Exactly. When it's born it could be adopted by people who can't have kids, infertile couples, gays.

It might stop people stealing little black babies from Africa.

What if the mother doesn't feel that she can carry through with the pregnancy and labour? No offence, but it's quite a journey to go through, which men probably find hard to appreciate, just so that somebody else can look after the child.

I am all in favour of adoption and help for people who can't conceive naturally, but a woman should also have a choice as to whether she wants to go through it for the benefit of others.
As Wendy says, proper safeguards need to be in place, such as counselling, to avoid women using abortion as a form of birth control. As mentioned before, all the women I know who have had abortions did so because birth control actually failed, not because they couldn't be asked to use any...

I disagree with the anti-abortionist argument as it forgets (or ignores) that there are 2 lives involved in a pregnancy and it values the life of a foetus above that of a fully functioning human being.

There is no black and white here. I for one would not force a raped child or any other woman to carry the rapist's foetus to full term.

what about for health reasons like the baby will be severly disabled and in pain if it is born or the mother might die through complications of pregnancy and leave her other kids without a mother

or is it a no no regardless of any circumstances

Exactly, all cases are individual and should be looked at from the mother's perspective, first and foremost.

Abortion for health reasons, be it that of child or mother, should be assessed by external parties on health grounds only, not on anything to do with religion or emotional belief.

We are so lucky to live in a country that can actually prevent pain and suffering thanks to medical intervention. I f a person is dangerously ill, you would expect doctors to try and do their best to save them. Some abortions are in the best interest of the mother. Again, this is about late term abortions though.

With early abortions, if there is no medical reason, I believe the mother should be given the choice, with proper information and impartial counselling and if possible in consultation with the father.

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or like Renth said send the babies to South Africa

whether they like it or not

Agree totally, a woman does have the right however as you say it should be done early before a baby becomes viable..... do I see it as murder I have to say no at an early stage, a later stage then maybe but again it is an individual right to choose. I can't imagine many women use abortion as a birth control method....as they say "walk a day in somebody elses shoes".... If abortion was banned it would become the back street surgeon with a coat hanger again, we should never go back to that.

Quite.

I've had an abortion and, whilst it was an incredibly difficult decision to make and one I wish I'd never had to make, not once have I regretted it - or been ashamed to talk about it.

I was in Brisbane CBD today and saw the pro choice march. Lots of women, men and some children marching for abortion rights. I was with my two young children and shot a few of the protesters a friendly smile. I don't think I'd ever want an abortion but I definitely want the choice. No one should make me have a baby if my contraception fails.

I think that if you have an understanding doctor you'd get the choice. I was very unhappy when I discovered I was pregnant with my fourth son at 38 - 10 years after my third!! My doctor said if I wanted an abortion he would organise it with a Macquarie Street specialist. I couldn't do it, very glad I didn't, but it can be done without fuss and safely if that is what you want.

Is that your opinion for any reason a woman has to go through an aborton?
I had to murder 2 'children', 1 in December last year as I was supposed to be 9 weeks pregnant but the fetus was measuring 6 weeks and had a heartbeat of 25bpm, my cervix was opening and I was starting to bleed. There was no way the pregnancy would carry on and I chose to have a D&C. The second one was 4 weeks ago as it was an ectopic pregnancy and would have threatened my life. So through no real choice I had to abort the fetus to save my life and make sure the other children I have grow up with a mother. Both my choice and I wanted and could have an abortion. I respect your right to voice your opinion but I come under both of the reasons in your sentence and don't or won't ever be made to feel guilty for wanting an abortion.

you have no need to feel guilty mate and unless anyone has been in your shoes no one can judge. This decision is between you and your family and is no one elses business but yours.

Absolutely - excellent post, whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, we as women are entitled to how we manage our own bodies and yes, abortion has ethical issues in many cases but at the end of the day, everyone else can butt out of my womb.

i umed and aahhed about posting this because it can be a sensitve subject, I was young when I had my kids 19 for my first, 20 with my second and my third when I was 24, all with the same man and I have been with him (and still am) since I was 14. I decided after the third I really really didnt want any more and opted for me to be sterilised when the last one was 6 months old. So at the tender age of a 25 I was. Fast forward to 2 years ago at the age of 38 to my horror discovered I was pregnant (lucky I listened to my body). I decided then and there no way. I too was a 'its not for me but didnt judge others' til I was faced with the situation. I also have mulitple sclerosis and on disease modifiying injections each day as well as other meds. I imagined a poor kid in 5 years time having a potentially disabled mum doing stuff for me. I was angry I had to face this decision as I had done what I thought was permanent 'fix' to stop this happening. My husband has now had his bits seen too so in a remarkable twist of fate it has gone from me not being able to reporduce, to I can but now he cant. I do not regret my choice I just couldnt do it again. Well my hand has been posied over the post button and I have decided to do it as I have NOTHING to be ashamed of. Oh and I too had no idea it was against the law and it wasnt even mentioned to me.

Jo

Thank you for sharing mate. we need to understand there are never black and white reasons for abortions, and most of us only usually read the sensationalist shite that bares no resemblance to the reality of the majority of people who have to make these sorts of decisions. This is a real story, based on truth and hard decisions. You are right mate, you have absolutley NOTHING to be ashamed of. We should feel empathy for what you had to go through and respect for your decision. Most will hold out the hand of human kindness rather than judge....