How do we look at an Abortion?

As we are aware, abortion can be defined as “the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death”
If a child is meant to be born at a certain time for a specified pair of parents, killing him/her at a certain stage of the early age of the child is questionable. But if there is a reason such as:
1. The mother is an underage rape victim and she is not physically fit enough to bear the child
2. The mother is an AIDS victim and there is a possibility that the child gets infected
Doctors tend to perform Induced abortion due to above reasons. Is this justifiable according to Buddhism?
Sometimes Spontaneous abortion will happen without any justifiable reason. If childbirth is a natural process there should be something beyond our senses which disturbs these natural processes. It is like the weather report, you predict there will be rain but it won’t rain. Why?

Tags: Abortion

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Permalink Reply by Jacques on September 15, 2010 at 11:19am

Any form of killing is wrong. However HIV infected mothers do give birth to perfectly healthy babies. I am a practising (5precepts) Buddhist and emergency medical practitioner in South Africa where we have a very very high HIV status. If medical personel take proper control and precautions during the delivery of the baby no contamination takes place. I do agree to some extent that if the mother was a victim of rape it might be considered, but this must be the mothers choice, she should not be told what to do. In some cases this child is the only good that comes from such horrible attacks. The mother must consider that it might be the only pregnancy she may ever have as so much can go wrong. I think the best way will be to use real human compassion and a clear mind. Going full term and giving the child up for adoption is also a consideration. To say that destiny has anything to do with it is possible, however destiny can be changed (Lao Fan). Perhaps many people especially in the west are to fond of the "instant coffee solutions" to life. At the end of it all may we only wish that all beings be at peace, find liberation and may we in the mean time do everything in our power to assist with wisdom.

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Permalink Reply by Tseten Badheytsang on September 16, 2010 at 7:51pm

It can be looked in both ways, positive and negative as per the situation of one who is going to be mother or was a mother. However, thinking of having an abortion with concept of easy, happy life without bearing child would have consequences and serious impact on our society!