If a women’s life is in danger during child birth or if it is known prior that the woman will die, can abortion be done if the she chooses to live?

The unborn child and the mother have equal human dignity and possess the same right to life. When a medical crisis arises during pregnancy, doctors should do whatever they can to save both their lives, never directly attacking one — through drugs, surgery or other means — to save the other.

Doctors usually are met with two kinds of situations. First is a difficult one where the lives of both the mother and the unborn are equally threatened, and saving both becomes an impossible reality.  For example in the case of ectopic pregnancy, where the mother’s life is in danger if the baby continues to grow in the fallopian tube. And if left to grow the baby won’t survive too. In such situations the mother’s life is saved. The act is morally acceptable because the intention here was not to take the life of the baby.

Another example is of a fast-growing uterine cancer where the uterus needs to be removed in order to save the mother. And when the uterus is removed, the baby does not survive. Here also, the intention is to save the mother. 

The second type of situation is where there is no threat to life. Abortion is sought for the comfort of the patient. Some people argue that a woman should have the right to abortion if the unborn poses a threat to the mental health, family upkeep, career, finance and future plans. Such demands are not morally acceptable as the unborn person has equal dignity and right to life just as anyone else does. You may refer CCC 2290, 2271, 2272 for more insights.

“We are asked to love and honour the life of every man and woman and to work with perseverance and courage so that, our time, marked by all too many signs of death, may at last witness the establishment of a new culture of life, the fruit of the culture of truth and love” – Evangelium Vitae, no.77.