case study

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Chapter 5

Abortion: The Unexplored Middle Ground

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The Current Position on Abortion

• Despite health care reform, there is still a constant debate between the rights of the unborn and the right of privacy.

• Each side makes uncompromised arguments. • The arguments between morality and public

policy continue to be a battle.

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What About a Middle Ground?

• There is a need to: • Establish a format for public conversation on

the abortion. • Avoid labels and move to true discourse. • Design a peaceable public policy.

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Twenty Elements of the Common Ground

• The intentional taking of human life is presumed to be immoral.

• Abortion is a killing act. • Abortion to save the life of the mother is a

morally acceptable action.

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Twenty Elements of the Common Ground

• Judgment about the morality of abortion cannot be based just on a woman’s right to choose.

• Abortion for convenience is morally wrong. • Conditions that lead to abortion should be

abolished as much as possible.

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Twenty Elements of the Common Ground

• Abortion is a tragic experience and should be avoided if possible.

• There should be alternatives to abortion. • Abortion is not just a private affair.

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Twenty Elements of the Common Ground

• Roe v. Wade is offensive to many people. • If a law cannot be enforced, it is a bad law. • An “absolutely prohibitive” law on abortion is

not enforceable.

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Twenty Elements of the Common Ground

• There should be some public restrictions on abortion.

• The best education about abortion is witness. • Abortion is frequently a subtlety coerced

decision.

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Twenty Elements of the Common Ground

• The availability of contraceptives does not reduce the number of abortions.

• Permissive laws forfeit the sanctity of life for the unborn.

• Hospitals that perform abortions should have to follow policy.

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Twenty Elements of the Common Ground

• The “consistent ethic of life” should be taken seriously.

• Whenever a discussion about abortion becomes heated, it should stop.

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Discussions Should Continue

• To find middle ground, one should understand the 20 elements surrounding abortion.

• The issue of religious and ethics beliefs should be considered dispassionately.

• Issues will continue to be both political and ethical as PPACA is implemented.

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In Summary…

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