The Case For Decriminalisation of Abortion

This article makes the case for decriminalising abortion. It argues that abortion should be treated in the same way as other medical treatments, and only be a criminal offence if undertaken without the consent of the patient, or in a grossly inappropriate way. The article summarises the standard arguments made for decriminalising abortion: that the criminalisation restricts access to safe abortion and undermines women’s autonomy rights. The article also offers some further arguments in favour of decriminalisation from an ethic of care perspective. These are that abortion is a public good, in promoting caring relationships; that abortion protects rights of bodily integrity; and that recognising pregnancy as a chosen caring relationship, shows the severity of the wrong of an unwanted termination