Writing Assignment 2
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Philosophy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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Writing Assignment 2
Writing Assignment 2
Abortion for Antonia and Kato
Vanshika Singh
Department of Philosophy, University of British Columbia
PHIL 333: Bio-Medical Ethics
Irwin Chan
August 17, 2023
1
Word Count: 494
Writing Assignment 2
In this paper I will explore the argument that it is permissible for Antonia to choose to have an
abortion, which is primarily rooted in the potential challenges posed by reduced income. The
legal framework for abortion in British Columbia permits abortions up to 24 weeks into
pregnancy. As Antonia is currently roughly 14 weeks pregnant, she falls well within the Access
to Abortion Services Act’s eligibility requirements for a surgical abortion, particularly Dilation &
Evacuation (D&E) (
Abortion | HealthLink BC
, 2023). The D&E procedure, designed for
pregnancies between 13 and 24 weeks has a significantly reduced complication rate (
Abortion |
HealthLink BC
, 2023).
A counter argument contends that the reduced income resulting due to the newfound health
issues might not be as prolonged as anticipated. It can also be objected that due to Antonia and
Kato’s dual income household, they could focus on saving during Antonia’s pregnancy,
mitigating the immediate financial impact. In addition to that, the presence of children often
motivates parents to work harder which may result in an increase in income over time (
The
Unexpected Financial Benefits of Having Children
, 2022). Antonia and Kato can also take
advantage of government aid programmes such as the Canada Child Benefit and the B.C. Family
benefit which can help alleviate some of the immediate financial challenges (Ministry of
Finance, 2023). Since the Canada Child Benefit and the B.C. Family Benefit are combined in
British Columbia, they can get $775 - $1750 annually, depending on their total annual income
(Ministry of Finance, 2023).
I say that Antonia’s choice to possibly exercise her right to pursue an abortion becomes more
plausible when one examines the financial burdens of raising a child. According to statistics,
raising a child in Canada can cost between $10,000 and $15,000 per year (Choi, 2023). In
addition to that, it is important to recognise that women between the ages of 25 and 34
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Word Count: 494
Writing Assignment 2
experience a significant 48% decline in income in the first year after childbirth (Choi, 2023).
This means that in the case of Antonia and Kato, not only will Kato have a reduced income, but
it is possible that Antonia might face a decline in income as well. Parents can also find
themselves grappling with startup costs of things like car seat, crib, formula, stroller, among
many others (Choi, 2023). The average car seat for infants can cost a whopping $200-$400, and
one will need to buy a toddler seat as well later (Alini, 2021). A parent can spend a minimum of
$550 on diapers alone for the first year of a child’s life (Alini, 2021). In addition to this, there are
costs of daycare and babysitting, which can cost roughly $2000 per month and $17 per hour,
respectively (Choi, 2023). In fact, dual income childfree families have more disposable income
as compared to couples with children (CP24, 2023). All of these reasons make it permissible for
Antonia to exercise her right to have an abortion.
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Word Count: 494
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Writing Assignment 2
REFERENCES
Abortion | HealthLink BC
. (2023, January 23).
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/pregnancy-parenting/planning-your-pregnancy/ending-pregn
ancy/abortion
Alini, E. (2021, December 3).
Here’s how much baby’s first year might cost — and how to prep
for it
. Global News.
https://globalnews.ca/news/4040829/baby-first-year-costs-budget-canada/
Choi, B. (2023, June 13).
The cost of raising a child in Canada
. Money We Have.
https://www.moneywehave.com/the-cost-of-raising-a-child-in-canada/
CP24. (2023, April 18).
Why some young Canadians are choosing the DINK lifestyle
.
https://www.cp24.com/lifestyle/human-interest/why-some-young-canadians-are-choosing
-the-dink-lifestyle-1.6360214?cache=maxsdqk
Ministry of Finance. (2023, June 30).
B.C. family benefit
. Province of British Columbia.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/affordability/family-benefit
The Unexpected Financial Benefits of Having Children
. (2022, November 21). Financial
Samurai.
https://www.financialsamurai.com/unexpected-financial-benefits-of-having-children/#:~:t
ext=But%20the%20most%20important%20financial,get%20the%20best%20opportunitie
s%20possible.
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Word Count: 494