I see two potential scenarios that may unfold in this situation. 

If ever the pregnancy is pushing through and she can’t get an abortion, she cannot guarantee the baby will have a proper life. According to DepEd, teenage pregnancies just perpetuate the never-ending cycle of poverty. The patient is 15– maybe in her sophomore year of high school. If the pregnancy isn’t terminated, the patient could end up dropping out of high school; statistics show that only about 40% of teenage moms finish high school. The mother would end up struggling to provide for the baby, and hence, we cannot assure that the baby would end up living a happy, healthy life. It’s much crueler to let the poor mother raise a child that she didn’t even want. 

If we refuse to administer the abortion, the patient will end up finding other places to get an abortion. She could end up getting an abortion at an unsafe place. The World Health Organization says that 45% of induced abortions are unsafe. It is one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in women. 

If I’m too uncomfortable with giving her an abortion, I’m aware that I do have the right to turn her away. I would turn her away with the guarantee that we have another practitioner that is willing to administer it instead. Personally, though, I would respect her wishes. It’s not my place to meddle with her business. 

With that aside, I believe that abortion is not morally wrong. 

Abortion has been a long topic of debate in modern times. The primary questions asked are: Is abortion morally wrong?; and should abortion be legal or illegal? According to a Guttmarcher report, in 2008, there were 1.9 million unintended pregnancies in the Philippines, resulting in mothers having unplanned births and unsafe abortions. The stigmatization of abortions in the country has led to mothers, mostly the poor who have more children than usual, to resort to unsafe abortions which are unsanitary and endanger their lives. An estimated 560,000 abortions in 2008 and 610,000 abortions in 2012 occurred. Regardless of its legality and morality, people will still be having abortions, so might as well grant them the resources and access to safe abortions. It will be happening anyway whether legalized or not. 

According to literature/experiments/research performed over the years by developmental neuroscientists, the cortex must be sufficiently formed in order to feel/experience pain, so the thalamocortical tracts in the cortex are primarily responsible for the sensation of pain, which is not developed until 24 weeks of gestation, and abortions are usually carried out before this. Babies do have pain receptors, but they don’t really experience pain, so a pain receptor may respond, but it doesn’t mean anything because it doesn’t have the amount of cognition necessary to understand or register that there is pain. 

Pushing through with the pregnancy would also be violating the mother’s right to bodily autonomy. This is something that is practiced in medicine a lot. Bodily autonomy is defined as someone’s right to their own bodies. If someone needed a spare kidney and you were the only eligible match, they still could not force you to give up your kidney, even if it will cost someone their life. Likewise, the baby can’t use the mother’s uterus if the mother doesn’t want it. Living things have a right to life, but that doesn’t supersede the mother’s right to her own body.

People would say that adoption is an option for the baby. In an ideal world, yes it is. However, in the Philippines, we already have a problem. We have 1.8 abandoned children already in the adoption system. If this is what the alternative is to abortion here in the Philippines, we should at least improve the adoption system. There is a lack of funding in the adoption system, and there are already so many children in there 

All things considered, adoption does not answer the problem that abortion does. Adoption addresses the problem of not wanting to be the parent, and abortion addresses not wanting to be pregnant in the first place. 

Overall, it’s her choice anyway whether she wants to keep the baby or not, and I must respect her choice. 

Attached are the developmental neuroscience studies I mentioned 

Derbyshire, S. W. (2006). Can fetuses feel pain?. Bmj, 332(7546), 909-912.

Lloyd-Thomas, A. R., & Fitzgerald, M. (1996). For Debate: Reflex responses do not necessarily signify pain. Bmj, 313(7060), 797-798.

Chicago 

Although deciding on whether or not one should get an abortion can be a simple matter for some people, this is a more complex case.

First off, the carrier of the embryo is only 15 years old. The 15 year old girl would probably only be a ninth-grader, still going through high school. Someone so young still has their entire life to look forward to. Giving someone still navigating their way through life and still dealing with academics no choice but to birth a child will definitely hold the girl back from plenty of experiences and opportunities. Assuming the girl does indeed attend classes in school, it’d be extra difficult to find someone willing to give the child all the care and attention needed considering the child’s grandparents would be working to support their family. It would be incredibly stressful and taxing for the mother to balance all these responsibilities thrown on her.

Next up, the potential mother lives below the poverty line. Not having the financial stability to properly support the baby would only make it harder for all parties involved: the baby, the young mother, and the young mother’s parents. In the Philippines, the minimum budget needed for a baby’s bare essentials will already cost up to 60,000 PHP (BusinessWorld, 2021). This case is even more severe if indeed the potential mother is still studying in school.

If I were to deny the girl the abortion procedure, It is more than likely that the girl would opt for more unsafe alternatives in hopes of getting rid of the child. This would put the mother at risk as well, with the possibility of losing both the girl and the child in the process. 

In the event that the abortion was not pushed through, we also have to consider the child’s well being and future. Considering all the previous points of coming from a lower-income family and a teenage mom, the kid might not end up growing up in a suitable, stable, and stable environment. 

Bodily autonomy refers to women's right to make independent decisions involving their bodies and ranging from reproductive health, when to have sex and when to have children (INQUIERER.NET, 2021). It so up to the mother to decide what to do with her body. Declining the girl from her right to control whether or not she has children is something I am far more uncomfortable with than aborting the baby.

As a Christian, my personal and biased views should impede a woman’s free will to decide whether or not they want an abortion. My first duty as a medical practitioner is to help others and save lives, aiding the potential mother in a relatively more safe professional environment is in my eyes far more favorable than allowing her to go elsewhere for a riskier or more unsafe abortion process. 

