After-birth abortion: the intuition argument

J Med Ethics. 2013 May;39(5):e5. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2012-100688.

Abstract

The argument advanced by Giubilini and Minerva is an important one, but it suffers from some shortcomings. I briefly criticise their reasoning and method and argue that after birth abortion should be limited largely to infants with disabilities. My argument is based not on solid scientific evidence or cold rational reasoning but on intuition, something that has long been discounted as irrelevant in biomedical discourse. I end with a recommendation to all of us: in order to make a change, one should not only choose one's battles, but also one's weapon and mode of attack.

Keywords: Abortion; Attitudes Toward Death; Capital Punishment; Failure of Contraception/Wrongful Birth; Newborns and Minors.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced / ethics*
  • Adoption*
  • Beginning of Human Life / ethics*
  • Fetal Viability*
  • Humans
  • Infanticide / ethics*
  • Moral Obligations*
  • Personhood*
  • Value of Life*