Vital conflicts in medical ethics : a virtue approach to craniotomy and tubal pregnancies Martin Rhonheimer ; edited by William F. Murphy Jr.

"The text was first published in German under the title "Güterabwägung, Tötungsverbot und Abtreibung in vitalen Konfliktfällen. Lösungsversuch eines klassischen gynäkologischen dilemmas aus tugendethischer perspektive" ... [and] included in M. Rhonheimer, Abtreibung und Lebensschutz. Tötungsverbot und Recht auf Leben in der politischen und medizinischen Ethik (Paderborn: Schöningh, 2003)"--P. xiii.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The problem. Two methodologies for the moral evaluation of action : the principle of double effect (PDE) and the weighing of goods -- Overview of this study and brief summary of the argument -- "Vital indication" and a recent example : the moral justification of the act of saving a life -- The structure of the argumentation : weighing goods in the case of vital indication -- Church doctrine and past discussions in moral theology. "Direct abortion" according to church doctrine : specification of the concept from the viewpoint of action theory -- The physical and intentional structure of actions : the object of the moral act -- The controversy regarding craniotomy through the end of the nineteenth century : the interpretation of Summa theologiae II-II, q.64, a.7: a. The argument of Pietro Avanzini and the category of the "unjust aggressor" ; b. Summa theologiae II-II, q.64, a.7 : killing in self-defense according to Thomas Aquinas ; c. Critique and the development of the discussion ; d. Waffelaert's incorrect interpretation of ST II-II, q.64, a.7 ; e. The consequences of the confusion -- Life-saving medical interventions : the prohibition of killing and the virtue of justice. Retrospective summary : acts of killing and the ethical context of "justice" -- Reevaluation of contemporary therapies : vital indication and extrauterine gravidity: a. Salpingectomy or segment resection ; b. Linear salpingotomy (or salpingostomy) ; c. Drug treatment with methotrexate ; d. Expectant management -- The moral justification of life-saving measures in the case of vital conflict: a. Recapitulation and conclusive explanation of the ethical argument ; b. The exclusion of the weighing of goods ; c. Objections and response -- Epilogue: Virtue ethics, "direct" and "indirect," and prohibition of killing.