9: Reproductive Ethics ✅ Flashcards
Abortion
Ending a pregnancy prematurely
UK Abortion Act 1967
Legal up to 24 weeks
Can occur if:
-severe disability
-mother is at risk
-carried out on approved premises
-performed by registered doctor
-approved by 2 doctors, unless an emergency
The father has no legal right to stop the mother
The fetus has no legal rights in general, gains rights at birth
Ethical principles regarding abortion
Autonomy
Beneficence
Non-maleficence
The concept of personhood
Human vs person
Genetic criterion
-DNA, Existence and Vitality
Consciousness
-not every human is a person but all have consciousness
Cognitive Criteria
-intellectual capacity
-reasoning
-self motivated
-capacity to communicate
-self awareness
Sentience and suffering
-the ability to feel pleasure and pain
-capacity to suffer
Human vs person
Human is biological
Person has moral consideration
Social criterion
You are a person when society recognizes you as a person
Or when someone cares about you
Faith based human
Human has a body and soul
Cultural orders
Fully functioning and accepted member of society
Gradient theory
Gradient of personhood
-not black and white
Personhood involves
Relationships
Emotions
Inter-personal interactions
Pro-life argument
All human life is sacred
Every person has the right to live.
The fetus is a distinct human from the moment of conception
Unless the woman’s life is in danger, a woman has the duty not to kill her unborn babies.
Abortion is murder and murder should be illegal in a moral society
Pro-Choice Argument
Every person has right to their body as long as they dont hurt others
Abortion is a safe medical procedure that protects lives
Value of life and rights of the fetus are subordinate to the mother
Women can change their mind about pregnancy
Morality of abortion
Social necessity
Consider:
-social life of the child
-welfare of the family
UK legal framework for Abortion
Doctor has a conscientious objection to abortion they dont have to be involved
-make sure patient is aware in adance
-tell patient you dont provide the treatment
-discuss that they have the right to discuss with another practitioner
-arrange to see another doctor
Virtue Ethics
Treat patients with fairness, kindness, honesty and respect
Behave non-judgementally and be open and responsive to women seeking abortion
