Bioethics and Abortion

Abstract

Elective abortion is unethical because it violates the major principles of medical ethics and is incompatible with Christian values. Underpinning the study of bioethics are four primary, philosophical principles: justice, autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. Further inserting a faith-based component into bioethics, namely the doctrine of The Sanctity of Life, provides a moral basis for the observance of the other four principles. This fifth principle, which is analogous to a moral compass, is often neglected in the discussion of abortion. From this doctrine, we derive our belief that human life is sacred, and therefore, should be protected. Included in human life are zygotes, embryos, and fetuses, and their lives depend on sound, logical reasoning. To protect them, this paper makes five claims about abortion, each based on a principle of bioethics: Claim 1: Abortion violates the individual rights of the fetus. Hence, it is a moral injustice. Claim 2: Autonomy is a duty that abortion neglects. Hence, it is immoral. Claim 3: Elective abortion violates the principle of beneficence because it is intrinsically evil. Claim 4: Physicians should avoid elective abortion because it harms the fetus. Claim 5: Elective abortion is incompatible with The Sanctity of Life principle