MORAL ISSUE

OF
PRENATAL
PERSONHOOD
AND
ABORTION
 ABORTIO
N
 The termination of pregnancy by
any means before the fetus is
sufficiently
developed to survive or before its
viability age.

 It is the termination of pregnancy

before 20 weeks gestation.

 Age of viability is emphasized in

defining abortion.
TYPES OF
ABORTION
1. Spontaneous Abortion/ Natural abortion
 accidental causes, unintentional or involuntary.

This type of abortion can be devoid of moral significance.

a.Threatened
There is vaginal bleeding but the cervix is close,
treated by bedrest.
b. Incomplete
c. Missed
d. Complete
All contents are expelled due to a small uterus
but cervix is close, treated with iron supplementation.
2. Induced Abortion/ or Intentional or Direct Abortion

A. Indications
i. Pregnancy as a result of rape and/or incest
ii. Severe fetal malformation or mental retardation
iii. Safeguard the health of the mother

B. Voluntary
Termination of pregnancy at the request of the
woman but not for reason of impaired maternal
health or fetal disease.
3. Therapeutic Abortion – intentional or deliberately done inorder to
save the mother from danger of death brought about by pregnancy

4. Eugenic Abortion – recommended – if defects are discovered in the

developing fetus.
“It is better for the child not to be born than live a miserable life” or
suffer from a genetic disorder or to “get rid of abnormal babies”

5. Indirect Abortion – getting rid of the fetus as a secondary effect of a

legitimate action ( a pregnant woman who has cancer in the uterus, or an
ectopic pregnancy)
Techniques use to induce abortion:

1. Abortion by D and C
2. Abortion by hysterectomy
3. Suction technique
4. Intra-amniotic infiltration
5. Prostaglandin Injection
Three General Views on Abortion:
1. Conservative View – Abortion as never permissible. This view states that fetus
has full ontological status. They possess the same rights with those who are
already born.

2. Liberal View – Abortion as always permissible in whatever state of development

the fetus is. It emphasizes the right of the woman to make decisions regarding her
own body; of having the full freedom to control their own reproductive abilities.
3. Moderate position – Abortion as morally permissible up to a certain stage of fetal
development or for some limited set of reasons or circumstance sufficient to justify
the taking of life.
The fetus has ontological status at quickening or viability .
 Two theories that explains when ensoulment
occurs:

1. Immediate Hominization – (Plato) . according to this theory, a new human person

exists immediately upon conception.
2. Delayed Animation theory – (Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas)
This theory believes that ensoulment occurs at a later time but not from the
moment of conception.
Seven Interpretations:
a. Implantation stage-
b. Unity and uniqueness
c. “Looks” human
d. Electrical activity
e. Quickening
f. Viability
g. Birth
Effects of Abortion:
A. Physical

1. fever 2. coma
3. bleeding 4. shock
5. habitual abortion 6. still birth

B. Psychological Effects

1. guilt 2. suicidal tendencies

3. hostility 4.low self esteem
5. helplessness 6. low interest in sex
THANK
YOU
“ Before I formed you in the womb
I knew you, and before you were born,
I sanctified you”.
Jeremiah 1:5
PNG