Do you agree with abortion? What are the ethical issues here?

Start by acknowledging that this is a complex issue with two sides and lots of shades of grey. Then walk through both in a balanced way, showing an appreciated of the four pillars of ethics.Is it legal? Under current UK legislation (The Abortion Act) an abortion can only be carried out if certain criteria are met: the pregnancy is in its first 24 weeks, it is carried out in a hospital or licenced clinic and two doctors must agree that an abortion would cause less damage to a woman’s physical or mental health than continuing the pregnancy. In rare situations, an abortion may also be allowed to be carried out after 24 weeksIf we consider patient autonomy, there is a case to say that patients should have the right to have an abortion if they wishConsidering the ethical concept of beneficence, first, it is important to have the best interests of the mother at the centre of their healthcare (both psychological and physical well-being). Secondly, an abortion may be the most loving thing to do in the case of a foetus with severe deformities, as this presents issues with quality of lifeNon-maleficence – it is important to prevent any harm and thus considering the harm to both the mother and the foetus is important in the discussion of abortion. It is also important to consider the sanctity of life and some, based on this principle, may disagree with abortion. But it’s quite subjectiveAs with all consultations, confidentiality must be upheld in the case of abortionsThe discussion of abortion is a sensitive one and thus it is always best to look to the ethical guidelines provided by the GMCCommon Mistakes:Starting with a strong view point one way or the other. It is important to establish that this is a complicated issue with arguments for both sides and to present these in a balanced wayNot using the four pillars of ethics. These should be referenced throughout balancing of the two sides of the argument