Plan B and the Doctrine of Double Effect

Rebecca Stangl

The Hastings Center Report
The Hastings Center Report

Extract
An appeal to the doctrine of double effect supposes that the end aimed at is morally good. I claim that women who use emergency contraception need only intend the contraceptive effect of the medication, and not any possible abortifacient effect it may have. If one denies that even the former is a permissible end, then the doctrine of double effect makes no difference.


Stangl R. Plan B and the Doctrine of Double Effect. Hastings Center Report. 2009 Jul-Aug;39(4):21-5.

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