 

BusinessWorld (2021). Expecting a newborn? Filipino parents need P60k for the basics — iPrice. Retrieved from https://www.bworldonline.com/expecting-a-newborn-filipino-parents-need-p60k-for-the-basics-iprice/

INQUIERER.NET (2021), EXPLAINER: Your body, your choice: Why is bodily autonomy so important?. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1434418/explainer-your-body-your-choice-why-is-bodily-autonomy-so-important

Firstly, I would perform the abortion because it is what is best for the 15-year-old girl. Having come to me personally without her parents, it is safe to assume that they either are not aware of this or have no desire to help her raise this child. Being in poverty, there is a higher chance of her not being able to safely birth and raise this child. Moreover, she is a child without any experience raising children and could possibly make mistakes that could endanger the child’s safety. Being in poverty could limit access to sufficient education on parenting as well as sufficient funds to support the child and all its needs. Her having this child could endanger both of their lives and make it much more difficult to continue living given their financial situation. Having an abortion does not at all go against the modern Hippocratic Oath anyways. Performing the abortion would be keeping the best interests and safety of the girl at heart. There are a lot of mental health issues that may surface should the girl be forced to give birth to the unwanted child and raise it alone. There is also a chance that if I decline her request, she may also seek out other methods of abortion that are unsafe. Due to abortion being illegal in the country, there is a high amount of unsafe abortions being performed, frequently leading to health complications post-procedure and possibly even death in the process. It would be optimal to perform the abortion myself as I am a trained medical professional. Rather than declining her request and risking the girl performing unsafe abortion procedures herself, I would be more at ease if I were to perform the abortion safely myself. Aside from this, pregnancy is a dangerous process to go through, and many women, despite having access to sufficient medical aid, have lost their lives to pregnancy and birth due to different kinds of complications. Being pregnant is something life-threatening and must be a risk willing to be taken if continued. 

Some people say that why not just complete the pregnancy and give birth to the child, then put them up for adoption. Good solution, right? Well, this solution completely misses the point that some women take an abortion not primarily because they wouldn't want to care for the child but rather they do not want to continue the pregnancy and risk their lives giving birth. We have to remember that again, pregnancy and birth-giving are possibly life-threatening processes that could endanger the mother's life. Bodily autonomy states that women are allowed the right to choose what to do with their bodies, and if carrying a pregnancy to term is something they want to terminate, if it is possible, then they have every right to find a means to do it.

Another point I would like to make is that at this stage of pregnancy (1 month in this scenario), the embryo has yet to develop the ability to feel emotions or pain as the nervous system still has not developed enough, and as such, the baby would not feel anything. The cortex, a part of the brain involved in pain perception is not fully developed until the 26th week of pregnancy, and most abortions are performed before this stage. Other reactions by the fetus at this stage to what would be considered painful stimuli are merely bodily reflexes and cannot be considered as conscious responses to pain. Even so, the baby still should not be considered as a separate being during any stage of the pregnancy as it cannot survive independently from its mother. It is sort of leeching off of the mother to survive at this point and will continue to cause changes in its mother whether desired or not unless an abortion is performed. This being has still not attained its independence or personhood as it cannot think and feel at this point. Only after its birth will it be considered as a living human person. Therefore, abortion is not murder of a person but rather preventing a person from coming into existence. Having this unwanted child born would only cause more problems for the girl, who could even abandon the child at some point. The Philippines already has a lack of orphanages, and most of the ones that exist are understaffed. The Philippines also actually has an abandoned child problem, with adoptions rates still not reaching the amount of children still growing up alone. I would not want for another child to experience this problem.

Either way, it is not my decision to make. However this girl is to raise her child is not up to me, but what I do know is that she has decided that she does not want it and has come to me for professional assistance on this matter. Seeing as I am the most fit to perform the abortion procedure without threat to her life as of the moment, I will decide to go against my religion to do what is best for this girl. I believe that women must have a choice in what to do with their bodies. Pregnancy, as mentioned earlier, is a life-threatening process to go through, and they must have the choice of whether or not to go through with it. Unfortunately, the country’s laws do not agree. Rather than having the possibility of her seeking out other unsafe methods of abortion and potentially dying from them on my conscience, I will choose to help her and perform the procedure using my medical skills and knowledge in this field.

Miller (2016) wrote an article focusing on the developmental stages of a fetus. They interviewed Dr. Anne Davis. Dr. Davis started off by explaining keratinocytes, which are receptors that allow the body to detect any stimuli that may induce stress or danger to the organism, form “between 7.5 and 15 weeks of pregnancy”. These time estimates may vary depending on the body part being formed. Keratinocytes around the mouth may take a shorter time to develop when compared to keratinocytes developing in the abdomen.

The most integral part of an organism (with a brain) is the neuron. These cells transmit signals from the spinal cord to the brain. According to the article, studies show that an estimate of 19 weeks is needed for these neurons to start their journey through the nervous system, and an additional 4 to 5 weeks is needed for these neurons to actually travel to a part of the brain that enables organisms to perceive pain.

An organism is not complete without its different organs and organ systems. These need to fully develop before a true sense of ‘aliveness’, or maturity of some sort. This process will take around 30 weeks to complete.

Another point that one needs to be wary of is that these time estimates are not guaranteed. They simply estimate that was garnered from numerous studies. Fetuses may experience these changes earlier or later than others. Davis says, “there isn't any science to suggest that those pathways for pain are complete around the 20th week”, and notes that many of these changes are undetectable until the fetus develops further, as these processes have yet to happen. These statements further cover this topic in ambiguity. 

But let’s take these claims with a grain of salt. If this embryo was truly in the gestational age of exactly or approximately one month, many of the different developments and processes I mentioned are sure to not have happened yet, with a significant allowance seen in the development of keratinocytes (7.5-15 wks). Showing that the embryo can either barely or not even feel anything at all, and just has a physical shape, and a beating heart to circulate blood in itself. With this perspective, I would allow the abortion to take place.

But the situation is if I was a CHRISTIAN medical professional. So let’s glance at the ethical side of things. The Ethics of Abortion (2022) uses the perspective of Mary Warren, “On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion”, 1973. Warren utilizes the anti-abortion argument of,

1) It is wrong to kill innocent human beings.

2) Fetuses are innocent human beings.

3) Therefore, it is wrong to kill fetuses.

Warren also makes a list of what makes an organism ‘human’

1.  Consciousness (of objects and events external and/or internal to the being), and in particular the capacity to feel pain;

 

2.  Reasoning (the developed capacity to solve new and relatively complex problems);

 

3.  Self-motivated activity (activity which is relatively independent of genetic or direct external control).

 

4.  The capacity to communicate, messages with an indefinite number of possible contents on indefinitely many possible topics.

 

5.  The presence of self-concepts and self-awareness.

An embryo is devoid of any consciousness, reasoning, self-motivated activity (it can only move from genetic or direct external control), communication, and any sort of self-concept and self-awareness.

By this logic, an embryo is not human by moral standards.

