the morality of abortion" (Can Med Assoc J 1992; 146: 600, 601, 604-607) she was bold to tackle the topic of abortion and explained her ideas well. However, I believe that her arguments, well intended as they may be, are another quest for the elusive middle ground of the morality of abortion. It is not to be found. Exploring the question of a woman's responsibility in becoming pregnant in order to decide on the permissibility of terminating that pregnancy is flawed, because the woman does not answer the first question: Am I killing another human being? If the answer is No, then perhaps McEvoy's exercise of looking at specific examples of women seeking terminations may be useful. However, that will depend on the value the expectant mother gives to her unborn child as compared with the many other factors in her life. At best, all values are relative in this sort of world: nothing has any absolute value, including human life. No matter how well constructed and intricate the reasoning becomes for or against the decision to choose termination it will always Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD be fickle: the basis will be as Victoria, BC strong as the feelings about one's present job or career plan. This is Reference a rather disturbing way to decide the fate of an unborn child. 1. Burke KE, Combs GF Jr, Gross EG et If the answer is Yes, then all al: The effects of topical and oral Lselenomethionine on pigmentation and other considerations, compelling skin cancer induced by ultraviolet irra- as they may be, will not have any diation. Nutr Cancer 1992; 17: 123-137 greater value than that of the life of an unborn child. The woman's degree of responsibility in becoming pregnant should not decide the value or fate of human life, Responsibility and which remains inviolable.
oped in the treated mice during the early weeks of irradiation, but they did develop in two-thirds of the control mice. Burke and colleagues concluded with the practical suggestion that "protection might be provided by either topically or orally administered SeMet." Selenium is a good antioxidant. It is synergistic with vitamin E, the body's best-known fat-soluble antioxidant. The daily recommended dose is 200 ,ug. I have given 600 ,ug or more to certain patients for many years and have seen no toxic effects. I therefore suggest that the three best-known natural antioxidants - ascorbic acid, vitamin E and selenium be used to protect people against the toxic effects of excessive ultraviolet radiation, in daily doses of 3 g or more, 800 IU and 200 ,ug respectively. It should not take too much time to test these antioxidants in controlled studies. However, because the danger of skin cancer and melanoma is so great it appears prudent to take these simple nutrients as a precaution. They would, of course, have other advantages.
abortion P
atricia McEvoy is to be congratulated for winning the Dr. William Logie medical ethics essay contest, sponsored by the CMA. In "Is a woman responsible for being pregnant? Another discussion about 840
CAN MED ASSOC J 1992; 147 (6)
Donald G. Jansen, MD, CCFP
Campbell's Bay, Que.
Ms. McEvoy's article concludes that the morality of abortion is socially dependent. The author has not considered the impact of abortion on society.
First, feminist literature is replete with the desire to replace an androcentric, power-dominated approach to social organization and policy and thus stop the misuse of power by men. I agree that change is essential. Termination of pregnancy is the act of a powerful person (the pregnant woman) against a voiceless, innocent and powerless person. How does the misuse of power by women in this situation prove that their androgynous and gynocentric approaches to the use of power are different or better? Can the route to a more compassionate, nurturing and liberal society be through the destruction of any minority (in this case, fetuses)? Second, abortion may impede the goal of reproductive freedom for women. Making a woman responsible for the decision to terminate her pregnancy or not may absolve society of any responsibility to assist her and her child if she chooses to continue the pregnancy. The continuing poor treatment of single-parent families will result in more women being coerced, socially and financially, to choose abortion. This will ultimately shrink the size of the group in need and allow society to eventually ignore it altogether. In the long term, society can avoid the need to change the way it treats women and children by promoting abortion, among other programs. Therefore, if the approach to the morality of abortion is contingent on society's mistreatment of women, then abortion will become increasingly moral. Third, sex-specific abortion assists family planning. Female fetuses are preferentially aborted. As women become a minority in society will they be further oppressed by male-dominated power structures, or will there be greater value attached to the female sex (but as an object or commodity), and, if so, what happens to a woman's personhood and equality with men? LE 15 SEPTEMBRE 1992
oped in the treated mice during the early weeks of irradiation, but they did develop in two-thirds of the control mice. Burke and colleagues concluded with the practical suggestion that "protection might be provided by either topically or orally administered SeMet." Selenium is a good antioxidant. It is synergistic with vitamin E, the body's best-known fat-soluble antioxidant. The daily recommended dose is 200 ,ug. I have given 600 ,ug or more to certain patients for many years and have seen no toxic effects. I therefore suggest that the three best-known natural antioxidants - ascorbic acid, vitamin E and selenium be used to protect people against the toxic effects of excessive ultraviolet radiation, in daily doses of 3 g or more, 800 IU and 200 ,ug respectively. It should not take too much time to test these antioxidants in controlled studies. However, because the danger of skin cancer and melanoma is so great it appears prudent to take these simple nutrients as a precaution. They would, of course, have other advantages.
abortion P
atricia McEvoy is to be congratulated for winning the Dr. William Logie medical ethics essay contest, sponsored by the CMA. In "Is a woman responsible for being pregnant? Another discussion about 840
CAN MED ASSOC J 1992; 147 (6)
Donald G. Jansen, MD, CCFP
Campbell's Bay, Que.
Ms. McEvoy's article concludes that the morality of abortion is socially dependent. The author has not considered the impact of abortion on society.
First, feminist literature is replete with the desire to replace an androcentric, power-dominated approach to social organization and policy and thus stop the misuse of power by men. I agree that change is essential. Termination of pregnancy is the act of a powerful person (the pregnant woman) against a voiceless, innocent and powerless person. How does the misuse of power by women in this situation prove that their androgynous and gynocentric approaches to the use of power are different or better? Can the route to a more compassionate, nurturing and liberal society be through the destruction of any minority (in this case, fetuses)? Second, abortion may impede the goal of reproductive freedom for women. Making a woman responsible for the decision to terminate her pregnancy or not may absolve society of any responsibility to assist her and her child if she chooses to continue the pregnancy. The continuing poor treatment of single-parent families will result in more women being coerced, socially and financially, to choose abortion. This will ultimately shrink the size of the group in need and allow society to eventually ignore it altogether. In the long term, society can avoid the need to change the way it treats women and children by promoting abortion, among other programs. Therefore, if the approach to the morality of abortion is contingent on society's mistreatment of women, then abortion will become increasingly moral. Third, sex-specific abortion assists family planning. Female fetuses are preferentially aborted. As women become a minority in society will they be further oppressed by male-dominated power structures, or will there be greater value attached to the female sex (but as an object or commodity), and, if so, what happens to a woman's personhood and equality with men? LE 15 SEPTEMBRE 1992
