic, they are not relevant for the discussion of elective abortion - " | + | * Women who are aware they are pregnant "have already survived beyond the period of pregnancy' |
- | * Furthermore, | + | * 19.7 cases per 1000 pregnancies in North America, and the leading cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester |
+ | * While these deaths are tragic, they are not relevant for the discussion of elective abortion - " | ||
+ | * Furthermore, | ||
* Determining the risk of abortion cannot be done with precision, at least in the US | * Determining the risk of abortion cannot be done with precision, at least in the US | ||
* Lack of consensus on the time line | * Lack of consensus on the time line | ||
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* Although we do have reliable statistics on maternal death from pregnancy, we do not have reliable statistics on maternal deaths from abortion((Kaczor, | * Although we do have reliable statistics on maternal death from pregnancy, we do not have reliable statistics on maternal deaths from abortion((Kaczor, | ||
* There is simply no uniform, mandatory, and consistent way of tracking deaths from abortion in the US, which relies on voluntary reporting methods when it comes both to the numbers of abortions and the numbers of maternal fatalities from abortion((Kaczor, | * There is simply no uniform, mandatory, and consistent way of tracking deaths from abortion in the US, which relies on voluntary reporting methods when it comes both to the numbers of abortions and the numbers of maternal fatalities from abortion((Kaczor, | ||
- | * NOTE: There' | + | * (skip) |
- | Broader | + | **Conclusion / Broader |
Other problems: | Other problems: | ||
* Calhoun notes that at least seven different definitions of “abortion related deaths” are used, some of which do not distinguish between spontaneous abortions (involuntary miscarriages), | * Calhoun notes that at least seven different definitions of “abortion related deaths” are used, some of which do not distinguish between spontaneous abortions (involuntary miscarriages), | ||
- | as ectopic pregnancy) | + | as ectopic pregnancy)((For a woman contemplating the choice of elective abortions, the number of deaths from spontaneous abortions or therapeutic abortion is not relevant)) |
- | * For a woman contemplating the choice of elective abortions, the number of deaths from spontaneous abortions or therapeutic abortion is not relevant. | + | |
* Many women sufferings from complications of abortion are treated by emergency room doctors who may not be made aware of the prior abortion. Deaths in these cases may be attributed only to the most immediate cause, such as sepsis or hemorrhage, without indication that it was an abortion which brought about the sepsis or hemorrhage. | * Many women sufferings from complications of abortion are treated by emergency room doctors who may not be made aware of the prior abortion. Deaths in these cases may be attributed only to the most immediate cause, such as sepsis or hemorrhage, without indication that it was an abortion which brought about the sepsis or hemorrhage. | ||
- | * Another factor compounding the diffi culty of fi nding reliable | + | * Another factor compounding the difficulty |
- | data is the impact of substance abuse, depression, and suicide resulting | + | |
- | from abortion and leading to death. | + | |
> The claim that childbirth is more risky than abortion depends upon a comparison of two ratios: the risk of giving birth and the risk of getting an abortion. Reliable data for either ratio is not available. Arguments for legalization or ethical permissibility of abortion cannot justifiably rely on the claim that giving birth is more risky than getting an abortion. | > The claim that childbirth is more risky than abortion depends upon a comparison of two ratios: the risk of giving birth and the risk of getting an abortion. Reliable data for either ratio is not available. Arguments for legalization or ethical permissibility of abortion cannot justifiably rely on the claim that giving birth is more risky than getting an abortion. | ||
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> Is legalized abortion a boon for women’s health? One way to examine this question is to compare countries where abortion is legal to countries where it is not? | > Is legalized abortion a boon for women’s health? One way to examine this question is to compare countries where abortion is legal to countries where it is not? | ||
- | Based on study of 42 years of comparing England, Wales, Scotland, with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, they found that the countries with legal abortion actually had higher maternal mortality rates. | + | Based on study of 42 years of comparing England, Wales, Scotland, with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, they found that the countries with legal abortion actually had //higher// maternal mortality rates. |
> Calhoun concludes, “the legal status of abortion had no relationship to the reduction in maternal mortality. Rather, the reduction in maternal deaths during pregnancy was related to the better education and obstetrical care for women available in the different time periods” | > Calhoun concludes, “the legal status of abortion had no relationship to the reduction in maternal mortality. Rather, the reduction in maternal deaths during pregnancy was related to the better education and obstetrical care for women available in the different time periods” | ||
- | We can see this pattern across several countries that are good test cases for the question. If we can't compare MMR with AMR because the numbers are not reliable or comparable, we can at least compare changes if those measurements over time in countries where there has be legalization or criminalization of abortion. | + | We can see this pattern across several countries that are good test cases for the question. |
==== Chile ==== | ==== Chile ==== | ||
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===== Conclusion ===== | ===== Conclusion ===== | ||
- | Very few women died from illegal abortion in the 1960s and early 1970s - before changes to the laws. In fact, a key argument in //Roe v. Wade// was that abortion prohibitions were oudated | + | Very few women died from illegal abortion in the 1960s and early 1970s - before changes to the laws. In fact, a key argument in //Roe v. Wade// was that abortion prohibitions were outdated |
The legal status of abortion has no real connection with maternal mortality. Rather, it's proper medical care that changes the MMR, regardless of the legal status of abortion. Looking at proper examples like Chile, Ireland, Poland and Guyana provide the data needed to answer that question. | The legal status of abortion has no real connection with maternal mortality. Rather, it's proper medical care that changes the MMR, regardless of the legal status of abortion. Looking at proper examples like Chile, Ireland, Poland and Guyana provide the data needed to answer that question. | ||
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It's medical care that makes the difference - not the legal status of abortion. | It's medical care that makes the difference - not the legal status of abortion. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Let's look at [[https:// | ||
+ | * Canada: 10 (2017) | ||
+ | * United States: 19 (2017) | ||
+ | * Ireland: 5 (2017) | ||
+ | * Poland: 2 (2017) | ||
+ | |||
+ | FIXME dialogue example of comparing the US and Ireland before 2018. " | ||
But, let's pretend abortion was safer than childbirth. | But, let's pretend abortion was safer than childbirth. | ||
> The argument about the relationship between women’s health and abortion is an important one, but it is only one aspect of a larger conversation. Let’s suppose that giving birth were more risky for a woman’s health than getting an abortion. Let’s suppose that legalized abortion did lead to lower overall rates of maternal mortality. Would it follow that abortion is morally permissible? | > The argument about the relationship between women’s health and abortion is an important one, but it is only one aspect of a larger conversation. Let’s suppose that giving birth were more risky for a woman’s health than getting an abortion. Let’s suppose that legalized abortion did lead to lower overall rates of maternal mortality. Would it follow that abortion is morally permissible? | ||
+ | |||
+ | The key to the response: | ||
+ | * Compare Canada/US to Ireland/ | ||
+ | * //Bring it back to the central question//: _Every_ successful abortion kills a human being. If we add the abortion deaths of the children who are killed by the abortion, it's clear that abortion is not the safer option. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bonus, information on the debate about the Texas MMR: | ||
+ | * https:// | ||
+ | * https:// | ||
+ | * https:// |