But if we looked at an embryo from a biological perspective, things would be much different.

The definition of a human being according to Warren is “being a member of the biological species homo sapien”.

Embryos are part of the homo sapien species, just like their mother, father, etc. Therefore following this logic, an embryo is a human being.

Being a Christian, I would consider God as someone to interfere with this process, but if he were looking at me, I honestly wouldn’t care. This young girl was subject to unsafe sex as didn’t know how to protect herself. Additionally, as a medical practitioner, I must do my job regardless of the circumstances only if the patient wants the operation done.

Following the definitions I mentioned from Warren, I am killing an innocent human being. This is something God will definitely punish me for as I even disobeyed the fifth commandment. But if more young girls are going to have unwanted pregnancies all because of an unseen, unproven entity, then this God can send me to hell and I would keep performing abortions the same way I wake up and eat breakfast. I will continue with the operation. After this, I will educate the young girl on how to participate in safe sex so she will never have to go through this again.

Being a mother at that young age and considering her other circumstances like poverty, raising a child will be a challenge, and no teenager has to experience that so soon. So I feel this abortion would greatly benefit her.

Miller, S. G. (2016). Do Fetuses Feel Pain? What the Science Says. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/54774-fetal-pain-anesthesia.html

The Ethics of Abortion. (2022). Csus.edu. https://www.csus.edu/indiv/g/gaskilld/ethics/abortion.htm

If I won’t perform the abortion, my patient will have it dome anyway in a more delicate way like going to doctors not even trained for the job. Of course I will try to let her know of the possibilities of not killing the child like sending the child for adoption and other options. For adoption, the possibilities for the child are endless. He child could be a professional, a star, or a leader. All it takes is someone 21 years old and 16 years older than the child to be adopted by someone. This gives the child a fighting chance to make it good in life. She can also be supported by HB907, a law that helps solo parents who have low income, and the child is to be given financial and basic needs up to the age of 21. But if all else leads to abortion, then I will have to do it. If my patient will go to an untrained doctor, chances are both of them will die, wherein if I do it, then one of them lives. I can’t really stand the fact that 8 am the one that killed a supposed to be living human, but I can’t stand it more to have to patients die because of saying no. As a Catholic, this is against my faith, but as a human I can’t let two people die. 

Sources:

Raising a child is a difficult endeavor that demands both social and emotional dedication as well as financial resources that the child will need. If a person feels unprepared for a kid, the pregnancy is unwanted, and allowing a fetus to develop into a child is worse than abortion for the reason that child will grow up in an unsuitable and damaging environment, lacking the love, care, and stability that a child requires.

In addition, a fetus is neither a person nor a human being in legal or scientific terms, abortion cannot be linked to murder or the taking of a life. We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights do not belong to the fetus until it is born. So abortion is not murder, and it does not violate a fetus' rights because it does not have any until it is born.

Prohibiting abortions does not prevent abortions; women would simply seek abortions through dangerous and illegal means, hence it is preferable to offer women with safe and legal abortion options for the reason that contraceptives such as birth control pills aren’t always available. These contraceptives require a doctor’s prescription and we must also consider those that are afraid to have consultation for the fear of being judged and many other personal reasons, hence, access to abortion is vital. One can write a law that allows abortions when medically necessary due to fetal or mother health concerns. However, considering that it is so politicized, it would be far from comprehensive to a few of the public’s population.

No one should have to justify their decision to terminate their pregnancy to anyone other than themselves, and a 15 year old’s wish to seek for my professional aid has my complete support.

Raising a newborn child is a difficult situation to be in when you're only 15 years old. Beginning with both of your parents, the two of you should be open to your parents about the fact that you are expecting a child. This is the most common reason why teenagers abort because of parental pressure, such as threats from the man's family, and because the teenage girl is 15 years old, it is a teenage pregnancy. Another example is that both of you who are in a relationship are under pressure because most teenagers panic when they discover they are pregnant, not on purpose.

Another reason teenagers abort is due to financial difficulties. Having a baby is not an easy situation for anyone under the age of 18, as it necessitates a certain amount of money in order for the baby to survive. "From birth to the legal age of 18, raising a child in the Philippines requires at least PHP10,000 per month or PHP 120,000 per year," according to moneymax.com.ph. As demonstrated above, it costs a lot of money to raise a child from birth to the legal age. A 15-year-old girl cannot financially support a child if she does not have the above-mentioned amount of money. From the hospital bill after giving birth to the equipment, vitamins, and clothing required for a baby, everything is very expensive. This is another reason why the majority of them abort.

Because the Philippines is a third-world country, most teenagers in the informal settlers sector are frequently the ones who have unwanted pregnancies, and abortion is illegal in the Philippines. However, the majority of them continue to refuse to abort their child because they believe it is a blessing, despite the fact that they are struggling financially to raise their own child. When they are depressed, the first thing they do is abandon their child or throw them away.

To summarize, medical doctors should always do what is best for their patients. Despite Catholic beliefs, abortion should be legal in our country because it leads to sin. A medical doctor, on the other hand, will consider whether it is better for the woman to continue her unwanted pregnancy or to abort the baby. The reasons stated above are the primary reasons for abortion; if the woman has the financial means to raise the child, respect the patient's decision. Whether the patient wants to abort or not, there should be no judgment; judging patients can harm their mental health and lead to depression.

So moving on to the scenario given for this performance task, it was stated that I am a Devout Catholic medical practitioner who currently has a 15-year old girl from poverty as my client. This girl approached me to ask if I would be willing to assist her in aborting her 1 month old baby/embryo. Before I give my response, I would first contact the parent/s or guardian/s of the 15-year old girl. We can’t forget the fact that she is a MINOR, and she can’t just randomly go up to me and ask for an abortion WITHOUT THE CONSENT of the parent/guardian. According to the Guttmacher Institute (2022), the majority of states in the US require a parental involvement in a minor’s decision to have an abortion. Now, some may argue, “Well that is for the US, what about the Philippines?”. Well in our country, abortion in general is not even permitted by the law if you refer to RA 10354. As for my response to the request of the 15-year old girl (Assuming I was able to contact the parent/guardian and they approve of abortion), since I can’t hold any middle ground and that I have to stay in-line with my beliefs; I would politely decline her request. Now in declining her request, I will not leave her with just that since I would also give her a number of proposals to potentially persuade her. The key word here is “persuade”, I am not going to force my ideologies on her; I would just simply give a more wider view of the possibilities that could happen if she doesn’t push through with abortion. Now, I am aware that if I reject her and she still stays persistent in pushing through with abortion; then she could go to unsafe abortion practitioners – which could potentially lead to her death. So before I move on in giving more details on how I would handle this scenario, let me circulate back as to why I can’t perform abortion as a medical practitioner. 

