Can the "lesser of two evils" trump "double effect"?

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cunningterry

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Can the “lesser of two evils” overrule the “double effect” in abortion issues?
Re the abortion debate in Ireland: If a woman’s life is in danger because of an ectopic pregnancy, the principle of double effect would not allow the abortion of her foetus to save her life as this would be an evil means to a good end. However, a doctor whose purpose is to save lives wherever possible might see allowing both lives to perish when one could be saved as a greater evil. He might, therefore, perform the evil abortion as the lesser of two evils.
What do you think?
Terry
 
Dear Terry,

No! The very Hippocratic oath that the doctor takes, states that he is to do no harm. To deliberately and directly kill an innocent human being—for whatever reason, is evil. The sacredness of human life is not relative. The doctor is not God. Only God, the giver of life, can decide when a person is to die.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
 
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