Two Tragedies Argument: Two Mistakes

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 562-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Simkulet
Keyword(s):  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Spontaneous Abortions ◽  
Human Fetuses ◽  
Moral Agents ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Killing And Letting Die ◽  
Letting Die

Most opposition to abortion turns on the claim that human fetuses are full moral agents from conception (or soon afterwards). Critics argue that antiabortion theorists act hypocritically when they neglect spontaneous abortions—valuing some fetal lives and not others. Many philosophers draw a distinction between killing and letting die, with the former being morally impermissible and latter acceptable. Henrick Friberg-Fernros appeals to this distinction with his Two Tragedies Argument, contending that anti-abortion theorists are justified in prioritising preventing induced abortions over spontaneous ones, as the former involves two tragedies—a death and a killing. However, induced abortion can involve either killing or letting die, and thus this view is incompatible with the traditional anti-abortion view. Furthermore, Friberg-Fernros appears to value preventing killing attempts more than preventing actual deaths.

Profile of women with abortion complications in Ghana

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
R M K Adanu ◽  
M N Ntumy ◽  
E Tweneboah
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Modern Contraceptive ◽  
Spontaneous Abortions ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Relationship Problems ◽  
Stable Relationship ◽  
Abortion Complications ◽  
Induced Abortions

A cross-sectional study of 150 women was performed at the gynaecology department of the Korle-BuTeaching Hospital to describe the characteristics of patients with complications of induced or spontaneous abortions, and to find out the reasons behind induced abortions. In all, 31% of the study sample presented with complications of induced abortions. This group was younger, of lower parity, more educated, with lower economic potential, in less stable relationships and with a higher knowledge of modern contraceptive methods than the group with spontaneous abortions. The chief reason for procuring an induced abortion was the presence of relationship problems with the subject's partner. We conclude that measures to prevent induced abortions and their subsequent problems will yield major results if directed at women in their early 20s with at least primary education, no children, low economic potential, not in a stable relationship and who have had a previous induced abortion.

The Two tragedies argument

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 304-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Simkulet
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Abortion ◽  
Moral Status ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Spontaneous Abortions ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Induce Abortion ◽  
Pro Life

Opposition to induced abortion rests on the belief that fetuses have a moral status comparable to beings like us, and that the loss of such a life is tragic. Antiabortion, or pro-life, theorists argue that (1) it is wrong to induce abortion and (2) it is wrong to allow others to perform induced abortion. However, evidence suggests that spontaneous abortion kills far more fetuses than induced abortion, and critics argue that most pro-life theorists neglect the threat of spontaneous abortion and ought to do more to prevent it. Friberg-Fernros contends such an obligation would be implausibly strong, arguing that induced abortions are far worse than spontaneous abortions because while both involve the tragedy of the death of the fetus, induced abortion involves a second tragedy—one person killing another. I argue this two tragedies argument fails to explain what is morally relevant about induced abortion.

Induced Abortion: Trends in the Tendency to Repeat, Norway, 1972–1981

1986 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Finn Egil Skjeldestad ◽  
Leiv S. Bakketeig
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Birth Control ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Failure Rates ◽  
Spontaneous Abortions ◽  
Contraceptive Failure ◽  
Population At Risk ◽  
Abortion Legislation ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Annual Frequency

Through the 1970s the number of women who experienced an induced abortion increased in Norway. Thus, the population at risk for a repeat abortion has increased. The frequency of repeat abortions has doubled from 1972 to 1981. However, the annual frequency of observed repeat abortion has been below what could be expected according to contraceptive failure rates. There is no evidence that the liberalized abortion legislation has led to the use of induced abortion as a method of birth control. In order to improve fertility surveillance and to elucidate the epidemiology of induced abortion, there is a need for more detailed and individually based national registration of induced abortions as well as spontaneous abortions.

scholarly journals Repeat Induced Abortion among Chinese Women Seeking Abortion: Two Cross Sectional Studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4446
Author(s):  
Longmei Tang ◽  
Shangchun Wu ◽  
Dianwu Liu ◽  
Marleen Temmerman ◽  
Wei-Hong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Married Women ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression Model ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Lower Education Level ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Lower Education

