Double-Effect Reasoning, Craniotomy, and Vital Conflicts

By analogy to justifications offered for craniotomy by Catholic moralists, a recent instance of casuistry attempts to apply double-effect reasoning and, separately, the concept of a vital conflict to justify dilation and curettage in order to preserve the life of a pregnant woman. This paper examines and rejects these bases for justifying craniotomy and D&C. It concludes with a consideration of Pope John Paul II’s discussion of moral martyrdom in Veritatis splendor. National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 11.3 : 453–463.