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MORAL ISSUE ABORTION

A LOOK AT THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN AND THE METHODS USED TO TAKE THAT LIFE BY:

MAYNARD P. AGUSTIN

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lecture/discussion about abortion,

you will be able to:


Define abortion in the medical context Enumerate the different types of abortion Compare and contrast the types of abortion at least 75% level of mastery justify your moral decision about abortion using the different ethical school of thought.

FACTS!

150,000 to

750,000 abortion every year 4,000 case of abortion annually in Manila

Definition

Expulsion of a living fetus from the

mothers womb before it is viable Termination of pregnancy prior to viability. Viability


28th

weeks

Types of Abortion

1. Natural abortion 2. Direct or intentional abortion 3. Therapeutic abortion 4. Eugenic abortion 5. Indirect abortion

Natural abortion
Expulsion of fetus through natural

or accidental Spontaneous or accidental abortion Miscarriage

Direct/ Intentional Abortion

Deliberate induced

expulsion of a living fetus before it has become viable

Therapeutic Abortion
Deliberate and induced

expulsion of a living fetus in order to save the mother from the danger

Eugenic Abortion
Recommended in cases where certain

defects are discovered in the developing fetus. Abortion on fetal indication

Indirect Abortion
Removal of fetus occurs as secondary effect to a

legitimate action. Double effect principle


Uterine cancer Ectopic pregnancy

When does life begin?

Is a fetus a person?

When does a human soul fuse or unite with the body?

ENSOULMENT
Fusion of the spiritual soul in

the embryo Theories:


1. 2.

Immediate hominization Delayed animation

Delayed Animation
1.

2.
3. 4.

5.
6. 7.

Implantation Unity and uniqueness Looks Human Electrical activity Quickening Viability Birth

The ensoulment occurs at a later time but not from the moment of conception. Aristotle would say: 40th day for male, 80th for female.

For St. Thomas, asserted that the rational soul was not infused until sometime later. Ensoulment or the fusion of the spiritual soul into the embryo (animation) occurs when the matter (body) is sufficiently organized to sustain the intellectual principle or the so called substantial form of man.

When is the embryo sufficiently organized to receive the intellectual principle?


Implantation? 6 to 7 days

Unity and Uniqueness? 2 to 4 weeks


Looks human? 5 to 6 weeks Electrical activity? 8 weeks

Quickening? 10 to 12 weeks
Viability? 28th week Birth?

Fertilization Process

A human is a member of the genus Homo sapien. A human is the biological entity guided by instinct; only requiring food, clothing and shelter. A human is not a rational being and is therefore stupid. A person however, has been immersed in cultures (with values, rituals etc.) which CAN make them stupid [i.e. ignorant and conditioned], but a person is self-conscious in control of ones own bodily presence. A person can exercise their capacity to be free of restrictions and controls, progressively making them free.

Immediate Hominization
Ensoulment happens upon conception

Delayed Animation
Ensoulment occurs later after conception

3 GENERAL VIEWPOINTS OF ABORTION


1.
1.
2.

CONSERVATIVE
Very immoral Permitted only for therapeutic abortion

2. LIBERAL 1. Womans right to decide on her own body 3. MODERATE/INTERMEDIATE

MOVEMENT
PRO-CHOICE
PRO-LIFE

EFFECTS OF ABORTION
PHYSICAL

PYSCHOLOGICAL
Guilt Suicidal tendencies

Habitual miscarriages Uterus Fever Cold Insomia Intense pain Shock Bleeding

Loss of sense of

fulfillment Mourning Loss of confidence Lower self-esteem Anger Rage

JUSTIFICATIONS
Social reason 1. Control population 2. Alleviates economic, sociological and demographic problems Fetal reasons 1. Prevents birth of malformed/defective children 2. The malformed child will no longer suffer

Judith Jarvis Thompson


You wake up in the morning and find yourself back to back with an unconscious violinist. He has been found to have a fatal kidney ailment. The Society of Music Lovers has canvass all the available medical records and. Have therefore kidnapped you, and last night, the violinists circulatory system was plugged into yours, so that your kidneys can be used to extract the poisons from his blood as well as your own.

A woman uses contraceptives to avoid pregnancy

If she inadvertently becomes pregnant

She is justified in having abortion

Hence the woman,s right to selfdetermination prevails

Because it is unwanted and uninvited, it can be eliminated

The seed is unwanted, it is an aggressive invader

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2l1-kvKomg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66VsbouZSes&f

eature=related

Case 1
Ms. Not ready, a 13 yr-old daughter who has been

sexually molested by her own grandfather and has become pregnant. As a mother what will you do?

Case 2
Suppose you were raped and got pregnant and you

found out that through abdominal ultrasound, or amniocentesis, the developing fetus is malformed or defective. What will you do. Support your answers for any moral decision using the ethical theories.

Case 3
You are working in Kuwait as a nurse, then you were

raped by your patient an Iraqi soldier . Will you submit to curretage or any means to prevent the development of fetus after the sexual assault? what will you do? Support your justifcations with ethical theories.

Biblical Point of view

God creates life. Jesus Christ, God's son, is pro-life. Read these Scriptures:The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit (Job 10:12). Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).

God treats a fetus (baby) in the womb as a living person.

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:4-5). Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God (Psalm 22:9-10).

God says murder is sin. (Abortion kills the fetus.)


You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).

God calls us to protect the defenseless, including children.


Defend the cause of the weak and

fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked (Psalm 82:3-4). Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? (Proverbs 24:11-12).

1. What are the reasons of the pro-choice (pro-abortion) in the position that the Human Fetus is non-person? How did this position arrive in the conclusion that abortion is licit in certain cases? 2. What is the position of the Pro-life (anti-abortion) in the argument that the fetus is a person? How did it answer the position of the pro-choice? 3. Would you or would not bring the pregnancy to term? Explain your answer by giving a moral principles. 4. In the case of ectopic pregnancy, how can abortion be morally licit? Explain your answer by using moral principles.

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