I have three main points – first, I stand by the teachings and values given by the Catholic Church and my Religion. Second, as a law-abiding citizen, it is my responsibility to uphold and follow the laws given by the government. Lastly, following my beliefs as an individual and as a medical practitioner, my duty is to save people’s lives – not to take away or prevent their lives. Now, I am well-aware of the renowned debate on whether an embryo/fetus can really be considered as a living human being. There are countless articles, debates, and posts online that discuss the perspective and views of a variety of people. 

Since I need to reinforce my stance, then this is where I will insert my first point. As a Devout Catholic who grew up in a household with god-fearing people and who went to a private Catholic School (LSGH), the first reference that I would most likely use if I am unsure of a situation are the teachings of the Catholic Church. In an article by Pullella (2006), it was quoted that “Pope Benedict reaffirmed Catholic teaching that life begins at the moment of conception (fertilization), saying embryos are "sacred and inviolable" even before they become implanted in a mother's uterus”. Well during that time, some argued that the Pope lacked sufficient evidence and that his view on the matter is solely based on the teachings of the Catholic Religion. This is where a famous French geneticist by the name of Dr. Jerome LeJeune comes in. He provided objective evidence that the full human genetic code is present in the human embryo from the moment of sperm egg fusion (Respect Life University, 2018). Dr. LeJeune said “to accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place, a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or of opinion. The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence” (Stetson, 2001). In an article by George (2005), he also mentioned that “the human embryo is not something different in kind from a human being, nor is it merely a "potential human being," whatever that might mean. Rather the human embryo is a human being in the embryonic stage”. 

Now that I have discussed my first point and technically my third point, I will now move on to my second point. Now before I advance to my next argument, I am not claiming that the sources and claims that I gave disregards the views of the opposing side; since the other side may also have their own justifiable evidence – I just gave sources that were in-line with my stance. As for my second point, The Republic Act 10354: The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 states that “this act recognizes that abortion is illegal and punishable by law”. It was also mentioned in a report by Finer and Hussain (2013) that “The Revised Penal Code considers abortion to be a criminal offense punishable by up to six years in prison for doctors and midwives who perform abortions and by 2‒6 years in prison for women who undergo the procedure, regardless of the reason”. Now the fairness of the law is already its own respective topic, all I am saying is that as a medical practitioner I am obliged to follow this law. I am not the President of the Country, I am not a part of The Congress, I am not a Judge, and I am not a Lawyer, so I am not going to contradict the law since this is out of my power. 

Now, we could finally go back to the situation earlier – as I mentioned, I need to get in touch with her parents or guardians first. In the previous performance task regarding “Juvenile Delinquency”, I stated that in situations like this; it is the responsibility of the parent or the guardian. I mean, where are they right now? Their daughter is literally experiencing an extremely life-changing/threatening situation. Even if she comes up with the argument that maybe she – quote on quote – “doesn’t have” a parent/guardian or they just don’t bother, then sadly that isn’t really a justifiable reason no matter how true it may be. Imagine if you go to a vaccination site and you are under 18, you can’t just go there and ask for a vaccination without the approval of a parent or guardian. Similar to this scenario – if I decided to assist in her abortion without the consent of the guardian nor them even being aware, then that is also another law that I am potentially violating. Some may ask, why exactly am I so wary of the law? To give further context on the gravity of the situation, let us say by this time I already have my own family where I have my own wife and kids. If I end up getting put into prison, then what is going to happen to the well-being of my family? Especially if I am the only one that is sustaining and working for my family. That alone is already in its own topic, anyone could enumerate various consequences that could potentially happen. Putting myself aside, if we refer to the Penal Code, then the 15-year old girl will also be held liable if caught. Going back to the previous performance task regarding juvenile delinquency, there were countless posts – including mine – mentioning that punishing a minor this young through the use of the law is going to greatly affect their future and their view of the world. I don’t want that to happen to her, especially with the severity of the situation that she is currently going through. 

Let us now say that I got in touch with the parent/guardian, then it is time to give further context on the situation as well as to consult on their view/perspective on it. There are two outcomes, either they say yes (push through) or no (don’t push through). If they say no, then I am most definitely going to distance myself since it is up to them to decide on how they will handle the given matter. Maybe the least I could do is to give my own advice, or maybe recommend them to reliable therapists or psychologists. While if they do say yes, then this is when I am going to step up and give my opinion on how the situation could be handled. First of all, we need to keep in mind the negative factors if we don’t push through with abortion and go through with giving birth to the child instead:

I am sure some may also ask, what about the funds for the operation of her giving birth? Well aside from referring her to a public hospital – assuming that I am an Ob-gyn doctor from a reputable hospital, then the least I could do is to exempt her and her family from paying for the said-operation. 

Now, some articles online mentioned that some women ask for an abortion because going through the process of giving birth would put their life at risk due to certain health complications (in short not giving birth would save their lives). This is a good argument – HOWEVER, if we look back at the scenario given for this performance task; it never stated that the girl is going to “potentially lose her life” if she went through this process because of health complications. I know that we can’t overlook the fact that women don’t need to have “health complications” to have their life at risk when giving birth to a child. The process itself is already enough to put any potential mother at risk, especially if they were a teenager – however, since I am a certified medical practitioner then I can at least guarantee a safe delivery of the child. Again, assuming that I am an Ob-gyn doctor – I studied medicine for over 10 years, plus the experience that I have with my previous clients; so I should be more than credible to commence with the operation. If some still think that it is still “sketchy” about what is going to happen to the life of the girl, then just view it this way. I never studied how to perform or assist someone in having an abortion (due to it being illegal in the country, some med schools might not teach it), but why is it that her reaching out to me would mean it is more credible and “safer”? So, if I have some sort of credibility for a process that I haven’t really done at all as a medical practitioner, what more in assisting her with giving birth – which I have been probably doing for who knows how many years (wasn’t specified in the scenario).

