Download Abortion and Fertility Treatment

Abortion and
Fertility Treatment
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When do you think life begins?
Conception – when the sperm and egg meet and the
cells begin to grow and divide?
When the fetus looks human?
When the fetus can feel?
When the brain has developed?
When the fetus is viable (could survive if it was born
prematurely)?
When the child is born?
At another time?
Write a few sentences to say when you think life
begins and why.
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Development of a fetus
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What is abortion?
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The lesser of two evils
Some people believe that abortion is wrong because the
fetus is alive and abortion kills it. However, they may say
that, in some circumstances, although abortion is a bad
thing it is better than allowing the pregnancy to continue.
An example would be if the mother’s life was in danger if
she continued with the pregnancy; it might be better to kill
the fetus and save the mother rather than allow them both
to die. This means that they choose the ‘lesser of two evils’
– neither is good but they choose the one that will cause
the least harm.
Write a paragraph to say if you think abortion should
be legal. You could either say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or ‘only in
certain circumstances’. Explain why you think this.
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Is abortion legal?
Before 1968 abortion was illegal in Britain. Many women
went to ‘back-street abortionists’ who carried out abortions
in poor conditions. This was very dangerous and so, in
1967, a law was brought in to legalize abortion and protect
vulnerable women. This law came into effect in 1968.
The 1967 Abortion Act said that abortion is legal if:
two doctors agree that it is necessary
the fetus is not viable, i.e. before 24 weeks.
The doctors have to consider the following things:
would the baby be born with a physical or mental
handicap?
if the woman continued with the pregnancy would it
endanger her life, health or mental health?
if the mother had the baby, might it cause suffering for
a member of the family who is already alive?
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The 1967 Act said that the latest date for an abortion
was to be 28 weeks.
In 1990 the date for abortions was reduced to 24 weeks.
Some people believe that it should be much lower than
this because medical techniques are much more
advanced now and it is possible for a baby to survive if
born earlier than this if it has the proper medical
attention.
There is no limit to the date at which an abortion can be
carried out if the baby might be handicapped or if the
pregnancy threatens the health of the mother.
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A doctor or nurse does not have to carry out or help to
carry out abortions if they do not want to.
The father has no legal right when it comes to abortion.
He cannot object and does not even have to be
consulted.
Do you think that the father has as much right as the
mother to decide whether or not to abort a baby?
Write a dialogue between a couple – she wants an
abortion and he does not – what might they say to
justify their points of view?
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The sanctity of life
When does life begin?
Are all lives of equal value?
These are issues that we all have to face when thinking
about abortion.
Christians believe that all people are made ‘in
the image of God’. They believe that their ‘body
is a temple’ which has God’s spirit in it, and that
every life was planned by God and so is a gift
from him. The term ‘sanctity of life’ means that
life is holy and should be respected. Christians
believe that they should try to preserve life, not
destroy it.
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Are these Bible quotes for or against abortion?
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Christians and abortion – the balance
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What the Christian Churches think
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What the Christian Churches think
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What is fertility treatment?
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What do religious people think about fertility
treatment?
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