Is abortion ever morally justifiable?
But it may not matter in terms of pure moral philosophy, since there are cases when most people agree that even if the foetus is a person, abortion may be morally justified.
What are the ethical principles of abortion?
Confidentiality is of paramount concern to abortion patients. Providers must respect and protect their patients’ right to confidentiality. Providers may disclose confidential information with the consent of the patient or, unless inappropriate, the patient’s legally appointed surrogate.
What is the meaning of abortion?
Alternative Titles: induced abortion, pregnancy termination. Abortion, the expulsion of a fetus from the uterus before it has reached the stage of viability (in human beings, usually about the 20th week of gestation).
What is the potentiality argument?
The potentiality argument refers to the capacity of a human embryo to develop into a subject. According to this argument, early embryos already represent potential persons. Thus, the production and destruction of human embryos for research purposes is morally unjustifiable.
Is a fetus a person philosophical?
Most academic philosophers argue that the fetus should be considered part of the human species, as it shares our genetic code, and, if unimpeded in it’s development, will grow and mature into an adult human being.
What is the potentiality principle?
In its contemporary philosophical iterations, the potentiality principle proposes that embryos and fetuses should not be killed because they possess all the attributes that they will have as full persons later in life.
What is moral symmetry?
The Moral Symmetry Principle holds that, it is as wrong intentionally to refrain from interfering with a causal process leading to some morally significant result as it is to initiate the process. Intentionally refraining from interfering with a self-sustained causal process.
What is the scientific term for abortion?
Other terms for an abortion include elective abortion, induced abortion, termination of pregnancy and therapeutic abortion.
Is abortion legal in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, abortion is legal only when performed to save a woman’s life. Still, abortions are common, and most are unsafe because they are done clandestinely, by unskilled providers or both. Unsafe abortion is a major contributor to the country’s high levels of maternal death, ill health and disability.
Is abortion legal in Africa?
Only three countries (Cape Verde, South Africa, and Tunisia) have laws that allow induced abortion for any reason—laws that have had a hugely positive public health impact. In 1997, South Africa made abortion legal for any reason and available on request.
Where in the Constitution is abortion illegal?
In January 1973, the Supreme Court issued a 7–2 decision ruling that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides a “right to privacy” that protects a pregnant woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.
What is criminal abortion?
: an abortion that does not conform to statutory provisions governing the performance of abortions.
What is therapeutic abortion?
Therapeutic abortion is the ending of a pregnancy on purpose. A medical abortion is done by taking medicine. This procedure is done in early pregnancy. It can be done up to 8 weeks. This process is not the same as emergency contraception.
What does a missed abortion mean?
A missed abortion is a nonviable intrauterine pregnancy that has been retained within the uterus without spontaneous abortion. Typically, no symptoms exist besides amenorrhea, and the patient finds out that the pregnancy stopped developing earlier when a fetal heartbeat is not observed or heard at the appropriate time.
What happens when an abortion is incomplete?
An incomplete abortion is the partial loss of the products of conception within the first 20 weeks. Incomplete abortion usually presents with moderate to severe vaginal bleeding, which may be associated with lower abdominal and/or pelvic pain.