Abortions Should Be Illegal

Ashley Orellana

Mrs. Harris

English 303B

May 7, 2017

Abortions should be illegal

        Imagine not having a say in whether or not you want to have a life? How would you feel if someone took your ability to live? Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. Abortions have continued to be a controversial topic even after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade, which declared abortion “a fundamental right” on January 22, 1973. Abortion should be illegal because it is immoral, and can result in medical complications and psychological trauma for women.

To begin with, abortion should be illegal because it is immoral. According to Marquis, abortion is seriously morally wrong because it is “depriving a being of the value of a future like ours and makes killing it wrong”(192). Essentially, Marquis entails that depriving a fetus of its future is a serious moral offense. Moreover, many individuals argue that reproductive choice empowers women by giving them control over their own bodies. According to procon.org, “the choice over when and whether to have children is central to a woman's independence and ability to determine her future” (2017). Each woman should have the right to make their own choice when it comes to ending their pregnancy. However according to, procon.org “life begins at conception; therefore, unborn babies are human beings with a right to life” (2017). In essence, the baby also has a fundamental right to a life.

Additionally, abortions should be illegal because they can result in medical complications for women. According to, a study published by the International Journal of Epidemiology it is estimated “that about 15% of first-trimester miscarriages can be attributed to the prior history of induced abortion” (2003). It’s evident that abortions cause future complications because they can increase the risks of future pregnancies. Multiple people argue that modern abortion procedures are safe and do not cause lasting health issues on women. According to, procon.org “abortion is one of the safest medical procedures performed in the Unites States” (2017). As time has progressed abortion procedures have indeed become less risky and dangerous. Although as stated by, the American Pregnancy Association, “the physical side effects after an abortion can vary from women to women” (2016). Basically, the effects that an abortion can have on a woman all depends on the women specifically and even the simplest procedures have repercussions.

Another reason why abortions should be illegal is because they can cause psychological trauma for women. According to, a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health "young adult women who undergo abortion may be at increased risk for subsequent depression” (2008). Abortion definitely increases the possibility of emotional stress to women for instance; depression is a very serious consequence that some women experience after an abortion. Several people argue that women who receive abortions are less likely to suffer mental health problems than women denied abortions. As claimed by, procon.org “women who were denied abortions felt more regret and anger” and “less relief and happiness” than women who had abortions” (2017). Despite that, some women might feel more content with abortion and relieved there are some women who react to abortion with deep depression and regret it all really depends on the women as an individual and how much they can handle emotionally.