Is abortion acceptable to save the life of the mother?

[PablitoRun]

My wife has a friend who is in her 2nd trimester of pregnancy who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

The doctors have told her that without chemotherapy she will not live to carry the baby to full term and the infant will die. However, with chemotherapy the baby will die.

Her priest has told her that she should not undergo chemotherapy, but I am unable to defend this to my wife.

 

[Reginald_Plum]

Pablito,

These links should explain the moral choices Catholics have when faced with life-saving medical treatments which may result in the death of in utero babies. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please contact Catholic Answers directly.

Recommended Reading:
Can Catholics use the abortion pill for medical reasons?
Is abortion okay to treat endometriosis?

How do I help someone considering an abortion for life-threatening reasons?