The right to life and legal freedom : a legal analysis regarding the protection of developing embryos

Abstract

Abortion is one of the most hotly controversial issues debated in our society as most people relate to it on an emotional and moral level. This term paper aims to discover on how the unborn child is protected by the legislation, and how the rights of the mother, the father and the unborn differ from each other. In order to arrive at such conclusion, my study will look at various different legislations which directly, or indirectly regulate abortion. The research touches upon various aspects of abortion ranging from the historical development of abortion to the different methods used to terminate a pregnancy. The scientific aspect of abortion is of utmost importance in my opinion because it affects how we interpret the law to a certain extent, therefore my research also touched upon the “viability” of a foetus. My term paper focuses on the unborn and its rights and seeks to understand how different courts interpret the law differently in case law. It finally focuses on the legal status of the unborn in Malta and whether Malta is paving its way to introduce abortion or not.