While Catholic and principlist ethics strongly emphasize on moral principles, they take different approaches to ethical issues. Catholic ethics is based on religious beliefs and emphasizes the value of social justice and the dignity of all people. In contrast, deontological ethics is a secular approach emphasizing the importance of adhering to specific ethical principles in moral decision-making. An evaluation of the catholic and rule-based perspectives on abortion, contraception, ARTs, and informed consent provides valuable insights on secular and religious ethical values.
First, Human dignity is central to understanding the worth of every human person in Catholic ethics. According to Catholic ethics, every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and has inherent worth and value that cannot be taken away (Marchin et al., 2020). Therefore, abortion is viewed as a direct violation of human dignity, considering it terminates the life of a developing human being. From a Catholic ethical perspective, human life is sacred and must be protected from conception to natural death.
The principlist ethics approach to human dignity is different from Catholic ethics. Notably, rule-based ethics strongly emphasizes the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice relative to decision-making. Autonomy is an ethical principle that advocates for free will and the right to decision-making, whereas non-maleficence and beneficence are obligations to avoid harm and do well, respectively (Zwart, 2023). While autonomy validates abortion, it does not align with the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. Considering autonomy ethical principle is founded on free will and decision making, it allows abortion by choice unlike the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence that aims to do well and avoid harm caused by abortion. Access to abortion in deontological ethics is a matter of reproductive justice based on the rule of law.
Human dignity and respect for life are highly valued in both Catholic and principlist ethics. They do, however, take different approaches to the issue of abortion. Abortion is morally wrong in Catholic ethics because it involves the intentional taking of an innocent human life. Principlist ethics takes a more nuanced approach, acknowledging the pregnant woman’s autonomy while also considering the moral status of the fetus.
Contraception and Assisted Reproductive Technologies ARTs are treated very differently in Catholic and principlist ethics. Contraception is morally wrong in Catholic ethics, but principlist ethics recognizes the importance of individual autonomy and reproductive rights, as well as the potential benefits of these technologies for people struggling with infertility. Since ARTs such as in vitro fertilization and surrogacy involve the manipulation and destruction of embryos, the Catholic Church opposes them (Smith, 2020). In contrast, principlist ethics is more open to these technologies, but recognizes the need to balance individual rights with concerns about justice and potential societal harms.
Contraception and ARTs are acceptable in rule-based moral guidelines as long as they do not violate the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. According to Marchin et al. (2020), autonomy is central to principlist ethics, which recognizes that individuals have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and reproductive health. Based on one’s decision-making and free will, using contraceptives and ARTs for good reasons, including preventing unwanted pregnancies and overcoming fertility issues, is supported by deontological ethics.
Informed consent is vital in Catholic ethics because it upholds every human being’s inherent dignity and value. However, catholic ethics hold that informed consent must be exercised within the limits of the larger ethical framework that upholds the dignity of human life. For example, abortion is incompatible with Catholic ethics and hence restricted regardless of whether the patient has informed consent. Informed consent, although closely linked with human dignity in Catholic ethics, must be practiced within a broader ethical framework that values human life’s dignity.
Principlist ethics emphasizes individual autonomy and self-determination, hence regarding informed consent as the core of human dignity. Therefore, informed consent is considered an essential component of respecting a person’s right to make healthcare decisions for themselves, even if those decisions contradict certain moral or ethical principles (Smith, 2020). Informed consent is an essential component of respecting a person’s right to make healthcare decisions for themselves by rule-based ethics.
The importance of informed consent in medical decision-making is shared by Catholic and principlist ethics. Both approaches recognize the importance of providing individuals with complete information about their medical condition, treatment options, and the potential consequences of their decisions. However, Catholic ethics limits the scope of informed consent when it comes to medical procedures that are unethical or contradict Catholic Church teachings. A more universal approach is taken by principlist ethics, which insists on voluntary, non-coerced informed consent that recognizes individual autonomy.
To conclude, comparing Catholic and principle-based ethics reveals significant differences in their approaches to abortion, contraception, ARTs, and informed consent. I support the emphasis on the sanctity of life, and the dignity of the human person in Catholic ethics leads to an absolute prohibition of abortion and a limited scope of informed consent. Regarding contraceptives and ARTs, I support the deontological view that validates their use based on principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, and beneficence. In conclusion, while Catholic and principlist ethics share some ground, their opposing views on abortion, contraception, ARTs, and informed consent reflect fundamental differences in their underlying principles and values.
References
Smith Jr, J. F. (2020). Women’s Reproductive Health Education in Catholic Academic Healthcare Institutions: Time for Transparency, Authenticity, and Reflection. The Linacre Quarterly, 87(3), 268-277. Web.
Marchin, A., Seale, R., Sheeder, J., Teal, S., & Guiahi, M. (2020). Integration of Catholic values and professional obligations in the provision of family planning services: A qualitative study. JAMA Network Open, 3(10), e2020297-e2020297. Web.
Zwart, M. H. (2023). Intellectual Hospitality as a guiding virtue in campus conversations on abortion. Journal of Moral Theology, 12(1), 139–144. Web.