Background: In China, there were about 9.76 million induced abortions in 2019, 50% of which were repeat abortions. Understanding the tendency of repeat induced abortion and identifying its related factors is needed to develop prevention strategies. Methods: Two hospital-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted from 2005–2007 and 2013–2016 in 24 and 90 hospitals, respectively. The survey included women who sought an induced abortion within 12 weeks of pregnancy. The proportion of repeat induced abortions by adjusting the covariates through propensity score matching was compared between the two surveys, and the zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was established to identify independent factors of repeat induced abortion. Results: Adjusting the age, occupation, education, marital status and number of children, the proportion of repeat induced abortions in the second survey was found to be low (60.28% vs. 11.11%), however the unadjusted proportion was high in the second survey (44.97% vs. 51.54%). The risk of repeat induced abortion was higher among married women and women with children [ORadj and 95% CI: 0.31 (0.20, 0.49) and 0.08 (0.05, 0.13)]; the risk among service industry staff was higher when compared with unemployed women [ORadj and 95% CI: 0.19 (0.07, 0.54)]; women with a lower education level were at a higher risk of a repeat induced abortion (ORadj < 1). Compared with women under the age of 20, women in other higher age groups had a higher frequency of repeat induced abortions (IRadj: 1.78, 2.55, 3.27, 4.01, and 3.93, separately); the frequency of women with lower education levels was higher than those with a university or higher education level (IRadj > 1); the repeat induced abortion frequency of married women was 0.93 (0.90, 0.98) when compared to the frequency of unmarried women, while the frequency of women with children was 1.17 (1.10, 1.25) of childless women; the induced abortion frequency of working women was about 60–95% with that of unemployed women. Conclusions: The repeat induced abortion proportion was lower than 10 years ago. Induced abortion seekers who were married, aged 20 to 30 years and with a lower education level were more likely to repeat induced abortions.

BIRTH CONTROL AS VIEWED IN 1923 BY A HIGHLY RESPECTED AMERICAN PEDIATRICIAN

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-330
Author(s):  
T. E. C.
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Birth Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Actual Number ◽  
Contraceptive Methods ◽  
Loss Of Life ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Large Families

Dr. Richard Arthur Bolt (1880-1959) was both a greatly respected American pediatrician and an acknowledged leader in the development of maternal and infant hygiene programs. His chapter entitled "The Mortalities of Infancy" in Isaac Abt's (1867-1955) encyclopedic, nine-volume treatise on pediatrics, published between 1923 and 1926, contains this negative view of birth control.1 This terrific loss of life in utero or shortly after birth constitutes a serious problem from a biological as well as a social standpoint. Of recent years there has been an alarming increase in the frequency and actual number of induced abortions. This has gone hand in hand with the insidious propaganda for so-called "birth control" or "voluntary parenthood"—a movement which has gained momentum in France, Holland and New Zealand, and has gradually spread to England and the United States. While the birth control enthusiasts would indignantly disclaim any connection between the "contraceptive methods" of "voluntary parenthood" and induced abortions, it is very evident that the more "moral technique" of contraception must often break down and relief from the "accidents" which follow be frequently sought in induced abortion. Thus far contraceptive methods have been practiced largely by the elite and better educated classes. Those most able to bear children and meet their support have been the very ones to shirk the responsibility, while those for whom birth control is claimed to be a great boon still proceed to build up large families. It has been estimated that at least four children to a family are necessary to keep up the stock.

scholarly journals Patterns of induced abortion in urban area of Southeastern region, Brazil

1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebeca de Souza e Silva
Keyword(s):  
Single Women ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Contraceptive Methods ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
Southeastern Region ◽  
Fertile Women

