Healthcare Ethics: Defending Abortion Based on Philosophical Theories
Added on 2023-04-23
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Running head: HEALTHCARE ETHICS
HEALTHCARE ETHICS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:
HEALTHCARE ETHICS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:
1HEALTHCARE ASSIGNMENT
Introduction:
Abortion can be defined as the process of ending the process of pregnancy by the
removal of foetus or embryo prior to the completion of the gestation and the delivery process
(Kero et al. 2001). It should be noted in this context that an abortion that occurs
spontaneously within the body is referred to as miscarriage. The deliberate steps that are
taken to end a pregnancy term can be referred to as an induced abortion. On the other hand,
late term abortion refers to ending the life of the foetus at a stage where it could potentially
survive outside the mother’s womb. Abortion on ethical grounds has been a debatable topic
for years and is also perceived as a social stigma (Warren 1973). It should also be noted that
the phenomenon of abortion is also perceived as a social evil under diverse religious beliefs,
but for the set of individuals who oppose abortion, their conceptual knowledge and ethical
arguments seem shaky. This paper intends to evaluate the arguments presented by the
philosophical thinker Judith Jarvis Thomson in order to validate the process of abortion in
relation to moral ethics. The paper would establish arguments in favour of abortion based on
Thomson’s thought experiments and state why abortion is not equivalent to immoral conduct.
Discussion:
According to Thomson (1976), the argument in favour of foetus’s right to life should
not compromise with the mother’s right to live. The philosopher has typically made use of the
contemporary philosophy to valid her arguments and defend the process of abortion. The
theory of violinist, by Thomson presents a distinct example of a situation where the readers
imagine themselves on bed tied with a remarkable unconscious violinist (Thomson 1976).
The violinist is diagnosed with a fatal kidney disorder and the society of Music lovers have
forcibly abducted a concerned individual who alone shares the compatible blood group with
the violinist. The circulatory system of the violinist had then been tied to that of the
Introduction:
Abortion can be defined as the process of ending the process of pregnancy by the
removal of foetus or embryo prior to the completion of the gestation and the delivery process
(Kero et al. 2001). It should be noted in this context that an abortion that occurs
spontaneously within the body is referred to as miscarriage. The deliberate steps that are
taken to end a pregnancy term can be referred to as an induced abortion. On the other hand,
late term abortion refers to ending the life of the foetus at a stage where it could potentially
survive outside the mother’s womb. Abortion on ethical grounds has been a debatable topic
for years and is also perceived as a social stigma (Warren 1973). It should also be noted that
the phenomenon of abortion is also perceived as a social evil under diverse religious beliefs,
but for the set of individuals who oppose abortion, their conceptual knowledge and ethical
arguments seem shaky. This paper intends to evaluate the arguments presented by the
philosophical thinker Judith Jarvis Thomson in order to validate the process of abortion in
relation to moral ethics. The paper would establish arguments in favour of abortion based on
Thomson’s thought experiments and state why abortion is not equivalent to immoral conduct.
Discussion:
According to Thomson (1976), the argument in favour of foetus’s right to life should
not compromise with the mother’s right to live. The philosopher has typically made use of the
contemporary philosophy to valid her arguments and defend the process of abortion. The
theory of violinist, by Thomson presents a distinct example of a situation where the readers
imagine themselves on bed tied with a remarkable unconscious violinist (Thomson 1976).
The violinist is diagnosed with a fatal kidney disorder and the society of Music lovers have
forcibly abducted a concerned individual who alone shares the compatible blood group with
the violinist. The circulatory system of the violinist had then been tied to that of the
2HEALTHCARE ASSIGNMENT
concerned individual and their kidneys are being used to filter the blood toxins. The situation
has assumed a serious form such that unplugging the system would result in the death of the
musician, however unplugging the system after a period of 9 months would give the musician
a chance of survival and would ensure safety to the concerned individual. In this situation, the
Thomson asks the readers to reflect upon the condition where the individual decides to
unplug himself from the system. The action cannot be treated unethical as the law does not
permit to exploit the body of another individual without their consent. Also, the concerned
individual might as an act of kindness permit the use of his kidneys for a period of 9 months
till the musician recovers completely. This example presented by Thomson critically explains
that the procedure of abortion in no way comprises the right to life of the foetus but only
prohibits the non-consensual use of the pregnant woman to nourish the foetus and cannot be
considered a legal violation.
Another example used by the philosopher includes the example of the Trapped
Mother or giant baby analogy (Thomson 1976). Here, the philosopher urges the readers to
reflect upon a scenario where a mother is trapped inside a tiny house with a rapidly growing
child. The uncontrollable growth of the child has already pushed the mother up to the wall
and if the growth is not stopped, the mother would be crushed, but eventually the baby would
break out of the house and survive. This example has been used in order to establish the fact
that abortion should not depend on the consent of the third party (physicians). The mother’s
body has been compared to the house and the giant baby to be the foetus. In conditions such
as lethal pregnancy where the growth of the foetus is threatening the survival of the mother,
the third party has absolutely no right to interfere and since the mother’s life is being
threatened, the decision of abortion is completely justified and the decision must be made by
the mother. The example further explains that the mother is the owner is the owner of the
house as well as her body and thus third parties have no right in contradicting her decision of
concerned individual and their kidneys are being used to filter the blood toxins. The situation
has assumed a serious form such that unplugging the system would result in the death of the
musician, however unplugging the system after a period of 9 months would give the musician
a chance of survival and would ensure safety to the concerned individual. In this situation, the
Thomson asks the readers to reflect upon the condition where the individual decides to
unplug himself from the system. The action cannot be treated unethical as the law does not
permit to exploit the body of another individual without their consent. Also, the concerned
individual might as an act of kindness permit the use of his kidneys for a period of 9 months
till the musician recovers completely. This example presented by Thomson critically explains
that the procedure of abortion in no way comprises the right to life of the foetus but only
prohibits the non-consensual use of the pregnant woman to nourish the foetus and cannot be
considered a legal violation.
Another example used by the philosopher includes the example of the Trapped
Mother or giant baby analogy (Thomson 1976). Here, the philosopher urges the readers to
reflect upon a scenario where a mother is trapped inside a tiny house with a rapidly growing
child. The uncontrollable growth of the child has already pushed the mother up to the wall
and if the growth is not stopped, the mother would be crushed, but eventually the baby would
break out of the house and survive. This example has been used in order to establish the fact
that abortion should not depend on the consent of the third party (physicians). The mother’s
body has been compared to the house and the giant baby to be the foetus. In conditions such
as lethal pregnancy where the growth of the foetus is threatening the survival of the mother,
the third party has absolutely no right to interfere and since the mother’s life is being
threatened, the decision of abortion is completely justified and the decision must be made by
the mother. The example further explains that the mother is the owner is the owner of the
house as well as her body and thus third parties have no right in contradicting her decision of
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