Moral Status of Fetus Flashcards
When was abortion legalized
1988
Biological Humanity
Individual with human DNA and specific physiological characteristics
Psychological humanity
Psychological existence, specifically the ability to know it exists and has interests– can cause emotional or physical harm
CriminalCode of Canada Human
Child becomes human when it has proceeded in a living state from mother, whether or not it has
1) Breathed
2) Independant circulation
3) Naval string severed
Mary Anne Warren
Moral person: Recognized under the law that entitles them to legal rights and protection
5 Moral Person characteristics
Has consciousness, capacity to reason, self-motivation, capacity to communicate and concept of self
2 examples that are not moral people
Fetuses
Persistent vegetative state
Don Marquis
Moral person means an individual with a future of value
Abortion
Intentional termination of a pregnancy at any stage during gestational period
Liberals
Existing interests of mother always override potential interests of fetus
Radical liberal
Abortion ethical up until 18 months
Moderate
Allow abortions in first 2 trimesters– disallow third trimester unless mother’s life in in danger
Judith Thomson
Fetus’ right to life is negative, requiring only that it not be killed unjustly
Guest friendship
Host is responsible to provide minimal care for those invited into home
Sue Sherwin
Fetuses are morally significant but only indirectly through their relational status– feminist approach
Relational Status
Mother is the only one to determine the fetus’ social status and value
Discontinuation account
Killing is wrong because it is the discontinuation of experience for the victim
Desire account
Killing is wrong because it interferes with fulfillment of strong desires
Tooley
An entity can not possess the right to life unless it has the capacity to desire
Teratology
Genetic mutation that causes animal like traits
Theist view
Life begins at conception– morally wrong to kill life or any potential for life
Tooley
A moral person is sentient and conscious of one’s existence
Roe vs Wade
Roe was granted a legal abortion
R vs. Morgantaler
Dr. Morgantaler fought to decriminalize abortion because women were dying getting them on the black market
