Final answer:
Abortion is a complex issue that includes legal, moral, and health aspects, shaped by historical events and ongoing debates about women's rights, bodily autonomy, and religious and cultural views.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of abortion encompasses legal, moral, and health-related issues. Historically, abortion was illegal prior to the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, leading women to take desperate and often dangerous measures to terminate pregnancies. Legalization efforts and moral debates about when and how abortions can be carried out continue to shape public policy and opinion. Regulations such as requiring multiple visits to a clinic, obtaining parental or judicial consent for minors, spousal notification, and informing patients of potential health consequences are examples of how states may approach abortion legislation.
Regarding fetal viability, the Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) decision reaffirmed Roe v. Wade but also recognized the importance of fetal viability in determining the permissibility of abortion. Normative moral theories, including utilitarianism and liberal views on individual rights, influence societal views on abortion, as seen in various religious and cultural perspectives, such as Hinduism and Islamic views. Political and women's rights movements have historically contributed to the evolving legal status of abortion, focusing on issues such as contraception and the right to bodily autonomy.