Should Spousal Consent Be Required Before a Married Woman Has an Abortion?

Absolutely not! No person should have the ability to veto an abortion except the pregnant woman or her abortion doctor. Few married women would actually consider the idea of an abortion if they did not have genuine reasons for wanting one. Assuming the husband is indeed the potential father, his vote would count for 49%. I believe the woman should always have the final decision, as it is her body the new life will be growing in. The day men are able to conceive and nurture a baby inside them I will revisit this issue.

Women are the ones who will have to suffer through nine months of pregnancy for a child they did not choose to have. Even for young, healthy women, pregnancy and labor can cause irreversible damage to their bodies. Complications include stretch marks, permanent weight gain, pelvic floor disorder, scarring from an incision, anemia, gestational diabetes, embolism, pre-eclampsia, broken bones, prolapsed uterus and post-partum psychosis to name a few. In some instances pregnancy actually results in severe disability and even death. The medical website WD states one woman in the U.S.A dies every day due to childbirth complications. If a woman is of sound mind, her husband does not have the right to veto any other medical procedures she deems necessary. Why should abortion be any different?

Prohibiting married women from having abortions without spousal consent is discrimination. All women should have the right to choose, whether married, single, gay, straight, young or old. The benefits and reasons for legal abortion do not change. "Back alley" procedures should not be necessary. No child should be unwanted. Women should have freedom and equality the same as a man. Governments should not have the power to dictate a woman's career, lifestyle or decision to have children.