In: Nursing
#. Utilitarian views on abortion
- Human life does not have absolute value, it depends on the situation and whether it will provide the greatest happiness
- Abortion is only accepted if it favours all concerned
- Cannot predict all consequences
- Preference utilitarianism considers the preferences of the mother and family members
- Able to make a judgement that depends on emotional responses
- Does not accept/reject abortion generically - situation based.
#. Doctrine of Double Effect (Utilitarian theory)
Can justify abortion as say the mother is at great risk of dying (e.g. the egg is developing in the fallopian tube) then it can be done as long as the consequence is the focus and the intention is not killing the child, but saving the mother. (Supported by weak sanctity of life)
#. Kantian ethics views on abortion
- Categorical imperative would be against abortion as it cannot be universalised for all
- Treating people as ends in themselves and as a means to an end would be against this as it would be using the foetus.
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