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Essay / The Three-Edged Sword: Abortion - 2419
The Three-Edged Sword: AbortionProducer and writer J. Michael Straczynski once said, “Understanding is a three-edged sword. Your Side, My Side, and the Truth (J. Michael Straczynski). Abortion has been a three-edged sword for centuries. This is a very political, ethical and personal issue that continues to spark major debate in the United States between pro-choice and pro-life activists today. Does either side have all the right answers or does the truth about abortion lie somewhere in between? Abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy before the fetus (unborn child) can live independently apart from the mother. If the abortion occurs spontaneously before 24 weeks of pregnancy, it is called a miscarriage. An induced abortion is induced deliberately in order to end the pregnancy (Brown). Induced abortions are classified as medical or surgical. A medical abortion is caused by taking medications that end a pregnancy. A surgical abortion ends a pregnancy by emptying the uterus using special instruments. The American Medical Association recognizes abortion as a medical procedure if performed by a licensed physician according to standards of good medical practice. Before an abortion can be performed, a medical professional must confirm that a woman is indeed pregnant and determine how long she has been pregnant. . During a medical abortion, women took medications called mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone is taken in pill form and works by blocking the hormone progesterone which is necessary to maintain pregnancy. Without this hormone, the uterus deteriorates, the cervix softens, and bleeding begins. Methotrexate is usually given to pregnant women as an injection or shot, and...... middle of paper ......Apr. 2014. <>.Dudley, Susan and Stephanie Mueller. “What is medical abortion?” National Abortion Federation, September 1, 2008. Web. April 15, 2014."J. Michael Straczynski." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. April 17, 2014. Matthews, Sarah. “I can’t imagine not being allowed to control my own body.” Top Blog Formula, January 28, 2013. Web. April 17, 2014.<>.McBride, Alex. "Historical cases: Roe v. Wade (1973)". Educational BroadcastingCorporation, December 1, 2006. Web. April 17, 2014.<>."Should abortion be legal?" Abortion ProCon.org, June 4, 2016. Web. April 15, 2014.<>.Stark, Paul. "What does it mean to be pro-life". WordPress, January 14, 2014. Internet. April 17. 2014. .