Title: Ethical perspectives on unwanted pregnancy. Abstract.

POPLINE Document Number: 270907

Author(s):

Macklin R

Source citation:

[Unpublished] 1988 Oct. Paper presented at The Christopher Tietze International Symposium on Women's Health in the Third World: The Impact of Unwanted Pregnancy, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 29-30 October, 1988. 5 p.

Abstract:

The principle of individual liberty ("an individual has a right to freedom of decision and action...") the utilitarian principle ("...great good for the greatest number..."), and the principle of justice (equal access to goods and services for basic human needs) are the 3 ethical principles used to address the impact of unwanted pregnancy. Natural right (the right not to be coerced or interfered with) and social rights (governmental obligation to provide basic social goods and a decent standard of living) can be applied to reproductive rights. Individual liberty may interfere with the father's and the fetus 'rights,' however, since the fetus is part of the woman' body, this grants her and not the father the right to decide whether to abort. Fetus rights are very controversial since "personhood" has not been clearly established for any particular developmental stage. Utilitarians must calculate risks and benefits of an abortion. If safe legal abortions are unavailable, then the question of mortality vs. the risk of having the child is addressed. Countries with liberal abortion laws must ensure access to safe medical services. Worldwide agreement on these ethics is probably impossible because they are based on faith rather than on logical analysis. However, there has been acceptance of the above 3 ethics by the United Nations since 1968. These principles, if applied, can help to promote social change.

Keywords:

Abortion
Ethics
Abortion Law
International Cooperation
Human Rights
Philosophical Overview
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning