Ethical Dilemmas: Abortion, Euthanasia, and Human Morality

Abortion

Abortion is the interruption of a pregnancy before the fetus can develop independent living. There are two types of abortion: natural and induced.

Methods of Abortion

Methods include:

1. Suction or Aspiration: First trimester.
2. Dilation and Evacuation: Second trimester.
3. Hysterotomy.
4. Pill RU486.

According to the criminal code of 1995, abortion is illegal, except in some exceptional cases:

• Endangerment of the Mother's Health: If the mother's physical or psychological health is endangered, as ruled by two doctors.
• Pregnancy Resulting from Violation: If the pregnancy is a result of a violation, a doctor's note is not needed, but a complaint is required, and the procedure cannot be performed beyond 12 weeks.
• Fetal Malformation: If there is a presumption that the fetus will be born with serious physical and psychological issues, as dictated by three doctors within 22 weeks.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the act of causing the death of a terminally ill and incurable patient with irreversible conditions to save them from physical or psychological suffering, provided it has been repeatedly requested and with full use of reason.

Types of Euthanasia

There are two types:

1. Active: More complicated.
2. Passive (Orthothanasia): Removing all types of machinery to shorten life.

Article 143 in Spain condemns euthanasia, with penalties reflected in the article ranging from 4-8 years if the person assists, and if that assistance leads to death, the penalty is increased to 6-10 years.

Moral Basis of Human Behavior

Morality can be viewed from two perspectives:

1. Individual: Good or bad actions.
2. Society.

A) Human beings are moral, live in society, are free, reflect, and evaluate, and can make mistakes. B) Animals are not moral, are not free, and are programmed.

Morality

Morality is the set of behaviors, norms, and values that govern a society at a given time. There are two types of morality: objective and subjective.

Ethics

Ethics is a science that is part of philosophy and deals with the study and explanation of new dimensions. It is found in humans and is characterized by the pursuit of self-perfection. Values and individual models serve as a map or guide on the journey of life.

Materials in Our Moral Life

1. Freedom: We are open to intelligently creating a world of possibilities because we consider choosing the best option.
2. Mood: A person's fundamental sense of existence, the vitality with which they face reality.
3. Character: We can be free to forge a character (ethos), which the old called nature.
4. Virtues: Habits that lead to good were called virtues.
5. Attitudes: Learned and relatively fixed biases that guide our conduct in different situations or towards different objects.