American Journal of Bioethics 8 (7):34 – 39 (2008)
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Abstract |
Despite its prominence in the abortion debate and in public policy, the discourse of 'unborn patient' has not been subjected to critical scrutiny. We provide a critical analysis in three steps. First, we distinguish between the descriptive and normative meanings of 'unborn child.' There is a long history of the descriptive use of 'unborn child.' Second, we argue that the concept of an unborn child has normative content but that this content does not do the work that opponents of abortion want it to do, namely, to establish the independent moral status of fetuses and their rights, the right to life in particular. Third, we argue that the normative content of 'unborn child' should be dependent moral status, not independent moral status. We conclude that the ethical concept of the fetus as a patient should replace the discourse of “unborn child” when that phrase is used normatively
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DOI | 10.1080/15265160802248161 |
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References found in this work BETA
Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynecology.Laurence B. McCullough, Frank A. Chervenak & Susan M. Scott - 1995 - HEC Forum 7 (6):379-380.
The Rights of "Unborn Children" and the Value of Pregnant Women.Howard L. Minkoff & Lynn M. Paltrow - 2006 - Hastings Center Report 36 (2):26-28.
View all 10 references / Add more references
Citations of this work BETA
An Ethically Justified Framework for Clinical Investigation to Benefit Pregnant and Fetal Patients.Laurence B. McCullough & Frank A. Chervenak - 2011 - American Journal of Bioethics 11 (5):39-49.
The Moral Status of the Human Embryo.Mark T. Brown - 2018 - Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 43 (2):132-158.
A Critique of the 'Fetus as Patient'.Anne Drapkin Lyerly, Margaret Olivia Little & Ruth R. Faden - 2008 - American Journal of Bioethics 8 (7):42 – 44.
Ethnographic Insights Regarding the “Social Role” and “Moral Status” of the Fetus as “Patient”: Comparing Developed (United States & Sweden) and Developing (India) Countries.Catherine Myser - 2008 - American Journal of Bioethics 8 (7):50-52.
Moral Status and the Fetus: Continuation of a Dialogue.Carson Strong - 2011 - American Journal of Bioethics 11 (5):52-54.
View all 16 citations / Add more citations
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