So for the first scenario, let us say that I was able to come into an agreement with the 15-year old girl and her parent/s. Although before that, some may argue that I probably “violated” or forced her to push through with the process of giving birth. To start off, I did mention that this is the “first scenario”, meaning she as well as her parent/s did say YES out of their own will; if the 15-year old girl and her parent/s declines then I will elaborate on that in the second scenario. Next, we can’t forget that she is a minor – looking at the scenario it has only been a month, so honestly it is pretty justifiable in her own end for thinking of going through the process of abortion (basing off her age and social status as well); although how could we ensure that this wasn’t on impulse of her emotions. There are studies that show that individuals who are under the age of 16 – even 25 – don't have the rational part of their brain fully developed yet, and that teens normally process with the amygdala which is the emotional part (University of Rochester Medical Center, 2022). We also don’t know how she would be able to deal with this scenario post-abortion, while some may say she could seek out to therapists or psychologists – then the same can also be said if she went through the process of giving birth (reaching out to therapists/psychologists wise, not implying that both situations have the same gravity). 

I will now move on to one of the more bigger factors on why abortion is justifiable for most inidividuals. This factor is – “What will happen to the child once they come out?” Like sure the mother agreed to push through with giving birth, but what now? This is where most pro-life individuals tend to faze and just say “put them up for adoption”. In some countries this may be favorable but here in the Philippines, not necessarily – due to either the lack of adoption centers (for people in poverty to reach out to) or the questionable environment provided. This is a good argument especially if we are talking about abortion cases in the Philppines in general. However, circulating back to the scenario given in the performance task, it doesn’t talk about the abortion cases in the entire country – it asks what I would do if a 15-year old girl approached me to assist her with abortion. Now, a reasonable argument that I saw from reading and watching a number of debates is that adoption is sometimes not the answer since a woman wants an abortion not because they don’t want to be a parent, but rather they never wanted to get pregnant in the first place. I am going to say it again, the first scenario implies that the 15-year old girl and the parent/s gave their consent and are doing this out of their own will (meaning both are willing to hear out the adoption scenario and that they were able to put this into consideration). Once again, if they refute the proposal then I will discuss it in the second scenario. Going back, putting up the child in an adoption center is not the only feasible way to have someone else take care of them. Now, I am not proposing that I would be the one who will take care of the child; but rather, since I am a doctor/medical practitioner, then I am bound to have a number of connections. Since I am an Ob-gyn, it won’t be unusual to say that I have at least encountered a patient that has trouble giving birth but truly desires to have a child. Now if I never encountered one, then there are other multiple Ob-gyn doctors in the hospital that I could contact and ask. If there is none again, then Ob-gyn doctors aren’t the only type of doctors in the hospital; I could also reach out to other types of doctors who have different specialties, or even nurses – or the other notable staff available in the hospital. I mean who knows, maybe one of them would even be willing to take care of the child themselves. Reaching out to all these individuals may sound somewhat naive, but we can’t say that it is impossible. 

Now, someone could argue, “Well what if there is literally not one person who wants to adopt the child? What now? Would I just randomly throw them to a random adoption center?” Well, while the reputation of most adoption centers may be questionable in the country (claimed by some articles), one institution in particular that handles adoption is recognized and licensed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). They are known as the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation Inc. and they are a private and non-profit child and family welfare organization. The KBF also greatly values and upholds the RA 8552, which is “The Domestic Adoption Act of 1998”. So I would try to contact them or the DSWD, introduce the 15-year old girl and her parent/s – then let her state her reasons. While some may say who knows what is actually happening inside there; if you look at the institution they do look credible and they take the matter of adoption seriously. They also have their own website where they mention their history, the people that administer the institution, and notable sectors that have accredited them.

So this should give an answer to the 5 Questions I gave earlier. The first two are already taken care of, since the girl won’t have to worry about the expenses or the responsibility anymore (since someone else will take care of the child – assuming that the girl doesn’t want to take care of it since she was persistent in pushing through with abortion in the first place). The third question, while we can’t guarantee that the child will have an extremely successful future; we could guarantee that they would at least learn the proper morals and values that should help them throughout their life. For the fourth question, I gave individuals and an institution that could take the responsibility of looking out for the child and ensuring they grow up in a sustainable environment. Then for the last question –  since me, the 15-year old girl, and the parent have come to an agreeable conclusion; then we could confirm that this was out of their own will and I didn’t force nor violate the 15-year old girl and the parent/s’ perspective on the situation. 

Now, despite the proposal and situations that I gave – if the 15-year old girl and her parent still refuses and heavily insists on going to an unsafe abortion practitioner, then this is when the second scenario would come in. As for my response to her and her parent/s, even after giving my reasons, and the proposals that I could do to help; then I have no other right but to accept her decision. At the end of the day, it is her life and it is her body, so I would need to know where my boundary is. If I decided to reinforce my ideologies on her, then I am not respecting her right to bodily autonomy anymore. If she thinks that is the best path for her, then I would let her be. Now, some would definitely say – “Isn’t that a bit too heartless? You are about to potentially watch her walk towards her death.” First off I’d like to clarify that I am not just simply “watching her walk towards her death”. If anything I was preventing her from leading to that path if we look back at the plans and proposals that I gave her. I gave potentially favorable situations that would benefit both her and the child and I was willing to take the initiative of supporting her in those scenarios. Depending on your view on the counter arguments as well, can’t the same be said for the child that is about to bear? While there may be articles that say an embryo/fetus is a living thing or some say that it is not, we are technically killing the child (in some context, not all.) or to phrase it better – we are stopping the child from “existing”. Without the intervention of anyone or anything, then the child is pretty much predestined to come out of the mother’s womb. So if we follow the concept of Essentialism, which is where everyone has a predetermined role or purpose; then we are intervening with the said purpose. Now some might ask, if it would prevent the child from being born into a life where it seems like nothing would go well for them, then is it really worth it to push through with the mother giving birth? This is a good argument if the medical practitioner simply brushed off the 15-year old girl with a “no”; but going back to my proposals earlier, I already gave scenarios and situations that would at least guarantee that the child will end up and grow up in a fairly sustainable environment. Again this is my view on it, I’ve saw some debates online regarding this topic and the pro-choice group most definitely have their points as well. 

