Consider an ectopic pregnancy and two options to deal with it: either perform a
ID: 3513656 • Letter: C
Question
Consider an ectopic pregnancy and two options to deal with it: either perform a salpingectomy on the portion of the fallopian tube in where the embryo is implanted or perform a salpingostomy. Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of one or both fallopian tubes due to complications like an ectopic pregnancy. Salpingectomy is different from salpingostomy. Salpingostomy is the creation of an incision in the fallopian tube. The surgeon makes the incision in the fallopian tube to remove its contents, viz., the embryo. As you know, the fallopian tubes are part of the path where the embryo begins its life journey, but in ectopic pregnancies, the embryo gets stuck here and starts growing. An ectopic pregnancy occurs in about 1 in 60 pregnancies. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in women 35 to 44 years of age. Use the double effect principle to determine what the natural law theorist would say about the rightness/wrongness of these two medical options. Which of these two, if either, would the natural law theorist approve of? Make sure you explain your answers.
Explanation / Answer
Double effect principle is principle involved in the explanation of cause of harmful event or death of human beings as a side effects of some good work. In this given scenario, Salpingostomy is better procedure than salpingectomy in order to remove ectopic pregnancy because in salpingectomy one or both the fallopian tubes are removed. This causes loss of future pregnancy. This is not fare. Salpingostomy is preferred as it does not remove total fallopian tube.
Salpingostomy is preferred in that cases where future pregnancy are needed like in young women whose family is not completed. In this a small incision is made on the fallopian tube and ectopics are removed. The fallopian tubes are made patent for further decreasing the chances of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is defined as the development of embryo anywhere in the body except uterus. In the uterus it is called normal pregnancy. The most common site of ectopic pregnancy is fallopian tube. Other sites include ovary, abdomen, pelvis etc.