Modern technology has advanced in such a way that has allowed for safe abortions to be carried out. An abortion is the premature termination of a fetus before it is born, but is an immense debate in the world of medical ethics. There is no clear cut answer as to which side of the argument is correct, as the debate dives into many grey philosophical areas, such as what is considered a person and how much autonomy should play a role in such a controversial decision. In modern China and India, the issue of abortion extends past this broad definition into an even more grey area. Sex selective abortions are abortions that occur by using ultrasound technology to assess the gender of a fetus and choosing to abort a female fetus for a variety of questionably
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On one hand, a woman has the right to choose what she does with her body and it is solely her decision. On the other hand, it is the physician’s responsibility to do no harm, and performing an abortion would be the destruction of an innocent life. Of course, both sides of this debate have room for disagreement: at what stage of a pregnancy is a fetus considered a person? What is the morality behind an abortion? To what extent to an unborn child’s right outweigh those of a mother’s? When we come across sex selective abortions, however, the largest ethical conflict becomes an issue between autonomy and justice. While the women carrying a child ultimately has the right to decide what to do with her body, is it ethically right to create a differential treatment of male and female fetuses (Strange …show more content…
A utilitarian approaches this dilemma from what course of action will allow the greatest good and largest societal benefit, rather than each individual scenario. It is argued that abortion is an individual, and private, decision that will have little impact on society (Schedler 1988:310). In the long run, the greatest good would be satisfied: a family can choose if they want the child. This logic, however, becomes flawed if multiple families all participate in such a sex selection abortion, there would be an outnumbering of males to females; causing a personal decision to become a state
On one hand, a woman has the right to choose what she does with her body and it is solely her decision. On the other hand, it is the physician’s responsibility to do no harm, and performing an abortion would be the destruction of an innocent life. Of course, both sides of this debate have room for disagreement: at what stage of a pregnancy is a fetus considered a person? What is the morality behind an abortion? To what extent to an unborn child’s right outweigh those of a mother’s? When we come across sex selective abortions, however, the largest ethical conflict becomes an issue between autonomy and justice. While the women carrying a child ultimately has the right to decide what to do with her body, is it ethically right to create a differential treatment of male and female fetuses (Strange …show more content…
A utilitarian approaches this dilemma from what course of action will allow the greatest good and largest societal benefit, rather than each individual scenario. It is argued that abortion is an individual, and private, decision that will have little impact on society (Schedler 1988:310). In the long run, the greatest good would be satisfied: a family can choose if they want the child. This logic, however, becomes flawed if multiple families all participate in such a sex selection abortion, there would be an outnumbering of males to females; causing a personal decision to become a state