All the way back in 1973, the first landmark case regarding abortion was developed and won. Roe v. Wade was one of the first monumental abortion cases that aimed to assist and protect the lives of women everywhere from unwanted pregnancies, or pregnancies that could become quite a major threat to a person’s life. However, not very long ago, a new bill was proposed in Kentucky that could deconstruct everything Roe v. Wade worked to establish. Kentucky’s new abortion proposal intends to place several major restrictions on abortion, and it aims to reduce its current ban on the right to having an abortion in Kentucky from 20 weeks down to 15 weeks of pregnancy, regardless of the circumstance. Not only is this proposal incredibly harmful, but it also puts the lives of countless women and teenagers at further risk.
So, why is Kentucky’s new proposal unjust and harmful? Well, many individuals with an unwanted pregnancy are often unaware of how long that they have been pregnant for until there is a clear sign, or they have gone to a doctor. The individual may also need time to decide on whether or not they’re going to get an abortion, for the decision is not an easy one . The decision can take some time depending on the situation, as many individuals with an unwanted pregnancy have reported being under the federal poverty level and may be incapable of caring for a child at that time. Currently, most researchers have concluded that an abortion can be performed up until the 24th week of the individual’s pregnancy. Up until that point, it has been discovered that the fetus hasn’t fully developed to a viable point. With Kentucky’s new proposal, there is an incredibly significant reduction in how much time someone has to decide on an abortion, dropping from 24 weeks all the way down to 15. This can be incredibly detrimental to the individual carrying the baby, for they now have a very limited time to choose to get an abortion. If the individual was unaware of the pregnancy, and they have surpassed 15 weeks, they will now be unable to get the help they need. Not only does this place them in a difficult situation, where they may not even have the capability of caring for a child, but health problems may also show up later in the pregnancy when it will be too late for them to get help. This, in turn, may endanger them and put their lives at risk.
Not only is the new proposal incredibly harmful, but it also puts the lives of countless teenagers at risk. Today, around 45% of pregnancies have been reported as unintended and unwanted, and while this may seem like a minor number to some, about 75% of these individuals are between the ages 15 to 19 years old. Many of these young teenagers are very likely to be unable to take care of a child at such a young age, needing to focus on their own education, and getting into college, rather than raising a child. Being forced to do so would greatly inhibit their daily lives, but the new proposal may end up forcing young children to take on such a major responsibility at such a young age. Essentially, this could force a young child to care for someone not much younger than them when they themselves have yet to experience much of their own life, and that really shouldn’t have to happen. While it is possible for them to put these children up for adoption, many of the current adoption systems in place are very corrupt and unhelpful, and it may be worse off for the baby.
Overall, while Kentucky’s proposal has currently been vetoed, it is likely that the issue will come up again the following year, and, if passed, will put the lives of an innumerable amount of individuals at risk. Unwanted pregnancies can be a result of several situations, whether forced or accidental. Regardless, these women should not be forced to raise a child that they do not want, nor have the capability or resources to do so.
Sources
Published May 8, 2022
Edited by Anvita Chitrapu ~ Graphics created by Prabneet Kaur
Comentários