Abortion: Legal Perspective and Moral Principle of Buddhism

Abstract

This article would like to discuss, ‘Does abortion commit a sin or not? Should be applied either law or morality? In Buddhist view, a case of pregnancy, even if gestational age has just only 1 day or 1 month, and whatever the reason or the condition is, abortion is still considered as sin and the criterion of the first precept should be considered as a criterion, including doctors who terminates the pregnancy. For the point that how much of a sin is, it depends on intention as the first priority. When the moral principle becomes guilt for women who decide to terminate their pregnancy, this can be considered a violation the criminal code articles of 301 to 305 which mention about liberty in women’s body by determining the legal criteria of abortion. This leads to the argument that whose life should be and what should be applied, law or morality. Certainly, the moral principle denies all kinds of pregnancy termination. On the other hands, according to the law, abortion is a women’s right to get the safe termination. Consequently, it is impossible that these two ways can be applied for the same propose. Therefore, a body of knowledge is that if it cannot control pregnancy termination in our society, it should promote and educate people about safe pregnancy termination for minimizing any danger from abortion by getting advices and services from specialized doctors. It is for promoting the rights to the body of women and making the options for their safety and legality to be accepted by society.