Abstract
This journey started with a discussion about where abortion sits in modern life; it closes with thoughts on where our thinking about abortion needs to be.
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Notes
- 1.
See Raanan Gillon (1986). Philosophical Medical Ethics. Chichester: Wiley, pp. 9–14.
- 2.
Tom L. Beauchamp and James F. Childress (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 7th edn.Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 150–154.
- 3.
F. Lagard Smith (1990). When Choice Becomes God. Oregon: Harvest House, pp. 171–172.
- 4.
Michael Tooley (1983). Abortion and Infanticide. Oxford: Clarenden Press, p. 170.
- 5.
Ronald Dworkin (1996). Life’s Dominion: An Argument about Abortion, Euthanasia, and Individual Freedom. London: HarperCollins, p. 239.
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Appendix: London Declaration of Pro-choice Principles
Appendix: London Declaration of Pro-choice Principles
This Declaration, which originated from a meeting of abortion providers, advocates and interested academics, organised by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Catholics for Choice, is being considered and discussed in the pro-choice community around the world. It was issued to foster reflection, conversation and understanding of what it means to be pro-choice.
We believe in a woman’s autonomy and her right to choose whether to continue or end a pregnancy. Every woman should have the right to decide the future of her pregnancy according to her conscience, whatever her reasons or circumstances. A just society does not compel women to continue undesired pregnancies.
We recognize that support for choice itself is not enough. Access to abortion is an integral part of women’s reproductive health care, and we uphold the right to receive this. Women need access to resources and services, including the counsel of professionals, friends and family that they choose to involve. Legal, political, social and economic changes are necessary to allow the exercise of reproductive choice, and a commitment to such changes is part of a commitment to choice.
We express solidarity with those who provide abortion care, and we recognize the moral value of their work. We recognized and respect that some health personnel may choose not to provide abortions but we believe it is ethically imperative for them to ensure that a woman receives a referral to a willing provider.
We believe there is profound moral case for freedom of reproductive choice, and that women are competent to make decisions for themselves, and to act on them responsibly.
To be pro-choice is to be committed to the right of women to make their own reproductive decisions and to:
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strive to create the conditions in which reproductive choice can be exercised;
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Support reproductive autonomy;
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Advocate for the legal frameworks that allow autonomous decision-making;
Women are the only ones who can make the right decision for themselves. This is the very essence of what it means to be pro-choice.
Chandos House,
London,
September 2012
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Furedi, A. (2016). Concluding Thoughts. In: The Moral Case for Abortion. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-41119-8_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-41119-8_8
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