1
Christopher Ciarla
345-BXH-DW: Applied Ethics in Humanities
Introduction to Ethics
Jennifer Koopman
Is Abortion a Good Solution?
In the future, I would like to become a nurse. Ethical dilemmas can take many forms in
nursing and sometimes it can cause nurses distress because they don’t know what to do that can
be considered “the right thing to do”. The main ethical values of nursing are structured to
influence decision-making, while maintaining patient rights, to achieve the best care for patients,
so it is important to include patients as much as possible in the decision-making process. The
ethical dilemma I will be discussing is abortion. Abortion is defined as a premature exit of a
product of conception such as the fetus, the fetal membrane, and placenta from the uterus
(mayoclinic.org.2020)1. There are two types of abortion; spontaneous abortion, which happens
on its own also known as a miscarriage. Then there is induced abortion that can also be called
“the deliberate termination of pregnancy” which occurs by surgery or administration of
medication. Abortion remains to be one of the controversial topics in Canada. Arguments from
both sides vary and that some that are for abortion consider abortion as a last option while others
want full fertility under any circumstances. The question remains, are we more concerned about
the well being of the mother or the child? Does the mother’s autonomy or the right to choose,
supersede the right of the fetus to live?
1
“Medical Abortion.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 May 2020,
www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687.
, 2
One way to look at abortion (which I don’t agree on) should be evaluated using the
consequentialism theory. Since abortion is a life and death situation it’s important to look at the
consequences of the procedure. Abortion has been used to end unwanted and unexpected
pregnancies that involve teenagers and women in general who have had sex with a man. The
problem is not that they have had sex, but that they made the decision to have sex without
knowing the possible consequences. The consequence of having an abortion is not holding the
two involved in making the fetus responsible. We simply just end the life of a developing baby
and wipe their life away. The potential baby suffers because of the mother’s decision. The baby
did not choose to be made, the choice was done by the mother and father of the baby. However,
the baby’s chance at life is terminated. Many will argue that women have the right to their body,
however, they fully understand how babies are made and the chances of pregnancy before having
sex. So, they give up their body when they had sexual intercourse, despite the consequences. We
are punishing the baby and ending his or her life that they did not even get to fight for.
Consequentialism, because it is focused primarily on happiness would regard abortion as morally
right or wrong depending on whether they bring happiness or pain to the individuals involved. If
the mother was going to go through severe pain and could die if she underwent the pregnancy,
then consequentialists would agree that abortion is the morally right thing to do as it creates more
happiness. Each person has their own choices to make depending on their life situation. If the
mother cannot afford to look after the child because of a debilitating disease, or if the mother is
at risk then she should decide whether abortion is the right thing to do. The consequentialist
theory is preferred nowadays due to its ability to adapt to changes in society’s morals and norms
(contrary to Kantian ethics).
Christopher Ciarla
345-BXH-DW: Applied Ethics in Humanities
Introduction to Ethics
Jennifer Koopman
Is Abortion a Good Solution?
In the future, I would like to become a nurse. Ethical dilemmas can take many forms in
nursing and sometimes it can cause nurses distress because they don’t know what to do that can
be considered “the right thing to do”. The main ethical values of nursing are structured to
influence decision-making, while maintaining patient rights, to achieve the best care for patients,
so it is important to include patients as much as possible in the decision-making process. The
ethical dilemma I will be discussing is abortion. Abortion is defined as a premature exit of a
product of conception such as the fetus, the fetal membrane, and placenta from the uterus
(mayoclinic.org.2020)1. There are two types of abortion; spontaneous abortion, which happens
on its own also known as a miscarriage. Then there is induced abortion that can also be called
“the deliberate termination of pregnancy” which occurs by surgery or administration of
medication. Abortion remains to be one of the controversial topics in Canada. Arguments from
both sides vary and that some that are for abortion consider abortion as a last option while others
want full fertility under any circumstances. The question remains, are we more concerned about
the well being of the mother or the child? Does the mother’s autonomy or the right to choose,
supersede the right of the fetus to live?
1
“Medical Abortion.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 May 2020,
www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687.
, 2
One way to look at abortion (which I don’t agree on) should be evaluated using the
consequentialism theory. Since abortion is a life and death situation it’s important to look at the
consequences of the procedure. Abortion has been used to end unwanted and unexpected
pregnancies that involve teenagers and women in general who have had sex with a man. The
problem is not that they have had sex, but that they made the decision to have sex without
knowing the possible consequences. The consequence of having an abortion is not holding the
two involved in making the fetus responsible. We simply just end the life of a developing baby
and wipe their life away. The potential baby suffers because of the mother’s decision. The baby
did not choose to be made, the choice was done by the mother and father of the baby. However,
the baby’s chance at life is terminated. Many will argue that women have the right to their body,
however, they fully understand how babies are made and the chances of pregnancy before having
sex. So, they give up their body when they had sexual intercourse, despite the consequences. We
are punishing the baby and ending his or her life that they did not even get to fight for.
Consequentialism, because it is focused primarily on happiness would regard abortion as morally
right or wrong depending on whether they bring happiness or pain to the individuals involved. If
the mother was going to go through severe pain and could die if she underwent the pregnancy,
then consequentialists would agree that abortion is the morally right thing to do as it creates more
happiness. Each person has their own choices to make depending on their life situation. If the
mother cannot afford to look after the child because of a debilitating disease, or if the mother is
at risk then she should decide whether abortion is the right thing to do. The consequentialist
theory is preferred nowadays due to its ability to adapt to changes in society’s morals and norms
(contrary to Kantian ethics).
