EDITORIAL: Roe versus Wade after 25 years

Changes in the last quarter decade make the abortion issue more complicated. In his opinion for the court, Justice William Brennan said, "We forthwith acknowledge our awareness of the sensitive and emotional nature of the abortion controversy, of the vigorous opposing views, even among physicians, and of the deep and seemingly absolute convictions that the subject inspires. "One's philosophy, one's experiences, one's exposure to the raw edges of human existence, one's religious training, one's attitudes toward life and family and their values, and the moral standards one establishes and seeks to observe, are all likely to influence and to color one's thinking and conclusions about abortion." The court came to its landmark decision amidst a backdrop of coathangers and baby pictures. And 25 years later, the issue is no less emotionally charged. But, in a certain light, it has become more complicated. Today, unprotected sex means not only the potential for unwanted pregnancy, but also an increased chance of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV. And medical advancements in relation to in utero procedures and life support for premature babies are altering the point as which a fetus may be considered viable. Additionally, last year the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of birth control pills as a "morning after" device. The pills, provided by the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's Women's Health Center for the past several years, raise further questions about the exact definition of abortion. The political climate surrounding the issue has also undergone changes in the last quarter century. The Roe v. Wade decision is challenged regularly at all levels of the judiciary, and it has come close to being overruled in the last two decades as the Supreme Court has become more conservative. Only six years ago, the court upheld Roe in a 5-4 ruling. In the case, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania et al. v. Casey, Governor of Pennsylvania et al., the court affirmed Roe not on its content but on the principle of precedent. Congress, too, has considered restricting abortions. And several states, including Pennsylvania, have passed legislation requiring a 24-hour information period and parental consent for minors. The issue is far from settled, though many have turned a deaf ear to advocates on both sides. The anniversary of Roe v. Wade, therefore, provides a chance for reflection. Older teenagers and young adults still have the highest abortion rates in the country, according to the National Abortion Federation. The changes that have occurred since the Roe v. Wade decision mean that college students and all Americans need to think -- even more carefully than 25 years ago.