OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY - LAGUNA

BS MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

BIOETHICAL ISSUES ON

ABORTION
WHAT IS ABORTION?
it is a procedure to end a
pregnancy either by taking
medicines or having surgical
procedures
ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BIOETHICAL
ISSUES IN THE PHILIPPINES.
TYPES OF ABORTION
INDUCED OR DIRECT
1 ABORTION
An intentional abortion
brought about by
mechanical (surgical) or
chemical means.
TYPES OF ABORTION
SPONTANEOUS
2 ABORTION
Spontaneous abortion is
noninduced embryonic or
fetal death or passage of
products of conception
caused by disease or
accident
TYPES OF ABORTION
THERAPEUTIC OR
3 INDIRECT ABORTION
A therapeutic abortion is
the interruption of a
pregnancy before the
20th week of gestation
because it endangers the
mother's life or health.
METHODS OF ABORTION
FIRST TRIMESTER: 0-14 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY

Vacuum Aspiration Dilation & Sharp Curettage

METHODS OF ABORTION
2ND-3RD TRIMESTER: >14 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY

Saline Abortion Intact Dilation & Extraction

METHODS OF ABORTION
2ND-3RD TRIMESTER: >14 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY

Abdominal Dilation & Evacuation

Hysterotomy
METHODS OF ABORTION
2ND-3RD TRIMESTER: >14 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY

Inter-cardiac
Injection
IS ABORTION MORAL?
Every conducted abortion is
MORALLY WRONG according
to the Catholic Church
Catechism
Which is still an unchanging view with
regards to the act of abortion
IS ABORTION MORAL?
It is still an argument
whether or not a fetus is
human with moral standing
and rights, at the same time
considering if it is human in
scientific sense
IS ABORTION MORAL?
For a scientific viewpoint,
abortion is said to be MORAL
if it will save the mother from
death
It depends on the circumstances and the
presence or lack of intent
CASES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Is abortion legal in the Philippines?

Abortion is illegal and a taboo in the country.

There are some cases that the ones to abort

the child will be free from punishments if
they are trying to save the mother's life
 CASES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
What are the laws regarding abortion in
the Philippines?

Abortion was criminalized through the Penal Code of

1870 under Spanish colonial rule and the Revised Penal
Code passed in 1930 under U.S. occupation of the
Philippines
CASES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
An example of an incidence regarding
an abortion case

An undergraduate thesis presented by Gutierrez from the

University of the Philippines Manila, entitled Different
Views on Abortion and their Implications oh Gender and
Development Issues in the Philippines includes a case
study of Issa, a woman who underwent abortion.
CASES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
An example of an incidence regarding
an abortion case

Issa was 20 years old at the time, and had a cyst on

her bust.
She was afraid that she won't be able to undergo the
operation if she's pregnant
CASES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
An example of an incidence regarding
an abortion case

She opted to abort and tried different traditional

procedures but they did not work - until her aunt
brought her to an abortionist.

The procedure done was through catheter when she

was 3 months pregnant.
CASES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
An example of an incidence regarding
an abortion case

Filipino Culture
Filipinos are in the opposition of abortion, accordingly
to the moral and religious doctrines taught by different
respective religions.
To lower incidence of abortion, we should promote the
sanctity of life by preserving the Filipino values of
chastity and purity.
CASES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Social/Cultural Issues regarding Abortion

Women Rights and Gender Roles

If she cannot be a mother, then she could no longer
be a functional part of the society. Abortion is
perceived to empower women as it gives them the
rights to their own body.

Abortion do not solve the real problem.

One of the most common reasons of wanting
abortion in the Philippines is the problem of
incapability to care and raise a child due to poverty.
 CASES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
How does abortion affect the beliefs of the Filipinos?

PRO-LIFE PRO-CHOICE
against abortion legalization of
it's murder abortion
unborn child should her body, her choice
be protected women's rights
CANONICAL PENALTIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Punishments are imposed under
the Penal Code of the Church,
such as excommunication or
purgatory.

It is set out in the Code of Canon

Law
CANONICAL PENALTIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Abortion is under what is called
the "latae sententiae", where
penalty is automatic without a
judge to impose it

The verdict, by the Church, shall

be excommunication
CANONICAL PENALTIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Penal Code of the Philippines
considers abortion a crime.

An offense is punishable by up to six

(6) years in prison for the medical
associate, and two to six (2-6) years
for the women, REGARDLESS OF
THE REASON
CANONICAL PENALTIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES

Midwifery Act, Medical Act, and

Pharmaceutical Act permit the
revocation and suspension of
licenses of any practitioner who
aided an abortion
WHEN DOES HUMAN
LIFE BEGIN?
Considered to begin when
the male and female
gametes unite during
fertilization.
WHEN DOES HUMAN
LIFE BEGIN?
The gametes will fuse as the
chromosomes come together
from their nuclei, creating a
single zygotic cell
WHEN DOES HUMAN
LIFE BEGIN?
During the entire process of
fertilization, hormones act up,
creating an environment that
would help the zygote embed
itself
 SEGMENTATION
A.K.A CLEAVAGE
FORMATION; FIRST STEP
OF GERMINAL STAGE

refers to the rapid mitotic division of the

zygote without causing changes to the
size of the glycoprotein structure it is in.
this process can also give rise to the
development of monozygotic twins
SEGMENTATION Zona
Fertilized Egg

Pellucida
STEP 1

The zygote will divide into 2 2-cell stage

cells inside the zona pellucida
(glycoprotein coat), then 4,
and then 8. 4-cell stage

This process will continue to

the 2nd or 3rd day.
8-cell stage
 SEGMENTATION
STEP 2
Morula

The 4th day of conception

will form the morula
(mulberry) containing 16
cells; then cell
compaction and
differentiation starts

Compaction
 Trophoblast

SEGMENTATION
STEP 3
Embryoblast

Differentiation will form

the trophoblasts and
embryoblasts (inner cell
Blastocoel mass)
Inner cell The process will then
mass
proceed to the further
clumping of the
embryoblasts, forming the
Blastocyst
blastocyst.
 PROCESSES AFTER
SEGMENTATION
Bastulation Gastrulation Neurolation

FETAL STAGE EMBRYONIC Implantation

STAGE
End of GERMINAL
STAGE
BIRTH
MORAL TEACHINGS

There are two main teachings

regarding abortion: the law
and the church
The first country to legalize abortion was
the Soviet Union in 1920
MORAL TEACHINGS
In the perspective of law, it
can be legalized in a rational
and logical way.

In the Church's view, they take

into account the divine
commandments and the
value of life.
 THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING!
 REFERENCES
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ns
 REFERENCES
Facts on abortion in the Philippines: Criminalization and a general ban ... (n.d.). Retrieved May 2022, from
https://reproductiverights.org/sites/crr.civicactions.net/files/documents/pub_fac_philippines.pdf
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