Course Works about Abortion When Is the Fetus Viable and What Does That Mean

The origin of the term abortion is from the Latin abortio, meaning to abort, miscarry or deliver prematurely. An abortion can occur due to a problematic pregnancy, health issues or conditions of the mother or several other situational circumstances, but normally the word applies to simply medically terminating the pregnancy. There two types of abortions: therapeutic, to spare the health of the mother and elective which applies to the procedure when it is performed for any other reason. Although Roe v. Ward legally affirmed the right for women to terminate their pregnancies in 1973, this medical procedure has been hotly debated and/or contested right to the present. In fact, anti-abortion violence claimed the lives of Dr. David Gunn in 1993, Shannon Lowry and Lee Ann Nichols in 1994, Dr. Barnett Slepian in 1998 and Dr. George Tiller in 2009. Presently most of the controversy swirls around late- term abortions, where the fetus is removed until the 27th week of gestation. As the federal government allows the states to regulate and create their own abortion laws, the legal trend over the last two decades has been either to outlaw or severely restrict late term abortions. According to statistics compiled by the Guttmacher Institute, 22 states ban abortions at fetal viability, meaning the fetus has a 50 percent chance of survival outside the womb, four states do not allow an abortion in the third trimester, and 15 restrict the procedure after a certain amount of weeks, usually that is 24. (Guttmacher Institute, 2013). Legally speaking, the Supreme Court has struck down most state bans on late-term abortions due to several factors, but one of the most important was the inability of the physicians called as witnesses to determine when the fetus was actually viable or considered to be a living, breathing person. This issue is definitely the main reason this form of abortion is so divisive. In fact, a USA Today/Gallop Poll performed in December 2012, showed 59 percent of Americans still supported Roe v. Wade, yet 80 percent of the people polled thought third trimester abortions should be illegal. (Saad, 2013). In February, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo caused quite a stir when he introduced a bill relaxing restrictions on late-term abortions, which currently can only be performed if the life of the mother is in peril and North Dakota became the most restrictive state on abortions over the last several months, when Governor Dalrymple signed a bill prohibiting abortion at six weeks or when there is a fetal heart beat. The latest abortion debate is centered around what is perceived as an attempt by media to not thoroughly cover the murder trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, a Philadelphia physician who performed late-term abortions. Gosnell is charged with eight counts of murder after sedating a woman during the procedure and for actually taking the lives of seven babies he delivered. As more macabre details emerge from the case, including the suspicion Gosnell used scissors to sever the spinal cords shortly after delivery, it only serves to make the key issue and/or late-term abortion question more strident. When does a fetus become viable? Is there a concise measurement? The legal standard was established by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade as 28 weeks, but conceded it could occur as early as 24 and scientifically there is no set standard, although neonatal intensive care would not be commonly offered if the fetus was less than 24 weeks. This is changing, however, due to the rise of medical technology and a fetus can now be saved at 21 weeks. In his article Limits of Fetal Liability and It’s Enhancement, GH Breborowicz discusses what viability truly means and determines it varies globally. Is not easily identified and needs to be assessed both physically as well as technologically. Breborowicz claims one out of every 10 infants survives at 23 weeks, but just a week later the survival rate increases to 50 percent. His work buttresses that without further study, a fetus is viable at roughly 24 weeks, but sheds no more scientific light on the issue (Breborowicz, 50). For her evaluation Jane English examined various articles on what constitutes murder, what constitutes a person and when is a fetus viable to review the moral arguments for and against abortion. After her review, English decided abortion in the early stages of a pregnancy, when the fetus was not necessarily considered to be a person was entirely acceptable because the evolution of life is a gradual process and when a fetus becomes a person might never truly be answered or at least not for some time. As the pregnancy progresses, however, so does the development of the fetus and abortions would be morally wrong in the later stages pregnancy. They should be performed only when the mother’s life is at risk. Four decades after abortion was formally legalized, the war over the institution persists namely because conservatives contend life begins at conception, while liberals feel a woman should have the choice to decide what she would like to do with her own body and that a fetus does not become a person until it is born. Even with all the available medical technology from last two decades, scientists and physicians cannot supply an exact measurement or timetable for when a fetus truly becomes viable. Until that occurs the Supreme Court’s standard will still stand and war over abortion will continue to be waged until the legal precedent is overhauled by definitive, scientific evidence of fetal viability as there will always be a grey area. It is not black and white. References Blake, Aaron. (2013). Andrew Cuomo’s late-term abortion push. