The human drama of abortion: a global search for consensus

pt. I. The human drama of abortion -- 1. Listening to women : why they have abortions -- The story of a peasant -- A middle-class urban woman -- A young, idealistic career woman -- A mature, well-to-do physician -- A working-class teenager -- 2. The meaning of words -- The need to define terms related to abortion -- The reproductive process -- From embryo to newborn baby -- The beginning of pregnancy and of a new individual -- Ectopic pregnancy -- Defining induced abortion -- Safe and unsafe abortion -- Methods of pregnancy termination -- "Partial-birth" abortion -- Menstrual regulation -- 3. The magnitude of induced abortion -- Worldwide estimations -- Regional differences in induced abortions -- Regional differences in unsafe abortion -- 4. Consequences of unsafe abortion -- Maternal mortality -- Physical complications -- Psychological consequences -- Social consequences -- Economic consequences -- Factors that influence the severity of the consequences of abortion -- 5. Why women get pregnant when they do not want to -- Lack of knowledge of contraceptive methods -- Lack of access to contraceptive methods -- Failure of contraceptive methods -- Lack of control in sexual relationships -- 6. Why is a pregnancy so unwanted that it ends in abortion? -- The absence of the father -- Financial constraints -- The inability to provide good parenting/interference with life prospects -- Conflict with prevailing social norms -- Health concerns -- Lack of social support --

pt. II. Values -- 7. Conflicting values encountered by health professionals -- Health professionals and the value of life -- Obstetricians and the fetus -- Medical technology and the presence of the fetus -- Technology and the acceptance of abortion -- Obstetricians and unwanted pregnancies -- Cultural pressures -- Public condemnation and private acceptance -- From accepting the exception to understanding the rule -- 8. Religious values -- The historical context of Christian perspectives -- Christian values about abortion -- The current position of the Catholic Church -- Protestant perspectives on abortion -- Jewish perspectives on abortion -- Muslim perspectives on abortion -- Hindu perspectives on abortion -- Buddhist perspectives on abortion -- Chinese perspectives on abortion -- Is a religious consensus possible? -- 9. Ethical values -- Our understanding of ethics -- The four principles of bioethics -- The bioethical principles applied to abortion -- The ethical dilemma for gynecologists/obstetricians -- Our reflections on ethical values concerning abortion -- 10. Values as reflected in the law -- Legal systems -- Legal systems and abortion -- The legality of abortion around the world -- Human rights declarations and conventions -- Abortion laws and human rights -- General conclusion on abortion and the law --

pt. III. Improving the situation -- 11. How to decrease the number of abortions -- Legal and moral prohibition -- Prevention of unwanted pregnancies -- Contraceptive services and the reduction of unwanted pregnancies -- Increase women's power -- Social support for motherhood -- 12. How to reduce the human, social, and economic costs of abortion -- Improving women's status in society -- Decriminalizing or extending legal grounds for abortion -- Improving access to legal abortion -- A fairer, more liberal interpretation of the law -- Access to high quality post-abortion care -- A more positive attitude among health care workers -- 13. The paradox : rejecting abortion and opposing the prevention of unwanted pregnancies -- Opposition to "artificial" contraceptive methods -- Opposition to contraceptive methods under the allegation that they induce abortions -- Opposition to sex education -- Abortion-promoting effects of "anti-abortion" politics --

pt. IV. Seeking a consensus

14. How to reach a consensus on abortion

The social need for an "overlapping consensus"

Is an "overlapping consensus" on abortion possible?

The basis for an "overlapping consensus" on abortion

Some reflections on the process for achieving consensus.