Abortion and The Right To A Child Flashcards
What are the laws for abortion in the UK?
- Two doctors must agree for an abortion to take place
2. The foetus can be up to 24 weeks old
Define abortion
The induced termination of a pregnancy to destroy the foetus
What is the main question surrounding abortion?
When does life begin?
What does Mary Anne Warren say about the start of human life?
It begins when the child is no longer totally dependent on the mother for survival
What is the sanctity of life?
The idea that all life is sacred, worthy of respect and reverence and intrinsically worthwhile
Define ensoulment
The moment when the soul enters the body, traditionally thought to be 40 days for boys and 90 for girls. The church now believes that life begins at conception
How can abortion be justified by the doctrine of double effect?
Abortion could be an intention to do good but be a bad side effect. If a woman has an ectopic pregnancy in which the embryo is developing in the Fallopian tubes it is considered alright to remove the embryo to save the woman’s life
What is the concept of ‘imago dei?’
We are all made in the image of God
Define the ‘quality of life’ concept
The belief that human life is not valuable in itself
How does Judith Jarvis Thomson argue in favour of abortion?
She says that women are not morally obliged to carry out every unwanted pregnancy. She also uses the analogy of the violinist to conclude that unwilling persons should not be required to be a ‘Good Samaritan’
Who was Louise Brown and when was she born?
The first ever ‘test-tube’ baby, 1978
Define artificial insemination
The injection of sperm into a woman
Define IVF
In-vitro fertilisation - The procedure by which sperm and eggs from a couple are fertilised in a laboratory dish
What did the UN say about the right to a child in 1948?
“There is a right to marry and found a family free from constraint”