Moving on, while some could say “If you really wanted to prevent her from walking that path, then why did you not just perform and assist her in abortion?” Well I am pretty sure I mentioned earlier that first, I greatly uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church. Not only that, if ever we were caught, then the law would have to give pretty dire consequences. If the commandments or the teachings of the Church may not grant “concrete punishments”, well the law does. Again, as for how fair it is; this is out of my power and I am just following it as a law-abiding citizen. Second, since I respect her right then it should also be a given that my right should also be taken into consideration. Again as a medical practitioner, my role is to save lives – while it may sound contradicting since the 15-year old girl has a potential of dying for going to an unsafe abortion practitioner, I can’t force my views and beliefs in my religion to change on a whim. Me performing an abortion for her that is not out of my own will is not much different from me forcing her to go through pregancy that isn’t out of her own will. While some could argue, “well for her situation her life is on the line unlike yours”, well I just wanted to give further context on what it is to force one’s right opposed to their views/beliefs. It is not that I am stubborn, because we can’t forget that I did give effort to hand out scenarios and situations that would benefit both her and the child. 

So for the second scenario, 4 out of the 5 questions are immediately crossed out since the mother didn’t push through with giving birth. However, one question is still valid and can still be answered, and this is the 5th Question. So, did I respect the right and say of the mother? Well, the answer to that is yes because even if I was willing to give effort on situations that could help her; I did not force my proposals and I wholeheartedly respected her decision.

So to conclude, I would first like to contact the parent/guardian to hear their take on the given scenario. We can’t overlook that getting their consent is extremely crucial, even if their response is in-line or not with my beliefs. Since not only is it an issue to not gather the consent of the parent, going through abortion itself could also potentially give pretty big consequences for me and the 15-year old girl since the act is not even permitted by the law in our country. Now, if ever the parent says that they are for the procedure (abortion), then I would politely decline and state my reasons such as my belief in the Chruch, following the law, and my values as a doctor/individual. I would tell them that sadly I can not assist the 15-year old girl in the act of abortion BUT I would be more than willing to help her if they (girl and parent/s) would open up the possibilites if she ends up bearing the child. Such as contacting individuals or reliable institutions who can take care of the baby. I would like to clarify once again that I am not implying that the people who are for abortion have wrong values and are disregarding the ethics of the Church. For them helping out the 15-year old girl fits their morals more since seeing the girl go to an unsafe abortion practitioner which could potentially lead to her death would greatly affect their conscience – and they have their own point and I greatly respect that. As for my stance, I stated my arguments and reasons as to why I can’t push through with abortion.

Finer, L. and Hussain, R. (2013). Unintended Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in the Philippines: Context and Consequences. Guttmacher Institute. unintended-pregnancy-and-unsafe-abortion-philippines-context-and-consequences

George, R. (2005). A Distinct Human Organism. NPR. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4857703

Gov PH (2022). Republic Act 10354: The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012. Republic Of The Philippines: Philippine Commission on Women. republic-act-10354

Guttmacher Institute (2022). Parental Involvement in Minors’ Abortions. https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/parental-involvement-minors-abortions

Kasaihang Buhay Foundation Incorporation (2022). About KBF. https://www.kbf.ph

Pullela, P. (2006). The Pope restates that life begins at conception. The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/pope-restates-life-begins-at-conception-1.1021381

Respect Life University (2018) Is the Embryo a Human Being? Healing the Culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exGd-tynMGE

Stetson, B. (2001) A ‘Choice’ That Defines Our Humanity. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-22-me-15435-story.html

University of Rochester Medical Center (2022). Understanding the Teen Brain. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=3051

In choosing to proceed with the abortion, I would be able to execute the whole procedure in a safer and with guaranteed success compared to when she decides to choose other unsafe alternatives to abort the baby. If I do decide not to assist her with the abortion, she would most likely turn to other procedures which are unsafe and are mostly unsuccessful due to different complications that proceed afterward. Sometimes a failed procedure of abortion even leads to a death of a person as there are a total of 1000 individuals that die each year due to failed abortions. I, as a Catholic medical practitioner who practices the Hippocratic Oath, can not have a person die due to a wrong decision that I have made. I would only need peace of mind about having assisted someone with an abortion, but it was the best and most practical decision for a patient.

Another factor that is to be considered in deciding on moving on with the abortion is the potential life of the child. The mother would still be 15 years old and she has no experience in becoming a mother. The girl has not yet even finished school, which begs the question of how would she keep the baby alive without a job and no stable source of income. The child would live a hard life and he/she might not even probably live that long due to the lack of proper care from the mother. Raising a child requires a person’s full devotion as it is a human being that would 100% depend on you and I believe that a 15-year-old girl under the poverty line is not someone that is ready for that responsibility. Every child deserves to have a fun and happy childhood filled with happy memories with their parents and in this situation, it is unlikely that the child would have that. 

After deciding whether to proceed with the abortion, the procedure must be done as early as possible for the baby to feel nothing. As a doctor, I always care for my patients and do my best to make sure they feel no pain during any procedure I carry out with them. In this abortion, I would suggest the girl do the procedure as early as possible for the baby to feel no pain as babies are slowly developing their pain receptors in the first 6 weeks of the pregnancy.

One other way this situation could go is for the girl to have the baby and just give him/her out for adoption. Personally, I believe an adoption is never an option as it leaves the child in an unstable environment as they could move from different homes and be even given to a family that does not care for them. The child would also grow up thinking of the reason why his/her parents never wanted him/her in the first place. The child’s life would be filled with sadness and lack of love from a motherly and fatherly figure.

Being a medical practitioner that practices the Hippocratic Oath, I am obliged to do what is best for my patient no matter the situation. In this sort of problem the best decision that could be made is to proceed with the abortion as the girl is under the poverty line and is incapable of providing for the baby for him/her to have a good life, thus abortion is the most practical decision in this situation. With me handling the operation, the girl's life will be in good hands, and I can guarantee her safety and the success of the operation. Being a catholic and choosing to proceed with this operation would probably be the hardest decision to move on from as it is always against religion to kill a life, which is why the best suggestion I could possibly give the girl is to proceed with the operation as early as possible so that the baby would feel no pain during the operation, as that is the best thing we could at least do for the child. The child in the womb is still life but when choosing to avoid abortion there are a number of negative effects that would come back to the girl and her child, which is why proceeding with abortion is the best and most practical choice for both the child and the girl.

