Biomedical Ethics Of Abortion
Biomedical Ethics
Peian Wang
TA Chris Pariso
Section A02
Philosophy 163
Prof. G. Doppelt
Biomedical Ethics
Part A From an ethical standpoint the concept of abortion is a polarizing issue. This is in part true because there are those who assert that the fetus is a person who has a right to life which begins at conception. In following this train of thought there are certain considerations which must be made as well as some concessions which become necessary as a means of providing a fetus with all of the same rights that any other person would be granted. There are numerous reasons why a person may choose to agree with this argument, and the rationale behind such reasoning can be just as varied. In looking at …show more content…
First, consider that a fetus can be viewed as a person and the argument can still be made that abortion is not wrong except to save the life of the mother. In this instance it can be acknowledged that even if the fetus is a person they should not be afforded any rights in addition to the same rights that any other person would be granted. As such the fetus may have a right to life but it does not have a right to utilize someone else's body in order to maintain or sustain that life (7. Thomson CC. 336). Essentially what this means is that a fetus does not have any more right to the body of a woman than a stranger would have to utilize the blood and/or organs of another individual (8. Thomson, CC 333). In looking beyond this the threat to the life of a pregnant woman can be presented as only one of a number of scenarios under which abortion may be permissible, and not viewed as murder. For example in instances where a woman made reasonable attempts to prevent pregnancy e.g. the usage of contraceptives or abstaining from sex, it can be presented that a woman should be allowed to abort a fetus. This is due to the fact that the woman in this instance did not wish to contribute to the conception of the child. This exists in clear contrast to a woman who is actively engaging in specific sexual behavior knowing that it may result in pregnancy (9. Thomson, CC, 337). Finally, in noting that regardless of the circumstances there is little to nothing that a woman can do in order to perform an abortion on herself, it must be noted that the act of abortion almost always falls to a third party and what they will and will not do when faced with a woman seeking an abortion. In leaving the decision largely if not solely
Peian Wang
TA Chris Pariso
Section A02
Philosophy 163
Prof. G. Doppelt
Biomedical Ethics
Part A From an ethical standpoint the concept of abortion is a polarizing issue. This is in part true because there are those who assert that the fetus is a person who has a right to life which begins at conception. In following this train of thought there are certain considerations which must be made as well as some concessions which become necessary as a means of providing a fetus with all of the same rights that any other person would be granted. There are numerous reasons why a person may choose to agree with this argument, and the rationale behind such reasoning can be just as varied. In looking at …show more content…
First, consider that a fetus can be viewed as a person and the argument can still be made that abortion is not wrong except to save the life of the mother. In this instance it can be acknowledged that even if the fetus is a person they should not be afforded any rights in addition to the same rights that any other person would be granted. As such the fetus may have a right to life but it does not have a right to utilize someone else's body in order to maintain or sustain that life (7. Thomson CC. 336). Essentially what this means is that a fetus does not have any more right to the body of a woman than a stranger would have to utilize the blood and/or organs of another individual (8. Thomson, CC 333). In looking beyond this the threat to the life of a pregnant woman can be presented as only one of a number of scenarios under which abortion may be permissible, and not viewed as murder. For example in instances where a woman made reasonable attempts to prevent pregnancy e.g. the usage of contraceptives or abstaining from sex, it can be presented that a woman should be allowed to abort a fetus. This is due to the fact that the woman in this instance did not wish to contribute to the conception of the child. This exists in clear contrast to a woman who is actively engaging in specific sexual behavior knowing that it may result in pregnancy (9. Thomson, CC, 337). Finally, in noting that regardless of the circumstances there is little to nothing that a woman can do in order to perform an abortion on herself, it must be noted that the act of abortion almost always falls to a third party and what they will and will not do when faced with a woman seeking an abortion. In leaving the decision largely if not solely