Should abortion-on-demand be made legal? - Give women final say over pregnancy

By Sean Major-Campbell, Guest Columnist

It is indeed timely that the debate and conversations be reopened concerning safe and legal abortions, in the assurance of a woman's reproductive rights. Maybe terms such as pro-life and pro-choice should remain in their political categories, since they are often used to determine mutually exclusive positions.

A good starting point might be some questions which are not new, but which have not been sufficiently engaged. Is the foetus' integrity compromised by a genetic illness? Is the foetus deformed? Is the mother's life at risk? Is an underage mom ill-equipped to care for a baby? Is a pregnancy the result of rape? Is a pregnancy the result of incest?

Who would best determine the choice of a woman whose health, life, safety, human dignity, and autonomy are honoured when it comes to making a decision regarding the mother, concerning abortion? Should the life of the foetus ever take precedence over that of the mother?

When it comes to challenging ethical and moral decision-making, there is value in seeking the collective wisdom of different disciplines. Medicine, psychology, theology, law, human rights, and gender concerns, for example, ought to contribute to this conversation.

If access to safe abortion is denied, and statistical data indicate that, in such instances, the likelihood of a mother's dying is increased, would this not amount to a potential threat to her right to life? If, after professional counselling, and any objective considerations, should not the woman's right to making a decision be protected?

It seems most appropriate for the woman to be the final decision-maker in the matter since she is the greater burden bearer; since she really bears the challenge alone; since her physical, psychological, and emotional investments would far outweigh that of the father, doctor, pastor, and so on.

The place and voice of the woman's conscience ought to be respected. The wider community of health professionals, faith leaders, and political stakeholders have an obligation to educate and empower her with any information which would assist her in making a choice in what she understands to be her interest - physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, etc.

In matters of faith, dogma has no interest in the position of conscience. At any rate, dogma and various theological platitudes seek to speak for, and on behalf of, some philosophical/faith position which, in the final analysis, does not have any interest in the lonely road of a woman who is faced with all the challenges leading her to seek an abortion.

Transcends religious boundaries

Jamaica is not a theocracy, and as such, laws ought to be determined by the State and not by a particular religious group. The concerns facing women and their reproductive rights transcend religious and cultural boundaries.

If they had an informed choice, enhanced by legislative support, would 78,000 women die annually as a result of unsafe abortion practices or lack of medical accountability or 'open' post-abortion care?

If they had legally undergirded choice possibilities, would any of the 78,000 women who die annually as a result of unsafe abortion practices attend clinics which do not have the benefit of any governmental oversight?

If they had protected reproductive rights, would any of the 78,000 women who die annually as a result of unsafe abortion practices have sought post-abortion care - since the risk of criminal charges would have been absent?

To deny a woman access to safe and legal abortion is clearly an affront to ethical health practices; respect for self-determination; and most of all, the woman's right to life. Safe and legal abortion ought not to be just a physical procedure exercised under law. It should, of necessity, include the benefit of informed counsel with the possibility of a multidisciplinary approach.

I add my voice to advocacy, not for 'abortion-on-demand', but for promoting the reproductive rights of women, promoting the voice of reason, promoting the dignity of life, and promoting respect for the ability of the oppressed to make their own choices. After all, these are some of the most Christian things we may do!

Father Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com.