FIrstly, I would like to clarify some of my beliefs. The Catholic Church strongly goes against the idea of abortion. Because of this, I would also have some reservations against it. However, there are certain things that I disagree with too. The Catholic Church says that life begins at conception. It would be akin to murder if the mother aborted the baby. In my time as a student and as a practitioner of medicine, I’ve learned many facts. A zygote in the first 5 weeks of pregnancy does not have a functioning brain, spine or heart. It cannot feel, emote, or process what is happening to it. It is basically a clump of cells. If the pregnancy is still early, I am fully willing to perform this operation as at this point, it cannot be considered a human being.

My second point is is that by denying the young 15 year old girl her abortion, I am potentially dooming her. As a 15 year old, she is not physically equipped and fully developed yet to handle birth. Birthing is a very dangerous and taxing affair. It can be potentially fatal at her age. By having the baby with her financial situation, her and her child will suffer. This does not sit right with me. By denying her, she might consider opting to an unsafe abortion which is even MORE dangerous. By practicing medicine, I’ve sworn to help people. Letting her suffer is not something I will sleep well about. I believe that this is much more faithful than just leaving her to her own devices. Her life is simply more important. And she must have autonomy over it.

Firstly, she is not financially capable enough to support the child properly. The situation states that the girl lives under the poverty line, but raising a baby requires so much money. Expenses range from strollers, cribs, diapers, and even more as they grow older. If a parent won’t be able to afford these required things, it may lead to the baby not getting the care and treatment it deserves

Following that the mother is 15, which is not a suitable age to be a parent. Money is not the only thing required to take care of a child. You also have to be emotionally present throughout their development and be ready to handle the ups and downs of parenthood. A child can also have constantly fluctuating moods that you would have to know how to deal with. It can also be exhausting constantly looking after another human being. If the woman is still an adolescent and developing human herself, it will be very difficult to fill the role of a parent. Not to mention they may not even have the knowledge to be a proper parent in the first place.

Another point is that refusing to perform the abortion will force the girl to use alternative measures of abortion. This may cause health and life complications for the girl. Instead of turning her away, as a doctor I could at least ensure that the abortion will be safe. 

Lastly, my religion should not be strictly enforced on others. Following the church, the bible or the religious officials governing it without any thinking of my own isn’t loyalty or faith. It’s being blind to reason. Being a Christian is a belief of mine but that belief should not interfere with my duty as a doctor and medical professional. Even if I were to apply my religious beliefs here, the right thing to do would still be to help in carrying out the abortion as to show kindness and do my best to help the girl in need. The abortion is her decision and that should be respected as at the end of the day it is her body.

The first reason why I am agreeing to help her in aborting her child is that she is not financially capable of supporting her child if ever she will push through in keeping her child. Since she is living under the poverty line, raising a baby will be difficult because it requires a lot of money. Due to the fact that she is still a teenager and does not have a job to support her child, expenses range from diapers, cribs, clothes, food, and medicines, and even as they grow older are all expensive. As a parent who lives under the poverty line and who can't afford the necessary things stated above, this might lead to a baby not getting the right treatment that they deserve. 

The second reason is that raising a child is difficult given the situation that the mother is living under the poverty line and who is 15 years old. Money is not only a requirement in raising a child, you have to be physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared for whatever the situation you encounter while raising a child becuase there will be lots of ups and downs you will have to experience dealing with parenting or raising a child. These ups and downs that you will have to encounter and experience in raising a child are all the tantrums that the child will do, the sleepless nights that you have to encounter, and the child may have different moods that you need to look out for. It is really difficult to raise a child because teenagers who are at the age of 15 are still counted as pre-adolescents. This means that their minds are not fully developed as an adult. Teenagers who are at the age of 15 will be difficult in fitting the role of a mother or a parent. 

The last reason is that refusing to abort the child might lead her to use different alternative measures of abortion. These alternative measures might lead her to cause health and life complications for the girl and even the baby. Instead of her resulting in these alternative measures of abortion, as a doctor, I will do everything in my power to successfully abort her baby without her resulting in any health and life problems. Having the proper execution of abortion allows the 15-year-old girl to not result in having and experiencing health problems. This will allow the 15-year-old girl to live normally as a teenager. 

To sum it all up, even though I am a devout catholic medical doctor, I would ignore all religious beliefs about abortion and still, assist in aborting the 15 years old girls child because as a doctor it is my duty and responsibility to assist in doing the abortion of the 15-year-old girls' child because it is her body and we should respect her decision. 

       Firstly, I’ll discuss why I prefer not to assist in aborting the child. The reason is because it is still a living human being despite everything. It can also be argued that even though it is human, it is not a person which I will expound on more later. There are many alternatives to help the teenage mother and her baby to live for example if the teenage mother dies due to childbirth or abandons the baby, the baby can be put up for adoption. I can also adopt the baby provided that’s if I have the resources to raise the baby myself. Each human being has the potential to become anyone such as the president of a country, a famous actor, or even a scientist who will cure cancer but it is dependent on the upbringing of the child.

 

        Secondly, I’ll discuss why I will assist in the abortion provided if I cannot persuade the teenage mother or if there is NO other option. To further explain what I said on the previous paragraph, a fetus can be argued that it is not a person since it is yet to develop a conscience, intelligence, reasoning, and other factors which is based on the gradient theory of personhood. Sure, the baby is a living human being but it is not a living person yet therefore it is just an empty shell with all the biological traits and functions of a person but without the conscience. In the end it can be argued that even though it is considered a person by some, it ultimately has less personhood than its mother and a human person. The mother’s life can also be considered important since there is always a chance that the mother can die due to childbirth,

           To sum it all up, I prefer not to assist in aborting the child since there are always alternatives however I will assist in aborting IF and ONLY IF there is no other choice. Ultimately, it is up to the decision of the 15-year-old mother since it is her child and it is her body. I will respect whatever decision the mother makes in the end but I will still try to persuade and convince her to keep the baby provided that either the government or even myself can give enough support to her and her child. 

