Regardless of the different opinions, I cant help but notice that the most vocal proponents always seem to be male doctors.

Is it just me who hears the loud 'Kaching!' of a cash register in the background each time they speak?

@AmHere, you may be mistaken. Actually rarely have I seen an Obs/Gyn, male or female, who's had a long practice that does not pause pensively when the issue of abortion is brought up - it's not an easy question?

When I was younger, things were so black and white, you know prostitutes are evil, abortion is wrong...

But I agree, women are better speakers on the issue. By the way do you know the lady in Roe vs Wade (Jane Roe) later clarified she was not raped, never had an abortion and later converted to pro-life Catholic? Life...

@AmHere, the implication of illegal is daunting.
See now a young girl at 15 falls pregnant due to extenuating circumstances (naivety, rape). Left all alone, no hope in the world, she looks for the only way out - backstreet abortion.

That girl is a criminal and defiling party can either escape or plead innocence. But can this be the basis for advocating pro-choice?

I think answer may lie in more vigilance and provision of better support. In cases where lady aborts, guy should be cited with conspiracy. In cases where lady states she'd like to abort, state pays all medical bills/upkeep for carrying child to term and arranges for adoption.

But then, I'm only a man...

@nmt, and what is the right of the unborn child in this case? Oops! maybe they have no rights.

Can she really decide alone? And what of the law of nature, society, father...(complex)

How come it is always men who shout loudest (look at this thread's contributors already) when it comes to abortion issues?

The last time this was discussed in Parliament, the men (always the men!)were so emotive they turned rabidly physical and exchanged fisticuffs and flung chairs at each other! Why? It is not their bodies that will either carry the pregnancy to term or be subjected to an abortion and attendant risks therein. So why? Inawawashia hao nini jameni?

To me there are so many instances where pro-choice is favourable (e.g. to save the mother's life) but also similar instances where why pro-life (wazuans were nt aborted!) is also favourable and this should be reviewed on a case by case basis. We dont have to embrace either extremes!!

It is this idea of trying to paint with a broad brush and simplify the whole thing to either pro- or anti-lfe that complicates matters and evokes intense emotions.

The Abortion debate, the Euthanasia (mercy killing)debate and the how-to-end prostitution debate are as old as mankind - have been debated for centuries, are being debated and will continue to be debated for centuries long after we have been converted to fossil fuel. And there will be no consensus - history teaches us so.

it is futile ...even in countries where abortion, euthanasia and prostitution have been (collectively or individually) legalized there still exists difference in opinion that was only subordinated to the tyranny of the majority and this may change again once the current minority becomes the majority!

@masukuma, your legal penalty needs to include the man somewhere

@Intelligensia heartfelt and insightful - Are you a woman? As a man I'm slightly embarrased on reading your post

To my knowledge, there are two things which are misunderstood in such a debate;
1. When abortion is acceptable
2. When Life beggins

I would like to point out that the fact that abortion may be acceptable in certain circumstances does not mean that life doesn't start at conception. I agree that not all conceptions lead to a baby, but that doesn't nullify the fact that life beggins at conception! Now once we have that in perspective, we can therefore debate on what one should do when conception threatens the life of the woman.

Having said that, the society must come up with ways of taking care of children who are born in untoward circumstances, a programme say of adoption. The circumstances should therefore be clearly defined and an example would be Rape.

Finally, I don't agree that this whole debate should be left to women alone, it is clearly a societal debate. We only need to be reasonable and above all human when engaged in this debate.