Abortion
Key Findings:
"Abortion rates are similar in countries where abortion is restricted and those where the procedure is broadly legal (i.e., where it is available on request or on socioeconomic grounds)." [1]
"The vast majority of abortions are safe in countries where abortion is broadly legal, while most are unsafe in countries where it is highly restricted." [2]
"Abortions occur as frequently in the two most-restrictive categories of countries (banned outright or allowed only to save the woman’s life) as in the least-restrictive category (allowed without restriction as to reason)—37 and 34 per 1,000 women, respectively." [3]
"Deaths from safe abortion are negligible, <1/100,000 (5). On the other hand, in regions where unsafe abortions are common, the death rates are high, at >200/100,000 abortions." [4]
| Sources: | |
|---|---|
| [1] | Guttmacher Institute Fact Sheet (PDF) |
| [2] | Reproductive Health Matters (2018) |
| [3] | Abortion Worldwide 2017 Report |
| [4] | WHO Abortion Fact Sheet |
My Summary and Assertions:
The abortion rate in countries where abortion is legal is around the same as the abortion rate in countries where abortion is illegal.
Most abortions in countries where abortion is legal are safe for the woman's health.
Most abortions in countries where abortion is illegal are unsafe for the woman's health.
Women’s deaths from safe abortions are <1 woman per 100,000 abortions.
Women’s deaths from unsafe abortions are >200 women per 100,000 abortions.
More people die in a country, with respect to abortion policy, (women’s deaths + fetus deaths) when abortion is illegal compared to when abortion is legal.
Supporting the legalization of abortion is pro-life.
It is okay to support the legalization of abortion while personally opposing it except in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the life or health of the woman. This is also my current stance.