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/02/20/cuomos-logical- but-risky-late-term-abortion-push/. Breborowicz, GH. (2001). Limits of fetal viability and its enhancement. Early Pregnancy.2001 January 5 (1): 49-50. Hoye, Sarah. (2013). Medical Examiner had to thaw fetal remains in Philly Abortion Doctor Case. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/16/us/pennsylvania-abortion-doctor/. Guttmacher Institute. (2013). Abortion Statistics. (Data File). Retrieved from http://www.guttmacher.org/datacenter/index.jsp. Keen, Judy. (2013). North Dakota Governor signs nation’s strictest abortion laws. USA Today. March 29, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/26/north-dakota-abortion-ban/2021215/. MacPherson, James. (2013). North Dakota Governor signs ‘fetal pain’measure. USA Today. April 16, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/16/abortion-fetal-pain-dakota/2089571/. Nordqvist, Christian. (2009) What is an Abortion?. Medical News Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/145870.php. Saad, Lydia. (2013). Majority of Americans Still Support Roe v. Wade Decision. Gallop   Politics. Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/160058/majority-americans-support-roe-wade-decision.aspx?ref=more.

Don t Be Afraid Of Mental Illness - 1750 Words

Don’t Be Afraid of Mental Illness: An Annotated Bibliography Becoming a Mental Health Nurse. InnerBody. Accessed November 19, 2015. from http://www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/becoming-mental-health-nurse.html. This article explains the necessary skills which someone needs to possess to become a mental health nurse. The article goes on to explain that as caregivers to a population of somewhat helpless and vulnerable people, nurses who work in the mental health and psychological fields must be humane, sympathetic, quiet, nonjudgmental, and above all else patient. These nurses must possess outstanding communication skills to be able to speak effectively with the patients, their families, and other mental health and medical professionals. Also, since mental health nurses work so frequently and closely with mentally challenged patients and those who are in emotional dilemmas, they must be sincerely steady with brilliant self-administration abilities. Solid critical thinking skills and advanced problem-solving techniques assist them with dealin g with crisis and difficult situations while remaining calm. Mental health nurses should also be detail and attention oriented, particularly when administering medication to patients to ensure the correct medications are given to the correct patient. I believe this article will be helpful due to the information it gives on the necessary skills that a person must have in order to become a mental health nurse. This article gives anyoneShow MoreRelatedThe Suicide And Its Effect On Our Mood, Thinking, And Behavior Essay1229 Words   |  5 Pagesintentionally. But why does one commit suicide you can ask yourself. Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental issues or disorders that affect your mood, thinking, and behavior. 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Descartes On God Essay Example For Students

Descartes On God Essay Upon cursory examination, one might assume that Rene Descartes is anon-believer in the existence of a heavenly being, a God that presidesover humans and gives us faith. However, this is simply not the case Descartes is simply trying to destroy all of the uncertainties that have comeabout by the attempted scientific explanations of such a supreme being. For ReneDescartes and all of the other believers in the world, the existence of Godprovides a convenient answer to unexplained questions, while never providinganswers to the questions about God himself. This is evidenced a great deal inthe circular argument made by Descartes in the Meditations on First Philosophy. What follows is a brief account of the third and fifth meditations, whichprovide Descartes response to the masked question, What is God? Can oneperceive or confirm the existence of an idea that is external to him, an ideasuch as God? In order to determine the answer we must start by understanding theways in which we can conclude an objects existence. Descartes explains threeways in which a person might come to such a conclusion the first, throughnature; the second, through feeling a value that is independent of the will ofthe object; and the third, the objective reality of an idea, or the cause andeffect profile. The third point is the one that we will primarily spend ourtime with. Descartes drills us with