Medical Ethics

Medical Ethics

Abortion: Removing a foetus from the womb before it is able to survive, ending a pregnancy
1. Different churches
  1. RCC
    1. Forbidden as its against natural moral law
    2. The same as murder- Exodus 20:13- 'thou shall not murder'
    3. Genesis 1:28 - 'Go forth and multiply'
    4. Life begins at fertilization+recieves rights then too. Sanctity of life- Corinthians 6:19
    5. Double effect: If the life of the mother is threatened abortion=OK
  2. Protestant Churches
    1. Same reasons as the RCC but will allow it if the lesser of two evils
      1. Matthew 22:39
Secular
1. Pro-choice: the woman can do as she wants because the foetus isn't independent.
  1. An embryo has rights and people would argue that abortion is murder
2. J. Bentham - Utilitarianism Principle
  1. If it maximises the couple/ woman's happiness that she has an abortion the she should be allowed...
    1. However if the foetus is a baby then it should be included which will mean it is almost always wrong.
3. J.S Mill-Harm Principle
  1. People can do as they please as long as it doesn't physically harm others, therefore abortion is forbidden as is physically harming the baby (only relevant if the foetus is considered to be a baby
Islamic View:
1. 'slay not your children, the slaying of them is a great sin' - Surah 17:31

Resource summary

	Created by kofi.add about 10 years ago