Medical Ethics- Abortion

Medical Ethics- Abortion

1. Issues/Controversies

   • Technology
     • When does life begin? When does life end? Is abortion murder?
   • Science
     • Is all life equally valuable? Does disability matter? What makes a person?
   • Legality
     • Whose decision is it? Why doesn't the father get a say?
   • Funding
     • Should it be funded? Is abortion a method of contraception instead of a last resort?

2. Developments

   • Technology
     • We can now effectively remove foetuses
       • Backstreet abortion to now
         • Vera Drake
   • Science
     • We can test and assess the health and sex of the foetus.
       • Pre natal testing and Gene technology
   • Legality
     • Legal in the UK illegal in Northern Ireland
       • Savita Halappanavar
   • Funding
     • In the UK abortion is free on the NHS.
       • Should this be the case in a recession hit country?

3. Ethical Values

   • The Sanctity of Life
     • Aquinas
       • Natural Thelogy
       • Divine order to the way the world is created. This is Natural Law
       • Created the 5 Primary Precepts
         • 1st is to preserve life.
       • "Natural law justifies abortion on moral grounds"
         • Pre-natal tests prompt rise in deaf babies
     • Schweitzer
       • "Ethics is nothing other than the Reverence for Life".
       • All life is equal
         • No difference between plants, animals and humans.
       • Everything has a will to live
   • Personhood
     • Glover
       • Life is nothing other than the "Vehicle for consciousness"
         • "Mere" and "superior" levels of consciousness
       • Not everything has a "will-to-live"
     • Harris
       • Value of own existence
       • If you are unable to value your own existence you are a non-person"
         • You need "reason and reflection" to be a person
           • Foetuses with minor imperfections are being aborted
     • Singer
       • Concerned with 4 areas:
         • Birth, viability, quickening and conscious
         • Foetus isn't "self aware or rational"
           • so it is ok to abort
       • Allowed for population control
         • Woman in China forced to have abortion at 7months
   • Consent
     • Anyone over the age of 13
     • 2 docs must agree
     • Must be a danger to carry on with pregnancy
       • Physical or mental
   • Rights and Responisibilities
     • Seedhouse
       • The rings of uncertainty
         • Ring on outside= 4 then 3,2 and inside ring=0
           • Score 5 areas out of 4
             • Add them up and divide by 5
               • Score over 3, abortion can take place
       • The Ethical Grid
         • Split into 4
           • Outside grid=external, then consequentialism, duties & motive and then the inside grid=autonomy

4. Religious Principles

   • Christianity
     • Technology
       • "All human life is equal and sacred". "Life is an intrinsic absolute good". "Life must be respected at all time".
     • Science
       • "All human life is sacred and equal". "Life is an absolute and intrinsic good." "All life must be protected at all time" "god created man in his own image".
     • Legality
       • God gave free will
     • Funding
       • "Treat others as you wish to be treated". "Humans are intelligent beings".
   • Islam
     • Technology
       • "Allah is the creator and owner of all life". "Take not life which Allah has made sacred."
     • Science
       • Ensoulment
         • Foetus receives a soul 120days after conception.
     • Legality
       • Sharia (Muslim Law)