Something needs to be done about unsafe abortions

Abortion has always been and always will be a controversial matter, however, I hate to think that all of those pro-life people out there wouldn't want an abortion to be done right, if it were to be done at all. Between 1995 and 2003, the abortion rate per 1,000 women dropped from 35 to 29, but remained the same (28) in 2008. Alarmingly, the percentage of unsafe abortions rose from 44% in 1995 to 49% in 2008. An unsafe abortion is defined by the World Health Organization as, "a procedure for terminating a pregnancy that is performed by an individual lacking the necessary training or performed in an environment that is not up to minimal medical standards" (cnn.com). Dr. RIchard Horton says, "Condemning, stigmatizing, and criminalizing abortion are cruel and failed strategies. It's time for a public health approach that emphasizes reducing harm – and that means more liberal abortion laws" (cnn.com). I agree, people are going to have abortions one way or another no matter what the law says. This does not mean I am pro-life or pro-choice, it means that I am a realist and I understand what people are going to do. It is unavoidable, so I think it is more important that these laws focus on the safety of the mothers rather than punishment. Birth control and other methods of contraception need to be available. 

The author of this article, Val Wadas-Willingham, seems to be a realist as well. The writer included many statistics that pointed to the increase in unsafe abortions and the increase in improper laws. The logos was there in the statistics and quotes, however, I believe that Wadas-WIllingham was lacking in the ethos, which is so easy to insert in this type of article. She could've shed light on the mother's stresses of how to go about an abortion or the affects of having an unsafe abortion. I liked this article but there could've been a little more fluff to it. 

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