The human drama of abortion: a global search for consensus

The human drama of abortion

Listening to women: why they have abortions

The story of a peasant

A middle-class urban woman

A young, idealistic career woman

A mature, well-to-do physician

A working-class teenager

The meaning of words

The need to define terms related to abortion

The reproductive process

From embryo to newborn baby

The beginning of pregnancy and of a new individual

Ectopic pregnancy

Defining induced abortion

Safe and unsafe abortion

Methods of pregnancy termination

"Partial-birth" abortion

Menstrual regulation

The magnitude of induced abortion

Worldwide estimations

Regional differences in induced abortions

Regional differences in unsafe abortions

Consequences of unsafe abortion

Maternal mortality

Physical complications

Psychological consequences

Social consequences

Economic consequences

Factors that influence the severity of the consequences of abortion

Why women get pregnant when they do not want to

Lack of knowledge of contraceptive methods

Lack of access to contraceptive methods

Failure of contraceptive methods

Lack of control in sexual relationships

When is a pregnancy so unwanted that it ends in abortion?

The absence of the father

Financial constraints

The inability to provide good parenting/interference with life prospects

Conflict with prevailing social norms

Health concerns

Lack of social support

Values

Conflicting values encountered by health professionals

Health professionals and the value of life

Obstetricians and the fetus

Medical technology and the presence of the fetus

Technology and the acceptance of abortion

Obstetricians and unwanted pregnancies

Cultural pressures

Public condemnation and private acceptance

From accepting the exception to understanding the rule

Religious values

The historical context of Christian perspectives

Christian values about abortion

The current position of the Catholic Church

Protestant perspectives on abortion

Jewish perspectives on abortion

Muslim perspectives on abortion

Hindu perspectives on abortion

Buddhist perspectives on abortion

Chinese perspectives on abortion

Is a religious consensus possible?

Ethical values

Our understanding of ethics

The four principles of bioethics

The bioethical principles applied to abortion

The ethical dilemma for gynecologists/obstetricians

Our reflections on ethical values concerning abortion

Values as reflected in the law

Legal systems

Legal systems and abortion

The legality of abortion around the world

Human rights declarations and conventions

Abortion laws and human rights

General conclusion on abortion and the law

Improving the situation

How to decrease the number of abortions

Legal and moral prohibition

Prevention of unwanted pregnancies

Contraceptive services and the reduction of unwanted pregnancies

Increase women's power

Social support for motherhood

How to reduce the human, social, and economic costs of abortion

Improving women's status in society

Decriminalizing or extending legal grounds for abortion

Improving access to legal abortion

A fairer, more liberal interpretation of the law

Access to high quality post-abortion care

A more positive attitude among health care workers

The paradox: rejecting abortion and opposing the prevention of unwanted pregnancies

Opposition to "artificial" contraceptive methods

Opposition to contraceptive methods under the allegation that they induce abortions

Opposition to sex education

Abortion-promoting effects of "anti-abortion" politics

Seeking a consensus

How to reach a consensus on abortion

The social need for an "overlapping consensus"

Is an "overlapping consensus" on abortion possible?

The basis for an "overlapping consensus" on abortion

Some reflections on the process for achieving consensus.