Abortion

In this speech I will claim that the most important issues in deciding the morality of an abortion are the nature and strength of the competing rights of the potential mother and the foetus, the circumstances of the pregnancy, and mercy and compassion. All abortions must be considered individually and on the specific terms they are sought. I will use a discussion on the relevance of the moral status of the foetus to the morality …

…is enough to tip the balance? What conflict of rights could justify an abortion? There will not be obvious answers to these questions in many cases. At these times it is probably sensible to allow those directly affected to make the final decision in consultation with others that could help them make an informed choice. There are, however, many cases at either end of the spectrum which would seem clear cut enough to legislate for.