PHL 135 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Zygote, Blastocyst, Therapeutic Abortion
Document Summary
When we grapple with the issue of abortion, we must consider whose rights (the mother"s or the unborn"s) carry the most moral weight, what the meaning of human being or person is, when. Issue file: background: abortion (induced abortion): the deliberate termination of a pregnancy by surgical or medical (with drugs) means. According to the court, in the first three months of pregnancy (first trimester), the woman"s right is unrestricted. The decision to have an abortion is up to the woman in consultation with her physician. After viability, however, a state may regulate and even forbid abortions in the interests of the "the potentiality of human life," except when abortion is necessary to preserve the health or life of the woman. (165) He could arguegenerally following a rule such as "abortion is not morally permissible except to save the mother"s life" would maximize happiness. " (167) person: an entity with full moral rights.
