Abortion in Special Cases

Scenarios by Robert E. Cranston, M.D., used by permission

Compiled by Dennis M. Sullivan, M.D.
Case Study #1
As Lydia walked to her car in the darkened parking lot she had a vague uneasiness. She should have waited for
the security guard escort, but if she had she undoubtedly would have been late for her meeting at the Garden
Club. Hastily she unlocked the door, yanked the car door open, jumped in and was trying to shove the key in the
ignition when a hand from the back seat covered her mouth and jerked her head viciously into the head rest.
One sound out of you, and you are dead, he said.
The next ten minutes would be seared into her brain forever. With a knife at her throat, he sexually assaulted her
in the back seat of the car, beat her savagely, and left her for dead. When she finally came to her senses she
drove herself to the nearest Emergency Room. Over the next few weeks the physical wounds would heal. The
emotional healing would take much longer. The nightmare continued. Four weeks after the assault, the clinic
confirmed her worst fears. She was pregnant.
Surely God wouldn't demand that she carry this criminal's spawn to term. The rape was terrible enough, but
there was no way she could endure the pregnancy. Her mind was numb but her heart felt untold anguish as she
drove herself to the abortion clinic.
Questions for Discussion:
1. To help you to identify with Lydia, this case study is deliberately fairly detailed. How common is this
scenario?
2. Are you sympathetic to Lydias dilemma? How open do you think she will be to a pro-life message?
For perspective, it might be helpful to read John 8:1-11.
3. Does Lydia have any other options? What might you say to her if you had the opportunity?
4. If Lydia goes through with an abortion, what feelings or problems might she have in the aftermath?
5. Many say they are opposed to abortion, except in the case of rape. What do you think?
Case Study #2
Gary and Karen were ecstatic. After four years of marriage, Karen was pregnant. Gary would finish law school
in six months. The timing could not have been better. Karen had always wanted a big family, but they had
delayed till Gary would have a regular paying job. But after her third prenatal visit Dr. Abrams called her at
home. Could she and Gary come to the office tomorrow at three to review her recent test results? He would
explain everything then.
Over the next few weeks ultrasound tests confirmed what the blood tests had suggested. Their baby, if allowed
to come to term, would have severe neural tube defects. In other words, the child would have an open spinal
cord, hydrocephalus, mental retardation and probably never walk in a normal manner. The burden that this child
would experience, and the pain the family would suffer would be unbearable. The best thing would be to have
an abortion. Dr. Abrams gave them the names of two competent gynecologists. It would be best for everyone.

Questions for Discussion:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Do the abnormalities predicted for this child diminish his or her personhood and dignity?
Are you sympathetic to Karens dilemma? How open do you think she will be to a pro-life message?
Do Gary and Karen have any other options? What might you say to them if you had the opportunity?
Perhaps you do not favor an abortion in this instance. How far does your commitment extend? For
example, what if the unborn child has the severest possible neural tube defect, called anencephaly. This
is the total absence of a cerebral cortex (although the brain stem is present). Such infants have no
possibility of any conscious thought, and usually die soon after birth. Would you abort in this case?
5. You may be interested to know that many physicians have no sympathy for parents who do not abort
children with severe fatal defects, and may often abandon these mothers (e.g., by relegating their
regular check-ups to a nurse). What do you think of this? How would you help a mother who decides to
carry her baby to term, even in the face of such a lethal defect?
References:
Cranston, Robert: Bioethical Decisions and Today's Christian, available at
http://www.freemethodistchurch.org/ (click on link for Free 13-week Bioethics Curriculum)
AAPLOG Statement on Perinatal Hospice, available at http://www.aaplog.org/perinatalhospice.htm.