The Nature of Abortion Dilemmas and the Commercialization of the Practice

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Published: Mar 25, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22720
Keywords:
Abortion; Medical Ethics; Commercialization; Potentiality; Moral Dilemmas; Autonomy; Post-Abortion Syndrome; Human Dignity
Anastasia Mammou
Abstract

This article explores the ethical, psychological, and social complexities of abortion, questioning the intentionality of the mother, the physician, and the state. The author challenges the view of the fetus as merely a biological appendage, arguing instead for its recognition as a "potential human" that warrants moral consideration. A central theme of the paper is the critique of the commercialization of abortion, where the practice is often treated as a market commodity or a tool for avoiding responsibility rather than a grave ethical decision. Drawing on legal frameworks (such as Law 1609/86) and psychological studies on the "post-abortion syndrome," the study examines how social pressure and economic interests can undermine individual autonomy. The author concludes that life should be treated as an end in itself rather than a means to an end, urging a shift from moral amoralism toward a deeper respect for human value.

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References
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