Keywords
Ethics, personhood, birth control, contraceptives
Abstract
If personhood begins at the moment of conception, the failure of an embryo to implant results in the death of a person. Therefore, many in the pro-life community worry about the ethics of using oral contraceptives, if such hormonal birth control actually interferes with implantation (a so-called “abortifacient” effect). Obviously killing is wrong, and death should be avoided. However, even if contraceptives occasionally prevent implantation, a very good case can still be made in favor of their use. This paper seeks to show how contraceptives, even if they cause implantation failure, can be used with a clear conscience.
Life is sacred, and almost all of us can agree with that. Yet even under optimal conditions, 40% of all embryos fail to implant (Diedrich et al, 2007). That is a great deal of death that is often not taken into account. In keeping with the principle of saving life, we have the duty to avoid implantation failure if possible.
DOI
10.15385/jce.2008.8.2.2
Recommended Citation
Wong, Lydia
(2009)
"The Logic of Birth Control: A Look at the Numbers,"
CedarEthics: A Journal of Critical Thinking in Bioethics: Vol. 8:
No.
2, Article 2.
DOI: 10.15385/jce.2008.8.2.2
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cedarethics/vol8/iss2/2
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