Ethical arguments for access to abortion services in the Republic of Ireland: recent developments in the public discourse

Journal of Medical Ethics
Joan McCarthyDolores Dooley

Abstract

The Republic of Ireland has some of the most restrictive abortion legislation in the world which grants to the 'unborn' an equal right to life to that of the pregnant woman. This article outlines recent developments in the public discourse on abortion in Ireland and explains the particular cultural and religious context that informs the ethical case for access to abortion services. Our perspective rests on respect for two very familiar moral principles - autonomy and justice - which are at the centre of social and democratic societies around the world. This article explains the context for the deployment of these concepts in order to support the claim that the current legislation and its operationalisation in clinical practice poses serious risks to the health, lives and well-being of pregnant women, tramples on their autonomy rights and requires of them a self-sacrifice that is unreasonable and unjust.

References

Jul 15, 2000·Clinical Nutrition : Official Journal of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition·G ToigoC Wanner
Oct 6, 2012·Journal of Health Services Research & Policy·Rachael MoorinDelia Hendrie
Jan 29, 2014·Journal of Neurovirology·Jennifer E IudicelloUNKNOWN Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center (TMARC) Group
Jan 6, 2015·Reproductive Health Matters·Ruth Fletcher
May 6, 2015·International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics : the Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics·Maeve Taylor

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Citations

Aug 23, 2019·Psychological Science·Gillian MurphyCiara M Greene
Sep 17, 2020·BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·S PowerK O'Donoghue

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