Work

Why the wrongness of intentionally impairing children in utero does not imply the wrongness of abortion

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Perry Hendricks' 'impairment argument', which he has defended in this journal, is intended to demonstrate that the generally conceded wrongness of giving a fetus fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) shows that abortion must also be immoral, even if we allow that the fetus is not a rights-bearing moral person. The argument fails because the harm of causing FAS is extrinsic but Hendricks needs it to be intrinsic for it to show anything about abortion. Either the subject of the wrong of causing FAS is a person who does not exist in the case of abortion or the wrong is negligible.

Source: Journal of Medical Ethics

DOI: 10.1136/jme-2022-108583

Author: Simon Cushing

Institution: University of Michigan–Flint

Language: English

Topic: Ethics and bioethics in healthcare

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4294631147