Citation

Paul EF, Paul J. J. Med. Ethics 1979; 5(3): 133-138.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

490573

PMCID

PMC1154740

Abstract

Physicians find themselves in an impossible position because abortion laws sanction the termination of an intrawomb fetus but find attempts to end the life of a fetus who survives the abortion procedures to be criminal. If the philosophy of self-ownership is posited, the right of a mother to abort an unwanted pregnancy is recognized. Recognition of the self-ownership of the fetus leads to the understanding that, following the point of viability of the fetus, only abortion procedures which aim at delivery of a live infant can be performed. As medical science advances, the point of viability for a fetus will recede gradually toward the point of conception. This recession would eventually force reappraisal of the point in the pregnancy after which only abortions aimed at delivery of a live baby would be permissible.

Language: en