the idea that an object will have an effectwhen it stems from a legitimate cause, or an initial idea that precedes withequal or superior properties in ones intellect. In other words, the mindgenerates thoughts and ideas about a physical form, and develops a reality forthis form, th rough previous schema and beliefs. And although an idea may giverise to another idea, this regress cannot, nevertheless, be infinite; we must inthe end reach a first idea, the cause of which is, as it were, the archetype inwhich all the reality that is found objectively in these ideas is containedformally. The only problem with Descartes argument is when the existenceof God arises as a notion, for there is no sustenance or idea for the notion ofGod to originate from. Is it possible, then, to create the idea of a finitebeing from an infinite existence, outside of the physical and mental, in a stateall of its own? Descartes quickly answers that the response would be that afinite being cannot completely, if at all, comprehend the ideas that would causeGod to exist, and therefore the basis for doubt is lost in an intangible proof. Additionally, the mere fact that he believes that there is a God provides yetanother piece of proof towards His existence. This must be true, according toDescartes, with the provision that the idea and belief must have been placed inhis consciousness by an outside factor. The final factor that convincesDescartes that there is a God is the fact of his own existence, along with thefact that he, himself, is not a God. This belief stems from the theory that if aman is independent from all other existence and ideas about forms and matter,then he has the ability to become infinite. Descartes says that if he himselfwere the author of his own being and independent of all existence, then hewould attain a Godly level of existence. Ultimately, it is his own dependence onanother being that proves to him that there is a God. Many people are bred intoreligion, or borne into a set of ideas about a particular infinite being. Theinteresting problem with most types of faith in this manner is that thes cripture that has been deemed to come from your god is also the proof that Godexists. This is the type of circular definition that Descartes is trying toavoid at all costs. Basically, its like using a word in its owndefinition, or the definition of an apple is an apple. The argument beginsto get a little bit ambiguous when he begins discussing the uncertainty of hisbeliefs. He is, as he claims, as certain of the idea of the sun, the moon, theearth, even his own rational though, as he is certain of Gods existence. Themost troubling part of the entire section is the understanding of formal andobjective reality. Remember his theory that existence is perfection. Tounderstand that to have an idea is to exist is one case, but take for instancethe man whom can think, just as someone thinks of God, of a being so absolutelyimperfect, clearly and distinctly, that it does not exist. However, according toDescartes, since it has an objective reality, it must follow that it also musthave a formal reality as well. Clearly, this is an impossibility which I haveyet to ascertain to the fullest degree. Ayn Rands The Fountainhead createswithin it a hero who is so independent that he ceases to exist within the publiceye however, he never ceases to exist, as he ends up clearly being dependanton his own belief of something greater. Whether Rand shared Descartes view onthe existence of God is uncertain, however can be applied to the entireargument. If one is without an idea to back him up, one ceases to exist butwho created the idea of the being in the first place? And further, who createdand implanted within all beings the existence of a higher, more defined, andmore perfect being? It is through this logic that Descartes attempts, ratherunsuccessfully in my mind, to prove that the existence of God is not a rare leapof faith but rather a certainty in its own perfect, unquestionable andultimately non-comprehensible way. He was certainly arrogant, though, in histhoughts and writings, t hough, ascribing characteristics to a being that hehimself will never understand fully. In my mind, Descartes exceeded in manyparts of his argument, but failed to prove from a logical standpoint theexistence of a higher being. We, as humans, will take to heart his ideals, butwill continue to work on leaps of faith and the prescribed scriptures andcircular definitions of our own religions. .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d , .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .postImageUrl , .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d , .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d:hover , .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d:visited , .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d:active { border:0!important; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d:active , .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u45cdfd391038112a559e1b8f714f089d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Examining the multiple types of accounting EssayBibliographyDescartes, Meditations on the First Philosophy, Hackett Publishing Co.