The strengths and weaknesses of the 'principle of double effect' in the abortion debate

Abstract

The Principle of Double Effect (PDE) has served its purpose in moral theology for centuries. It is a method of moral reasoning to address conflict situations such as selfdefence, the just war theory, and bioethical issues at the beginning and end of life. Today new issues in bioethics are emerging which offer new challenges to the Principle especially at the beginning of life. The Principle acknowledges that some actions can have a double effect: one good and the other bad. The bad effect is tolerated in this Principle as unintended and foreseen. The issue will complicate itself when it comes to abortion especially in situations where the lives of the mother and of the unborn child are at risk. It is a situation that in the near future our country will be discussing fervently. Digging deeper into the moral reasoning of the Principle of Double Effect, we will be able to explore new possibilities to apply the Principle creatively in today’s conflict issues where the life of both the mother and the child are at stake. Exploring the philosophical underpinnings of the Principle, by using literature review as a method, enables us to address the abortion debate in a more convincing way.