Abortion conversation questions

'''This is a potentially controversial subject in some societies, and consequently some teachers may want to carefully consider if they wish to use all of these questions. '''

Abortion

 * Is abortion legal or illegal in your country?
 * According to your religion is abortion permitted or not?
 * Where do you stand on the question of abortion? Which of these statement do you agree with most?  Can you explain why you hold this view?
 * It's the mother's body and it's her choice.
 * Society should set xx (weeks or months) as the time limit for abortions.
 * Abortion should only be allowed under .... circumstances.
 * Abortion is murder and should not be carried out under any circumstances.

Issues

 * What makes a "human being"? Memories? Thought? The ability to sense the environment?
 * At what point do you think that we can call a fetus a "human being". At conception; at birth; at some point during pregnancy?
 * It is sometimes claimed that a fetus is a "potential human being" or that "life begins at conception". Women generally produce an egg a month and men produce vast quantities of sperm - both of which are also alive.  Do eggs and sperm also represent "potential human beings"?  Should people be prosecuted for "wasting" them?
 * "Sex specific abortion" is carried out in some parts of the world. Parents use this to ensure that their child is (usually) male. What is your opinion of this practice?
 * Some pro-life campaigners deny abortion even in cases of rape, or where the mother's life would be in danger. What is your opinion?
 * In countries where abortion is illegal many women die as a consequence of illegal abortions. If abortion were made illegal in more countries then more women would die. Is this a valid argument in favour of making abortion legal?  Why/why not?
 * Do you think the "morning after pill" is a form of birth control or abortion?
 * If a young teenage girl becomes pregnant as asks her doctor for an abortion - should the doctor have an obligation to tell her parents?
 * If you were the parent of a young teenage girl who became pregnant - what advice would you give her?
 * What rights, if any, should the potential father have if he is not married to the girl/woman?
 * What rights, if any, should the potential father have if he is married to the potential mother?

Birth control

 * Which is the best way to reduce the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies.
 * Give all children a strict religious upbringing.
 * Improve health and sex education.
 * Provide young people with free, or very cheap, contraception.