Abortion Flashcards

1
Q

When does life begin? - birth

A
  • Personhood is only applied at the stage of physical birth
  • Mary Anne Warren - “birth, rather than some earlier point, marks the beginning of true moral status”
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2
Q

When does life begin? - Viability

A

Personhood is applied when the foetus can exist beyond any dependence on the mother

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3
Q

When does life begin? - Potentiality

A

Personhood is applied once the primitive streak is seen after 14 days

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4
Q

When does life begin? - Conception

A

Personhood is applied from the point of fertilisation

John Grigg - “conception is the magic moment”

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5
Q

When does life begin? - Consciousness

A

Personhood is applied at the first point of awareness

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6
Q

When does life begin? - Ensoulement

A

Personhood is applied when the soul enters the body

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7
Q

Define the doctrine of double effect

A

Even if a good act results in bad consequences, then it is still right to do that act. E.g. Treating a woman for cancer could kill the foetus

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8
Q

The right to life - Torah

A

“Her life takes precedence over its life”

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9
Q

Issues involving the right to life

A
  • If rights are applied to the foetus, are they limited/restricted?
  • Does the woman’s right to choose overrule the foetus’ right to life?
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10
Q

When is abortion deemed necessary by law?

A

Abortion Act 1967:

  • If the woman’s physical health is threatened by having the baby
  • If there’s a high risk the baby would be disabled
  • If any existing children would be harmed physically/mentally by the birth of the child
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11
Q

Roman Catholic response to abortion

A
  • Abortion is murder
  • Only God can take life away - sanctity of life
  • Accepts the doctrine of double effect but does not agree with it
  • Pope Pius XI “What could ever be a sufficient reason for the direct murder of the innocent?”
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12
Q

Church of England response to abortion

A
  • Abortion is a “great moral evil”

- But sometimes, the lesser of two evils

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13
Q

The issue of “when does life begin?”

A
  • If a foetus is not a human being then it may not have same rights as a fully independent human being and need not have the same protection in law
  • If human life begins at conception then, in theory, the foetus should have the same rights
  • If this is the case, could lead to a conflict between rights of the foetus and mother
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