Wrigley, A (2013) Limitations on personhood arguments for abortion and 'after-birth abortion'. Journal of Medical Ethics, 39 (5). e15 -e18. ISSN 1473-4257

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Limitations on Personhood Arguments SUBMISSION to JME.doc - Accepted Version

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Abstract

Two notable limitations exist on the use of personhood arguments in establishing moral status. Firstly, although the attribution of personhood may give us sufficient reason to grant something moral status, it is not a necessary condition. Secondly, even if a person is that which has the 'highest' moral status, this does not mean that any interests of a person are justifiable grounds to kill something that has a 'lower' moral status. Additional justification is needed to overcome a basic wrongness associated with killing something possessing moral status. There are clear arguments already available in this regard in the case of a foetus that are not available in the case of a newborn infant. Hence, there is scope to consistently hold that abortion may be permissible but that after-birth abortion may not be permissible.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2013 BMJ Publishing Group, This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via BMJ Publishing Group at Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Uncontrolled Keywords: health policy, issues, ethics, legal aspects
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics
R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Law
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Symplectic
Date Deposited: 04 Apr 2017 15:40
Last Modified: 04 Apr 2017 15:40
URI: https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/3154

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