Marriage Eugenic and social sterilization

- a formal union and social and legal contract between - Purpose of hindering the conception of undesirable
two individuals that unites their lives legally, and physically or mentally unfit offspring
economically, and emotionally. The contractual - Social engineering
marriage agreement usually implies that the couple has - Society free from individuals afflicted with social
legal obligations to each other throughout their lives or diseases
until they decide to divorce.  Grave mental defects
 Lepers, idiots
Fundamentals of Marriage:
 Imbeciles
 Husband – a married man considered in relation  Morons
to his spouse.  Insane
 Wife – a married woman considered in relation to  Carriers of congenital defective genes
her spouse
Punitive sterilization
 Marriage License – a license that a couple must
obtain before getting married - Done as punishment for crime or antisocial behavior
- Catholic theologians defended this under the double
Terms associated with marriage:
effect principle
 Monogamy - one man, one woman. All 1st world - The sterilization is not “direct” since the primary and
countries are monogamous. intended effect is punishment and the contraceptive
 Polygamy - more than one wife or husband. effect is therefore “indirect” or secondary
Example: Islam & Fundamental Mormons Justifications of contraception
 Bigamy – Marrying another person while still
married to someone else. It is against the law. 1. Parenthood and birth are matters of moral
 Serial Monogamy or Modified Polygamy – responsibility and intelligent choice.
Succession of marriages over time. Typical of US 2. An individual should be the one to determine
marriages. his/her fertility and should be able to control
his/her fecundity
Contraception 3. One should be able to decide how many children
one is able to bear and support
- Voluntary prevention of conception
4. Contraceptive technology makes men and women
- Uses artificial means that prevents the union of sperm
persons of will and decision, and not inert and
and egg
powerless bodies subject to church proscriptions
- Synonymous with
or to the divine will.
 Family planning
5. Contraception checks the transmission of
 Planned parenthood
recessive disorders or genetically-linked diseases.
 Responsible parenthood
- Genetic testing and chromosomal analysis
 Birth control
Methods of Contraception
Sterilization
1. Folk methods
- Positive use of artificial methods
 Precoital/Poscoital Douche
- Cutting off the sexual capacity in a man and woman
- Usually done surgically  Prolonged Lactation
- Types: (according to willingness)  Withdrawal - coitus interruptus, coitus
o Voluntary reservatus
o Involuntary 2. Mechanical methods
- Types: (according to purpose or ends)  Condom
o Therapeutic  Diaphragm
o Contraceptive  Sponge
o Eugenic 3. Chemical methods
o Social  Vaginal suppositories and tablets
o Punitive  Vaginal jellies, creams, and foams
4. Hormonal methods
Therapeutic sterilization  Contraceptive pills
 Injections and implants
- Removal of part or all of the reproductive organ 5. Abortifacients
- To save one’s life or promote bodily integrity  Intrauterine Device
- Principle of totality (under natural law ethics) (has the  DES (diethylstilbestrol)
right to dispose of his organs only to the extent that the
 Prostaglandin
general well-being of the whole body demands it)
 Antipregnancy vaccine
Contraceptive sterilization  Low-dose of contraceptive pills
6. Surgical methods
- Justification:  Tubal ligation
1. Serious illness of either husband of wife  Vasectomy
 TB, epileptics, syphilitics and lepers  Hysterectomy
2. Probability of genetic abnormality 7. Natural or behavioral methods
 Carrier of defective gene  Rhythm or calendar method
3. Financial burden  Temperature method
4. Child-bearing puts one’s health in danger
 Ovulation (Mucus) Method
  Sympto-thermal method
 Sex relations during menstruation

Application of ethical theories

 Natural law ethics had two division

o only rhythm method and abstinence
o Voluntary sterilization as WRONG
 Utilitarianism
o Justify contraception and sterilization for
the greatest happiness and benefits
 Pragmatism
o Contraception and sterilization is practical,
useful, beneficial