Find an article in a newspaper that is related to a public health policy or practice that has a moral or ethical component to it. Summarize the article and explain the ethical issue/dilemma involved. Be sure to provide an APA citation of the original newspaper article.
Abortion has long been debated by some of the most prominent figures in society. It has caused tension as it relates to both morality and individual autonomy. The article "Access to Abortion Falling as States Pass Restrictions" centers around the current battle between anti abortion groups and those of the pro choice group. Advocates for both sides plan to prepare political campaigns in the hopes of redefining the constitutional limits set by 1973's Roe vs. Wade. Anti- abortion groups seek to gain support on a proposal for a nationwide ban on most abortions at 20 weeks after conception under the attestation that new laws would prove to be "life-affirming {and} designed to protect women from the harms inherent in abortion”(Eckholm, 2014). This highlights the debate of the right to autonomy and the justification of hard paternalism. Although, it seems as if concern for women is at the center of this ongoing debate, according to pro-choicers it is a problem associated with government interference and infringement on the right to autonomyby limiting access to these reproductive services.
Morally, however, abortion is considered by pro-lifers to be the intentional killing of a human being and does not lie under the same umbrella as ethically justified reproductive services. However, the plausibility of the "human" definition lies all in who defines it. Members of pro-life groups argue that abortion is murder and is not justified especially in the case of a fetus reaching 20 weeks gestation, where they have a chance of living outside of the mother's womb thereby making it a "human". As strong as the argument is, members of pro-choice groups passionately argue that until a fetus is born, it is not considered "human" and therefore not considred murder to go through with an abortion. It then becomes a question of the limitations of 'killing' permissibility. If killing fetuses is permissible because they are not considered full-fledged members of the moral community, then, by the same standard, killing newborns and any other non-human animals should be permissible as well, many passionately argue (Warren, 1973).This topic has contiounsly touched on issues deeply rooted in morality with an intense ethical component to it and as the debates are just beginning for the year, abortion will continue to be a hot topic issue that questions morality and women's rights.
References
Eckholm, E. (2014, January 03). Access to abortion falling as states pass restrictions. The New York Times. Retrieved from
Warren, M. (1973). The ethics of abortion. Retrieved from