Does the right to have an abortion deal with the right to choose a life path or does it deal with murder? This is a misconception that Theresa Brown discusses in her article about an experience she had as a nurse ending an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is where the egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in the Fallopian tubes, which because they can’t stretch, will result in a rupture causing blood loss and infection. This type of pregnancy is dangerous to the mother and an abortion can save her life. Brown argues that a fetus is completely dependent on a mother, and that the responsibility to bring new life into the world is immense, and in this case, could cost a mother her life. The mother is not just the host to a fetus, it is its creator and provider making their lives morally connected. That being said, the responsibility of bearing a child gets little to no attention in the pro-life argument. Pro-life supporters want to take away a woman’s right to choose, but provide little to no campaigns focusing on free pre-natal care, paid maternity leave, or affordable day care, which are all burdens a mother must bear when having a child. Pro-life proponents insist that a mother proceed with a pregnancy, but offer no support in the process making the cost of having a child a personal one. Bringing a child into the world is much more than simply carrying it for 9 months and if it is a personal cost, why should it be a public decision? Even if a woman chooses to give their baby up for adoption, an option pro-life advocates favor in lieu of abortion, there is still an immense financial burden, as well as physical and emotional implications. A fetus is a part of a woman physically and emotionally, without the woman, there is no pregnancy.

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