FETAL RIGHTS: WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY?
Does a fetus have rights? If so, do these rights supersede those of its mother? Let’s break down what the constitution has to say about fetal rights:The Right to Life
The Constitution outlines the rights we have as citizens and persons in the United States of America, one of which includes the Right to Life.The Right to Life was the first right enumerated in the Declaration of Independence and is reaffirmed explicitly in the 14th amendment to the Constitution. The 14th amendment reads as follows: “…nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
WHAT IS BODILY AUTONOMY?
Choice advocates are adamant that illegalizing abortion violates a woman’s bodily autonomy. What is “bodily autonomy”? Does this concept hold up in the case of terminating an unintended pregnancy? Let’s break down this concept as it relates to pregnancy and abortion: Defining Autonomy The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “autonomy” as “the quality or state of being self-governing.” What is Bodily Autonomy? – When Does Life Begin?
Everyone has the right to exercise control over their own bodies and lives. Personal freedom is one of the many perks of living in a democratic society.
With the right to self-govern, women have the freedom to choose whether they want to have consensual sex or remain celibate. They have the freedom to make reproductive decisions.
IS A FETUS A PERSON?
Choice advocates often pose the question, “Is a fetus a person?” The “personhood” argument asserts that a fetus’ life does not hold the same value as the lives of those living outside the womb, simply because the fetus relies on its mother for survival. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Valuing one life over another is the very basis of oppression. Let’s break down the discrepancies in the “personhood” argument:What is a Person?
Before we can analyze “personhood”, we must first define what a “person” is. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “person” as “an individual human being; a man, woman, or child.” Here’s what we know about fetuses:
1) When a human woman and a human man sexually reproduce, they are only capable of creating one thing: a human fetus. Fetuses are genetic human beings.
2) Though they rely on their mothers for survival until they reach medical viability at about 22-24 weeks in utero, fetuses are individuals from conception. At conception the sperm and egg unite to form a new, unique human being with its own separate DNA. The DNA genetic code will not only identify the new person as a “human” but will identify that specific human from conception on.
WHEN DOES LIFE BEGIN?
Morally, we cannot justify the taking of innocent lives in any context. So before forming an opinion on the topic of abortion, it’s important that we ask ourselves, “When does life begin?” Biologists know the answer. There is almost universal consensus that life begins at conception. Here’s what the science says:Defining “Life” Oxford Languages defines “life” as “the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.”