OBJECTIVE: To assess the behavior of induced abortion as a function of certain demographic variables, for the population of fertile women (15 to 49 years old) residing in the Vila Madalena subdistrict S. Paulo (Brazil). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two population samples were selected. One sample, with 996 women, investigated the incidence of induced abortions during 1987, using the RRT. In the other, involving 1,004 women, the same information was detected through a conventional approach. In both samples, the induced abortion occurring during the reproductive life was recorded in direct fashion. Though this analysis refers only to information about past abortions, that is by 2,000 women -, it should be noted that it is exactly the RRT that lends credibility to the found or results given results. CONCLUSION: The analysis furnishes evidence showing that single women, young women between the ages of 15 and 19, women who have not had live births, women who have a number of children below the expected ideal, women who use contraceptive methods (especially inefficient ones) and women who do not have any restrictions as to abortion constitute the categories most inclined to resort to induced abortion. This grouping suggests the existence of interrelationships between categories, that is, each of these categories is probably composed primarily of the same women, those who are at the beginning of their reproductive lives.

scholarly journals Backstreet abortion: Women’s experiences

Curationis ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Makorah ◽  
K. Wood ◽  
R. Jewkes
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Experiences Of Women ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Induce Abortion

This was a descriptive study aimed at exploring the personal experiences of women who induce abortion and the circumstances surrounding induced abortion. The study was conducted in six public hospitals in four different provinces: Baragwanath (Gauteng), Groote Schuur and Tygerberg (Western Cape), King Edward and R.K. Khan (Kwa-Zulu/Natal) and Livingstone (Eastern Cape). In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 African, Indian and Coloured women admitted to the hospitals following backstreet abortions. The study gave women the opportunity to "speak for themselves" about "why" and "how" and the context in which the unscfe induced abortions occurred

scholarly journals Lived Experiences of Women Who Underwent Induced Abortion: A qualitative study of Rakai District, Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Nalubega Joy Margaret ◽  
Omona Kizito
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Medical Standards ◽  
Child Bearing ◽  
Products Of Conception ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Experiences Of Women

Background: Induced abortion is one where products of conception are expelled before 28 weeks of gestation. The process can be safe or unsafe. Safe termination of pregnancy is performed by skilled persons using appropriate tools whereas unsafe induced abortion is performed either by persons without the necessary skills or in an environment without the minimum medical standards, or both.Objectives: To explore the lived experiences of women who had induced abortion in Rakai DistrictMethodology: Phenomenological qualitative design was used. Study population was women who underwent induced abortion. 25 women who had induced abortions in past 1-3years were interviewed. Data was collected by in-depth interviews, tape recorded; transcribed verbatim and written in note book.Results: Lived experiences included denial, shame, confusion, fear, anger, anxiety, depression and uncertainty. Participants reported use of local herbs like “ekiwoko” and “majaani”, “etwaata”, “kisuula” and roots of sugar canes, among others, to induce abortion. The processes were mostly traditional, associated with: severe pain, heavy bleeding, and so on. They were life-threatening and horrible. Short- and long-term lived experiences included secondary barrenness, depression, crying-in-privacy and regrets, among others.Conclusion: Health workers and women in child-bearing age need to work together to discuss how to control unplanned pregnancies. 

scholarly journals Stillbirth in Canada: anachronistic definition and registration processes impede public health surveillance and clinical care

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.S. Joseph ◽  
Lily Lee ◽  
Laura Arbour ◽  
Nathalie Auger ◽  
Elizabeth K. Darling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Fetal Death ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Death Registration ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractThe archaic definition and registration processes for stillbirth currently prevalent in Canada impede both clinical care and public health. The situation is fraught because of definitional problems related to the inclusion of induced abortions at ≥20 weeks’ gestation as stillbirths: widespread uptake of prenatal diagnosis and induced abortion for serious congenital anomalies has resulted in an artefactual temporal increase in stillbirth rates in Canada and placed the country in an unfavourable position in international (stillbirth) rankings. Other problems with the Canadian stillbirth definition and registration processes extend to the inclusion of fetal reductions (for multi-fetal pregnancy) as stillbirths, and the use of inconsistent viability criteria for reporting stillbirth. This paper reviews the history of stillbirth registration in Canada, provides a rationale for updating the definition of fetal death and recommends a new definition and improved processes for fetal death registration. The recommendations proposed are intended to serve as a starting point for reformulating issues related to stillbirth, with the hope that building a consensus regarding a definition and registration procedures will facilitate clinical care and public health.

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