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Acta Bioethica

SciELO Chile

What is indirect abortion? The prohibition of abortion and the principle of double effect

Authors

  • Alejandro Miranda Montecinos Universidad de Los Andes

Abstract

This paper study the distinction between “direct abortion” and “indirect abortion”. The purpose of the author is to clarify the meaning of the distinction and to show that there are solid philosophical arguments to justify moral relevance. In order to achieve this goal, first, the main argument expressed by those who consider abortion (direct) as an act intrinsically unfair is exposed; second, the historical origin of the distinction between direct and indirect abortion is shown; third, an argument defending the moral relevance of this distinction is presented; and, finally, the way it operates is explained by the analysis of T. L. Bouscaren about salpingectomy of a fallopian tube with ectopic fetus.

Keywords:

indirect abortion, direct abortion, principle of double effect