Principle of Double Effect

Physical vs Moral Evil

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

4.4.

A person is morally permitted to do an act which has both a good and an evil effect if there is no other way to get the good effect and if the following conditions are met:

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

4.4.

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

4.4.

Direct abortion is always morally evil.Direct abortion is always morally evil.

Indirect abortion may be morally permitted if all of the conditions of the

Principle of Double Effect are met.

Indirect abortion may be morally permitted if all of the conditions of the

Principle of Double Effect are met.

Two modern ethical systems:

Consequentialism: determines the moral quality of an act based solely

on the foreseeable consequences of the act.

Proportionalism: determines the moral quality of an

act based on the proportion between good and evil effects which come from the act.

good effects

bad effects

St. Joseph Hospital, Phoenix, AZ

Mother • 11 weeks pregnant

• Suffering from pulmonary hypertension, which limits the ability of the heart and lungs to function and is made worse, possibly even fatal, by pregnancy.

• Baby’s death approved by Sister Margaret, vice president of mission integration and member of the ethics committee

Bishop Olmsted:

– “An unborn child is not a disease. While medical professionals should certainly try to save a pregnant mother’s life, the means by which they do it can never be by directly killing her unborn child. The end does not justify the means.”

– If a Catholic formally cooperates in an abortion, he or she is automatically excommunicated.

Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care:

– Abortion is defined as the directly intended termination of pregnancy, and it is not permitted under any circumstances – even to save the life of the mother.

– “Operations, treatments and medications that have as their direct purpose the cure of a proportionately serious pathological condition of a pregnant woman are permitted … even if they will result in the death of the unborn child.”

Hospital’s reply:

– “If there had been a way to save the pregnancy and still prevent the death of the mother, we would have done it. We are convinced there was not.”

Moral principles:

A good end does not justify an evil means.

Avoid moral evil at all costs.