The Case against Termination on Psychiatric Grounds

Since the time of Hippocrates it has been the accepted tradition of the medical profession that the doctor's duty is to preserve, not to destroy, human life, even the life of the unborn child. This doctrine has been confirmed and strengthened throughout the Christian era until quite recent times. For the Catholic Church (and for many Christians outside its ranks), the prohibition is still absolute. The direct killing of the foetus at any stage of pregnancy is forbidden and the uterus may not be emptied by any method before the child is viable, whatever the condition of the mother. It is allowable to excise diseased organs even though the inevitable 'secondary" result is to destroy a foetus, but this can only be done Jf the health of the mother makes it impossible to wait until the