Bioethics/Sanctity of Human Life: Abortion

Abortion is arguably the most contentious social issue of our time. The across-the-board legalization of abortion by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 not only opened the door for a drastic increase in the number of abortions but also for an ongoing and heated public debate.

Abortion intersects with law and medicine, yet it also touches the most personal aspects of our lives ? affecting our relationships, families, and children. The outcome of abortion is always fatal for the preborn child, who loses his or her life as a result of this violent and intentional act. The impact of abortion on women is only partly known, as physical complications often go unreported and the psychological impact is not always immediately known.