Instigator / Pro
5
1702
rating
77
debates
70.13%
won
Topic
#2615

Resolved: Pregnancy prevention by sterilization is the best choice compared to traditional contraception or abortion.

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
3
3
Better sources
0
2
Better legibility
1
1
Better conduct
1
1

After 1 vote and with 2 points ahead, the winner is...

TXHG
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
Three days
Max argument characters
12,000
Voting period
Two weeks
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
7
1504
rating
2
debates
50.0%
won
Description

Both contraception and abortion are popular, but are fraught with failure rates that should give pause to carelessly engaging sexual intercourse when neither partner wants the responsibility of having and raising a child. Since Roe v. Wade was decided by the Supreme Court in 1973, roughly 1M women per year have settled for abortion to resolve the unwanted pregnancy. Most of these women attempted contraception first, and failed.

The solution seldom discussed by either side in the furor to retain or overturn Roe v. Wade [1973] is sterilization. Let the furor begin anew; eugenics and all having been hopefully relegated to the past. No, I am not talking coercion; this is a pro-choice, and perhaps even a pro-life matter; another private [if you will], individual choice. As it happens, about 30% of the male population engages sterilization as a “permanent” contraception. However, only 11% of females choose sterilization as a contraceptive option. Perhaps the issue with women and this choice is the percentage of women who plan for childbirth, but wish to postpone it for a later in life, and want want the option of abortion, just in case. The argument from at least one pro-lifer, me, is that such a reason for abortion appears to invade the camp of those who claim inconvenience, which more than half of abortion-minded women choose as their #2 reason for abortion.

Therefore, it is resolved: Pregnancy prevention by sterilization is the best choice than compared to traditional contraception or abortion.

Definitions: [all according to Merriam-Webster.com]

Pregnancy: the quality of being pregnant [impregnated] ; containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body.

Prevent[ion]: to keep from happening by taking action in advance.

Choice: the power, right, or opportunity to choose; as in alternative presented choices

Contraception: the deliberate attempt to prevent conception or impregnation.
Sterilization: to render sterile by surgical means.

Abortion: the termination of a pregnancy accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus.

Debate protocol:

The definitions will be held inviolate once a Contender has accepted the debate. A prospective Contender may lobby for differing definition[s] prior to acceptance via comments, subject to Pro’s agreement with the proposed change[s].
Rounds 1, 2, 3: Argument, rebuttal, defense

Round 4: No new argument. Rebuttal, defense, and/or conclusion only.

All argument, defense, rebuttal, and sourcing [referenced citations] will be listed within the context of each debate argument round, except sourcing may alternatively be listed within comments within the debate file, coincident with filing each round of argument to conserve maximum space for argumentation if needed, but only during the argumentation phase. No other external reference may be made within the context of the debate argument rounds.

No religious or secular moral grounds will be considered as valid arguments in this debate. This is strictly a science argument of effectiveness of the various procedures available to prevent the birth of unwanted offspring.

No waived rounds. No more than one round may be forfeited, or forfeiture of entire debate will result. Concession in any round is a debate loss.

No declaration of victory will be allowed except in the last round.

Arguments, rebuttals, defenses, or conclusions may not address voters directly for voting suggestions beyond statement of validity of arguments, et al, made in all rounds.

_____________
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2492586/

2 ibid

3 I have added the parenthetic “impregnated” as understanding “pregnant” and the parenthetic term to be synonymous.

4 Note: “in advance” as used in the definition of prevention relative to abortion is a stretch of the intent and accomplishment of abortion in that, clearly, impregnation and pregnancy have already occurred [like closing the barn doors after the cows and horses have left the barn], or abortion would not be a necessary procedure. Therefore, the definition is offered for abortion is with a nod to absurdity.

iud or depo

-->
@TheUnderdog

Sorry for the delay. I never comment during a debate about the debate. Now that my final round is in, I'll reply:
You miss the entire point of "pro choice." I would not impose any choice on another. It's their decision, yeah? I'm merely indicating my opinion that of the choices of contraceptives, sterilization is the best choice if the goal of contraception is prevention of pregnancy. I am not applying either a moral judgment, nor insisting on the application of any contraceptive as a coercion. Refer to my #2

-->
@fauxlaw

duly noted

-->
@seldiora

You've missed a point of the proposal: "No, I am not talking coercion; this is a pro-choice, and perhaps even a pro-life matter; another private [if you will], individual choice" You cited article does not consider the matter of personal choice.

-->
@MisterChris

Appreciate you position, but I will not comment yet beyond the proposal. I let it stand on its merit, alone, until and if the debate is engaged. However, I think you'll make a fine judge once done because I am taking the whole "murder" charge, and all religious/secular morality out of the debate.

-->
@TheUnderdog

I would sterilize neither. I'm not a physician, and it would be entirely their choice, individually and independently

I disagree with this but don't feel like taking it. I would opt for traditional contraceptives over both abortion and sterilization.

-->
@fauxlaw

Who would you sterilize, the male or the female or both?

-->
@fauxlaw

2017 is not really past history.. https://publichealthreviews.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40985-017-0060-9 ("In recent years, the practice has been documented in countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa")

-->
@seldiora

Who, here and now, is forced to sterilize? Eugenics is past history. Curious, though, that Planned Parenthood [the very title is a giveaway that parenthood is the last thing on their minds] grew out of a eugenicist's mind, Margaret Sanger.

-->
@fauxlaw

What do you mean you are not talking coercion? The use of coercion is precisely the big flaw of sterilization. It would be like adding the button that can revive one person to the abortion debate to solve the problem.