Disputed law on abortion: the principle of ‘double effect’ explained

In Malta, the termination of unviable pregnancies where a heartbeat is still detected is delayed until the woman’s life is at risk because abortion on the island is illegal under all circumstances.
This is where the principle of ‘double effect’ comes into play.
According to this principle, it is sometimes acceptable to cause harm as a side effect of bringing about a good result.

So a doctor would intervene with the sole intention of saving the mother’s life and the death of the unborn foetus or embryo is solely an undesired consequence of the intervention to save the mother.
But delaying things could sometimes be too late, as in the case of the late Izabela from Pszczyna, Poland and Ireland’s Savita Halappanavar. They both died after their request for an abortion was denied on legal grounds. Both women’s deaths brought about changes in their respective country’s legislation.
'Law is cruel'
Last week, an American woman had her request to terminate her unviable pregnancy turned down by Maltese health authorities despite her and her partner’s fears for her health. Her condition was described as stable at the time.
Andrea Prudente, who was 16 weeks pregnant, was airlifted to Spain...