I am supporting her in aborting the baby for 2 reasons. Firstly, the girl is only 15 years old and is at the poverty line. She won’t have enough finances to support the baby since she is already struggling as it is. If she proceeds in having the baby, she will have to stop her schooling and work part time just to raise the baby. Most of her youth will be dedicated to raising and providing for her own child. At this point, she will have to retake the years that she missed in highschool if she ever has the time to do so.

Secondly, the baby will have a hard time. Without the mother providing the baby’s needs like vitamins, medicine, or any health care, the baby will have a higher chance of contracting diseases as a newborn. This will eventually be the cause of the baby’s death and for a 15 year old mother to take all that responsibility will break her heart and spirit. Babies need all the nutrition that they can get, especially newborn babies to strengthen their immune system.

To sum up all my points, I am willing to support the girl’s decision even though my conscience is telling me not to. Because both the girl and the baby will just have a hard time living. They may receive alternative help but that will only be temporary help. For a 15 year old girl who has not even reached adulthood, will have a hard time in getting accepted in part time work since they usually hire 18 years old and above and at least graduated highschool for some part time places. She will surely have a hard time raising the baby if there is no financial support provided for the both of them. The baby has its essential needs especially for newborns like vitamins and medicine. If it is not provided for the baby, the baby will surely have a hard time without those needs that may even lead to his/her death due to contracting any diseases as a newborn or because of the weak immune system.

The first one would be that the girl is still young and in poverty. If she were to go through with the pregnancy, both she and the child would have a difficult life and future. She would find it difficult just to provide for the child’s needs. The child may possibly grow up malnourished, uneducated, and more. Putting the child for adoption is a possibility, however, it could be difficult for the girl as she would have emotional and physical problems if she continued with the pregnancy and put her own child up for adoption.

The girl would also be too unaware of how to raise their child properly. While she can certainly ask for help from her parents, the responsibilities of taking care of the child while in an impoverished family would be too stressful for everyone and may also stop the girl from achieving things she would be able to in her childhood as she would be taking care of the baby. The girl would also be attending school at the age of 15 so it would be difficult for the parents of the girl to take care of the financial and educational needs of both the girl and her child.

Women also have the right to make decisions that involve their body. If the girl wants an abortion, then she should be allowed to have an abortion. Even as a Catholic, I should assist in the abortion and have her go through the safer option as it is my duty as a doctor to treat my patients to the best of my ability. I should set aside my beliefs for the future of the girl and her child.

In the case of the 15 year old girl however all decisions are to be made by her. I personally do not support abortion but in a situation like this it is better to act and think logically for the current and future life of a young person is at stake. Teenage pregnancy is not a light subject matter a lot of factors are needed to be accounted for when dealing with such a situation.

Factors like emotional, physical, and financial states are the most notable. Questions asking if the child is emotionally ready or physically ready to take up the task, and the aspect of financial capability is a whole different discussion. In this case a 15 year old girl living under the poverty line is not an ideal situation to be in even if emotionally and physically ready.

Dwelling on the emotional aspect it would be quite arrogant and irresponsible to deem the girl mature enough for the task of raising a child under poverty. 

First, we must consider the patient herself. She is 15 years old, a minor, and is living below the poverty line. If I refuse, she will either go through with the pregnancy, or she will possibly just opt for an unsafe abrotion practitioners who cannot guarantee her safety. Going through with the abortion also has its own questions, as I will have to effectively kill an embyo, which can possibly be considered as a living human being, especially when put under the Christian lens.

If she goes through with the pregnancy, there is the issue of the future of the child, especially considering the mother is only 15 years old and below the poverty line. Raising a child is not cheap, needing around PHP10,000.00 per month or PHP120,000.00 per year. The teenager will have to consider another mouth to feed in her family, as well as additional expenses for raising babies, such as baby products like baby milk and diapers. It is also a massive time investment, and a 15 year old may not have the development necessary for the challenge, being only an adolescent. Should the baby be born, there is a decent to high likelihood that the child will simply grow up impoverished and the mother will have a much harder time in life.

Even if I refuse, she may simply go to an unsafe abortion practitioner and have a high risk of dying, which will kill both the teenager and the unborn child. This is the worst possibility with neither having a high chance of surviving.

Going through with the abortion will require me to consider whether or not I deem the fetus as a living being, and whether or not I should continue anyways if I do. As a Christian, I personally think the fetus is alive, so I must answer whether or not it is just or right to kill it. I subscribe to the belief of existentialism, or that our existence comes before our essence. Basically, it means that we build our own person or character as we live, and we are not born with it predetermined. Following that, it can be said that the teenager has more essence compared to the fetus. She has lived longer, and has a more concrete sense of self and being compared to the fetus who has not even left the womb and grown as an individual. In a strictly utilitarian sense, the fetus has less perceived value compared to the teenager, so it would be better to sacrifice the former and let the latter live.

After much deliberation, I would let the teenager go through with the abortion, as raising a child is a heavy responsibility which may just make things worse in the long run, and she may also go to unsafe abrotion practitioners if I refuse, which may end up with both her and the child dying. While I have my issues with killing something I perceive as a living human being, I still consider the teenager to be more important than the fetus, so letting her live would be the better option, even if the fetus dies.

Secondly, since I am a devout Catholic in this scenario, I would also consider her beliefs. Is she herself a Catholic? What does she believe to be the best way to approach this situation in accordance with her religious beliefs or ethics?

Now getting to my personal stance. My vote relies on the human personhood of the subject. I believe in the gradience of personhood – the higher your level of cognition, the more I consider you to be a person. I see human personhood in levels, and it is my basis on who should be prioritized in this matter. Since the mother is who I consider to be more of a person, I would go along with her say as opposed to the embryo.

Onto another point, I also consider sentience as a basis for personhood, the ability to feel pain and pleasure. Based on fetal development, they are only able to have sentience at 23 weeks, at the earliest. Lastly, in almost every aspect of my life, I always prioritize the biological basis. An organism is considered to be ‘living’ if they have a set of fully functioning body organs and are self-sufficient. According to Artal-Mittelmark (2021), almost all organs are completely formed by about 10 weeks after fertilization (which equals 12 weeks of pregnancy). So, the baby isn’t even considered alive, rather a cluster of developmental cells.

In conclusion, I am pro-choice, and I condone abortions. Whatever the pregnant woman decides. Ultimately, I will assist her in her abortion.

REFERENCES:

https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/normal-pregnancy/stages-of-development-of-the-fetus