Induced Abortion

Induced Abortion

            Abortion is removing a fetus or embryo from the womb which will end the pregnancy even before it can survive on its own. There are two kinds of abortions which are medical abortion and induced abortion. Both of them are quiet different because of its contrast legality. Medical abortion or chemical abortion occurs in several reason, for instance, the fetus dies in utero before its birth or it is usually termed as “stillborn” and dangerous disease which either a pregnant woman or the baby will get if the pregnancy is still maintained. Medical abortion is legal; however induced abortion is illegal in Indonesia. Induced abortion is done by irresponsible woman because of personal reason and without any medical help or self-induced abortion or with medical help illegally. This essay focuses on illegal abortion or induced abortion which happens because of premarital sex.

            Induced abortion leads to an unknown number of complications and deaths. World Health Organization estimates that unsafe abortion is responsible for 14% of maternal deaths in Southeast Asia, and 16% of maternal deaths in regions of Southeast Asia that have highly restrictive abortion laws (including Indonesia)(Sedgh and Ball 2008). Despite abortion is risky, it still becomes the best solution for premarital sex pregnancy. Because so many abortions in Indonesia are performed by unskilled providers and an additional unknown number are self-induced, the rates of both medical complications and maternal deaths from unsafe abortion are expected to be high. Induced abortion causes infertility, liver disease, uterine perforation, breast and cervical cancer which lead the worst risk, death.

            Induced abortion cannot be accepted because it is a criminal activity and will be punished under the law. A vary punishment will be depend on who makes the decision to do abortion. However, everyone who involves or helps abortion process will be punished. If a physician, the midwife or pharmacists involve in abortion, they will not only get professional punishment. Abortion law is set in Law Number 23/1992 on Health Defines Abortion as Illegal Except For Specific Purposes, Section 2, and Paragraph (1 and 2).

            In conclusion, induced abortion is never acceptable because it is considered as a murder act. Doing abortion means murdering an innocent baby and breaking the human right. Induced abortion is unpardonable criminal act. Religion must be involved to solve this problem. People must know that the worst risk of doing abortion is a death. Effective contraception is needed by Indonesian people to avoid unwanted pregnancy in order to decrease the high abortion rate.

References:

1.      Sedgh G and Ball H, Abortion in Indonesia, In Brief, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2008, No. 2.

2.      Wikipedia Contributors. "Abortion." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 Nov. 2015. Web. 5 Dec. 2015.