I support all women’s right to determine their own medical care, and at the same time, I would like to reduce the number of pregnancies that have to be ended preterm to the minimum possible*. So first goal should be education and access to contraceptives, etc… But in the case where, despite being a well educated and empowered woman, she accidentally becomes pregnant, there should be all the support she needs to make the best decision for herself. I think it is best to end the pregnancy as early as possible, but I know there will be times when there is a healthy but unwanted fetus who is in the gray area of viability. In those cases, I would like to see either a quick and humane** abortion, or for the woman to be encouraged to carry as long as possible before inducing or getting a c-section. I think at some point, the option of abortion should go away, and the option of premature birth become the only early-end option. I find it hard to draw that line given that I am male, have no kids, and am not a medical professional, maybe in the 7-8 month range?
*Because it causes lots of stress and is hard on women’s bodies, plus regardless of the fact that the existing human has more rights than the almost human, there is still a being there, that is getting more human every day. I also prefer to kill one rat now than to have to kill 100 rats next year… it is about minimizing the suffering where I have any influence, and sometimes there is no “good” option, just less “bad”.
**Maybe, at 20 weeks or older, the fetus is given morphine before the procedure starts. I also think they should give pain killers to cattle and other food animals at the end. I’m thinking they could walk through a cloud if NOx just before the “chop”. Again, the goal is to reduce suffering where possible.