Abortion is a deliberate medical or surgical procedure that ends a pregnancy. The Roe v. Wade to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 legalized abortion, allowing women to terminate pregnancies during the first trimester, mobilizing advocates on both sides of the issue. Since then, abortion has sparked conflicting opinions and divided society into different opinions and sides. People argue that women have a constitutional right to determine what to do with their bodies. Others say that a life is a life, no matter how small. In the United States, abortion is a controversial issue because it is a broad and complex topic that touches on ethical, social, and legal issues. Although others believe that a woman has the right to choose what she does with her body, abortion should not be legal because there is no consensus on whether the fetus is a human being and there are other alternatives than abortion. Many people attempt to justify their actions for abortions, insisting that it is in the best interests of the child. The reasons why women have abortions are not simple and can be difficult to understand. They can range from rape, malformation, inability to provide for the child, in another relationship or unplanned pregnancy. Some women say, "I may not be able to give him a good life" or "It was a bad time and I can't provide for a child right now." In the case of rape, it is not the baby's fault; instead of punishing the criminal, the child is sentenced to death, to capital punishment. “The circumstances of an unborn child’s creation should not alter, much less deny, their right to life. In other words, the unborn baby has the right to life, regardless of the circumstances he or she is in. middle of paper... society, but people should not make decisions that could be drastic and unfair. harm other human beings. A fetus is indeed a human being and its rights must be respected. It may be the mother's body, but as soon as she conceives, it is no longer her body. Although others believe that a woman has the right to choose what she does with her body, the child she is carrying is still human and has the right to be protected. Works Cited “Abortion”. Current issues: Macmillan Social Sciences Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. February 4, 2014. Brown, Judie and Robert P. Evangelisto. “All abortions must be illegal.” Is the right to abortion threatened? Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At issue. Rep. from “The Moral and Logical Arguments Against Abortion”. Flight. 5. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. February 4. 2014.