Pro-Lifers--your thoughts on terminating an ectopic pregnancy?

Catholics have an answer to such based on the doctrine of double effect. Double effect is the idea that an action can have multiple foreseeable results, some of which are good, and some bad. When such is the case, some actions that contain foreseeable bad results are nevertheless justified. The rules for double effect are

1. No known way around the problem,

2. the good effect outweighs the bad effect,

3. the good effect *does not* arise from the bad effect - IOW, if there were a miracle that stopped the bad effect, the good effect would still happen,

4. the action performed itself is either good, or at least morally neutral.

Applying these rules to ectopic pregnancy, we can see why they teach that to poison the embryo would be wrong, since it would be performing an evil act (poisoning) for good to take place. But surgically removing the diseased fallopian tube is permissible, because the act is neutral or good. The foreseeable death of the embryo is an unfortunate side effect (suppose there were a miracle that caused the embryo to develop instantly into an adult, the problem still would be solved.) Obviously saving one life is better than saving none, and there is currently no known way around the problem.

Some, in fact many, others would argue that killing the embryo would be permissible using the one life or two argument. Catholics reject such b/c killing someone innocent is always an evil act. Of course, we can turn the question around and point out how it's the pro-choicers that bristle at the slightest restrictions on abortions at all - ever wonder why?

An ectopic pregnancy stops itself. It is a pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus. When it happens in the fallopian tubes it only grown to 3 to 5 centimeters. And the woman will die it the tube is not remove. You do not have to be pro abortion to be pro rights of women to do with their bodies as they see fit. You can not be a mother when you are not ready to be.

Who are we to tell a person how to behave. Everybody should act according to their believed system.

MOst people say in case of death abortion is ok. Or at least the decision of the person. But that only makes up less than 2% of abortions. It's the 98% that most people don't like. Being lazy and using it as birth control is not a reason. There is no reason if they use precaution. And that is why alot are pro life. Or what I call myself, Anti-lazy.

I believe that if the mother's life is at risk there is legitimate discussion and legal recourse to end the pregnancy.

The problem is, it's like asking "anti death penalty people, what do you think about executing Hitler". Most death penalty cases don't involve a man responsible for the death of 10s of millions of people.

This is a misnomer to even be called a pregnancy. I suspect if they had known abortion would become legal, they would not even have called it a pregnancy.

It is not a shade of grey at all. There could never be a life produced.

If they do not catch it, it kills the woman. What you are calling termination is often tubal removal, at a minimum. A tragic health matter.

1% of abortions are to save the mother's life, this includes such pregnancies. Another 1% may also be be a health hazard. The problem is the other convenience 98%

Absolutely . An abortion should be performed anytime the Mother's life is at risk.

They should not be performed to have a boy instead of a girl, nor at 7 months gestation.

An ectopic pregnancy cannot develop into a person- the pregnancy will never last that long, so the question is basically moot. If its not removed, the mother will die, and no fetus will develop anyway

Hate the idea...but since the choice is both die or just one...i choice life as I always do.

My heart would go out to that mother that had to deal with it.

It's not a matter of grey! It's a LIFE! Sigh, sometimes very easy decisions are very difficult to make. It has nothing to do with abortion but ending a child's life prematurely. Abortion is CHOOSING to kill that baby...not being forced to. That is the main difference.

Ectopic pregnancy is more of a tumor then a real pregnancy. The growth is not even capable of being born.