Abortion Ethical Analysis

When reviewing a number of sensitive issues that challenge our moral and ethical reasoning, the morality and ethics surrounding the concept of abortion are both highly debatable and extremely divisive. The concept of abortion creates a significant moral dilemma since moral justification can be argued from both proponents and detractors of the concept of abortion. In the following analysis, I will provide a view of abortion from three ethical points of view; deontological, consequentialist, and virtue ethics. These points of view will utilize information defining the different aspects and terms associated with the abortion discussion, as well as references to laws and situations. Before analyzing the ethical points of view, it is important to

Bolton), the requirement for spousal consent (Planned Parenthood v. Danforth), federal funding for abortion procedures (Harris v. McRae), and age of consent (Hodgson v. Minnesota) (Masci & Lupu 2013). One of the more controversial topics debated was the legality of partial birth abortions, which by its description is a terrible procedure. In this scenario, a fetus is partially delivered feet with the head remaining in the birth canal, and a tool is used to puncture the skull and remove the brain of the fetus, with the delivery of the dead fetus then completed (“The Facts,” n.d.) The Supreme Court first ruled this practice to be legal and invalidated the law banning the practice in 30 states in the Stenberg v. Carhart case, but the practice was deemed illegal through enactment of the Partial Birth Abortion Act. This topic was once again brought before the Supreme Court challenging the law based on the precedent set in Stenberg v. Carhart. In this case, the Supreme Court upheld the federal law thereby reversing the original decision (Masci & Lupu, 2013). From an ethical point of view, the fierceness in which this topic has been debated, especially in the United States, presents a justified moral argument for and against the practice of

This is a logical path considering the basic premises of duty and moral obligation that are imposed on individuals through a deontological, or duty based ethical point of view. For example, a deontological ethicist could claim that once the woman became pregnant, it is her “duty” from that point forward to protect, raise, and care for that child. Aborting the child would contradict her moral duty to the child. Since deontological ethics is based in obligatory actions despite the consequences, it can be argued that caring for the child is the mother’s obligation, regardless of the circumstances or consequences of the pregnancy. Another focus of deontological ethics that would be against the action of abortion is the concept of the preservation and protection of life. Alexander & Moore (2015) explain that the “doctrine of doing vs. allowing”, based on old Catholic doctrine, a person should not be directly responsible for another’s death (Alexander & Moore, 2015). Since deontological ethicists view an unborn child as a life nonetheless, aborting or killing that life, is morally wrong. However, this could provide another moral dilemma for a deontological ethicist. For example, if the mother’s life could be saved as a result of an abortion, a decision would need to be made as to which life is more important. Furthermore, by not acting to save a life can be construed as taking