Beginning of Life Issues Congenital and genetic defects Abortion Parental rights and responsibilities

Technology and New Lives When does life begin? When do responsibilities and rights begin? Who holds those rights and responsibilities? How does technology affect these issues?

Parental rights Common law right to decide for their children and the fetus Right can lost; Not absolute right—abuse and neglect statutes

Abortion Why have one? Abuts the rights of the person/potential parent and their responsibilities to a child Controversy a product of social norms that collide Norm of personal privacy and sexual freedom Norm of valuing life over death

Abortion Context Legalized in the US in 1973—Roe v. Wade Prior studies show high rate of death in medically under-supervised abortions Have occurred from the time Galen Social and medical issue at the time

Abortion Two issues Whether the procedure should be available How the procedure should be available and the rules for restricting access for at risk populations Note the Utilitarian and Kantian characteristics of the issue

Language Embryo—less than 9 weeks Fetus—after 9 weeks Baby—capable of sustaining life e outside the womb

Roe v. Wade What does Roe say? Capable of survival – Fetal Viability Affect of technology Rights of the fetus Right of privacy—where is that in the Constitution?

Religious Considerations 1 st century ideal Twelfth century idea—formed and unformed Pope Pius IX—infallibility Denounced abortion (and condoms)—John Paul II Doctrine of double effect—immediate animation, except in ectopic and uterine cancer

Historical Views Quickening Thalidomide 1968: Humanae Vitae—no artificial means of birth control Reagan signs abortion bill into law, 1970

Context of the Decision Fetuses used as research subjects Test artificial womb Effects of lack of glucose on aborted fetuses Congressional outrage 1973 Alice Roe—24 weeks pregnant, aborted by hysterotomy, indictment for murder

Context Manslaughter charge Wanton, reckless act Massachusetts did not have abortion law at the time Roe “controlling” Unborn fetus not a person Convicted, appealed and acquitted

Results Emotional issues on both sides Woman controls the right Personhood was at issue –determined to be at viability Roe gave no set limit

Example If personhood were determined to be at conception would the right to abortion exist and would Roe have to be overturned?

Controls on the methods Control on minors Parental consent Method of abortion—late term All struck down by courts as infringing the right to abort

When is abortion “okay” morally? Rape Incest Potential death of mother Sanctity of life versus personal choice or medical/social issue?

Contraception Ubiquitous Effective Right and responsibility? Personal right Prevention versus solution

Summary Complicated issue Emotion on both sides Rational thought process Informed consent When does control of process abrogate a right?