Special Crime investigation with Legal Medicine MODULE

Objectives:
At the end of this chapter students should be able to:
 Clinical Types of Abortion
 Reasons Why Some Women Procure Abortion
 Legal Justification to Therapeutic Abortion

Viability is the point at which the fetus is “potentially” able to live outside the
mother's womb", albeit with respiratory aid. And, later, as when it is capable of
meaningful life outside the mother's womb (The Rights of Doctors, Nurses, and Allied
Health Professionals by Annas and Glantz, p. 202).

In the legal viewpoint, abortion is the willful killing of the fetus in the uterus or
violent expulsion of the fetus from the maternal womb and which results in the death of
the fetus. According to Viada, as long as the fetus dies as a result of violence used or
of the drug administered, the crime of abortion exists, even if the fetus is full term.

Whichever be the definition of abortion, the following are the principal elements
of the crime:

1. That the expulsion of the product of conception is induced.

2. That the fetus dies either as an effect of the violence used, drug administered, or
the fetus was expelled before the term of its viability.

Clinical Types of Abortion:

1. Missed Abortion — An ovum destroyed by hemorrhage into the choriospace,

usually before the fourth month of pregnancy. The hemorrhage takes place from
maternal sinuses into the decidua.
This is usually followed by the death with maceration or absorption of the product
of the conception.
2. Threatened Abortion — Hemorrhage without dilatation of the internal os.
Hemorrhage in an early stage of pregnancy may be due to causes other than a
threatened abortion, e.g., ectopic pregnancy, cervical polyp, extensive erosion of
the cervix, etc.
3. Inevitable Abortion — Hemorrhage with dilatation of the internal os and
presence of rhythmical pain. It may end by spontaneous expulsion of the product
of conception or may require medical intervention. Hemorrhage and infection are

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potential complications.
4. Incomplete Abortion — Not all of the conception has been expelled from
the fragments or portions of which are retained. This will prevent contraction of
the uterus and consequently, uncontrolled bleeding will develop. Removal of the
retained fragment must be done to avoid too much loss of blood and potential
infection.
5. Complete Abortion — The whole product of conception is expelled.

Causes of Abortion:

1. Death of the fetus — Congenital abnormality, poisoning by minerals like lead,

disease of the decidua, chorion, placenta, amnion, etc.
2. Abnormality of the uterus.
3. Emotional condition — Fright, grief, and anger.
4. Abortifacient drugs — Ergot, purgatives.
5. Trauma — Direct or indirect.
6. Hormonal deficiency.
7. Acute specific fever and high temperature.

Provisions of the Revised Penal Code on Abortion:

Intentional Abortion:

Art. 256, Revised Penal Code:

1. Any person who shall intentionally cause an abortion shall The penalty of
reclusion temporal if he shall use any violence upon the person of the pregnant
woman.
2. The penalty of prision mayor if, without using violence, he shall act without the
consent of the woman.
3. The penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maxi• mum periods, if the
woman shall have consented.

Elements of Intentional Abortion:

1. That the woman is pregnant.

2. That violence was applied, or drug was administered, or a person acts upon such
a pregnant woman.
3. That the effect of such violence, drug or acts of the offender, the fetus dies or is
expelled.
4. That the offender has the intention to abort the pregnant woman.

Ways of Committing Intentional Abortion:

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 Special Crime investigation with Legal Medicine MODULE

a. By application of violence on the pregnant woman.

b. By acting but without the use of violence, without the consent of the pregnant
woman. This applies to the administration of drugs or beverages without her
consent.
c. By acting, with the consent of the pregnant woman. This applies to the
administration or use of drugs or beverages with the full knowledge and consent
of the pregnant woman herself.
The purpose of the division of the crime into three paragraphs is to graduate the
penalties depending upon the use of violence and knowledge of the pregnant
woman. It is not based upon medical science.
The accused gave herb extract to induce an abortion on a woman. The
woman aborted about two hours after the administration. The accused burned
the product of conception because of the belief that it is a fish-demon. It was
held that the act constitutes prima facie proof of the intent of the accused
in aborting the woman (U.S. v. Boston, 12 Phil. 134)
If the intentional abortion resulted in the death of the pregnant woman,
then the crime of abortion with homicide was committed.

Unintentional Abortion:

Art. 257 Revised Penal Code:

The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods shall be
imposed upon any person who shall cause an abortion by violence, but unintentionally.

Elements of Unintentional Abortion:

a. The woman must be pregnant;

b. Violence was applied to such a pregnant woman without the intention of aborting
her;
c. The woman aborted as a result of the violence.

Abortion practiced by the woman herself or by her parents:

Art. 258, Revised Penal Code:

The penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods shall be
imposed upon a woman who shall practice abortion upon herself or shall consent that
any other person should do so.

Any woman who shall commit this offense to conceal her dishonor shall suffer
the penalty of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods.

If this crime be committed by the parents of the pregnant woman or either of

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them, and they act with the consent of the said woman to conceal her dishonor, the
offenders shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum
periods.

Elements of the Crime

1. The woman is pregnant.

2. Abortion is intended to be committed. Abortion is induced
a. The pregnant woman herself.
b. Other persons with the consent of the pregnant woman herself.
c. The parents of the woman or either of them to conceal her dishonor and
with the consent of the woman herself.

If a woman does an act of inducing an abortion on herself, there is the

mitigation of criminal liability if the purpose is to conceal her dishonor.
Concealment of dishonor is not mitigating if the abortion was committed by the
parents of the pregnant woman or either of them.

If a woman took poison for committing suicide and because of the timely
intervention of a physician she did not die but instead aborted, she cannot be
guilty of abortion because of the absence of intention to commit abortion.

Abortion practiced by a physician or midwife and dispensing of abortives:

Art. 259, Revised Penal Code:

The penalties provided in article 256 shall be imposed in its maximum period,
respectively, upon any physician or midwife who, taking advantage of their scientific
knowledge or skill, shall cause an abortion or assist in causing the same.

Any pharmacist who, without the proper prescription from a physician, shall
dispense any abortive shall suffer arresto mayor and a fine not exceeding 1,000 pesos.

Requisites of the Crime:

a. The woman is pregnant.

b. The physician induced or assisted in causing the abortion with the use of
scientific knowledge.
c. The acts done by the physician or midwife was intended to cause an abortion.
There must be the intention of the physician to produce abortion and the absence
of intention will not make the physician criminally liable for such a consequence.

Problems Confronting the Provision of the Revised Penal Code Regarding

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Abortion:

1. If a woman or a third person induces abortion when pregnancy is beyond the

period of viability. The child born as a result of such criminal acts lives. Can
there be a crime of abortion committed?
2. If a woman is not pregnant but she or a third person believes that she is
pregnant. Abortion was induced on her by the third person and as a result of
which she died. Is there a crime of homicide with intentional abortion?

Kinds of Abortion:

Spontaneous or Natural Abortion:

Abortion occurs without any form of inducement or intervention.

Induced Abortion:

Abortion will not take place had it not been for some form of inducement or
intervention. Induced abortion may be:

Therapeutic Abortion:

Abortion is purposely done to preserve the life of the mother. Preservation of the
health of the mother may also be a ground to induce therapeutic abortion. The
phrase "to preserve the life of the woman" does not only mean to preserve the
life of the woman from death.

Criminal Abortion:

Abortion done without any therapeutic indication but with criminal intent is
punishable by law.

Post-mortem Abortion:

This is the expulsion of the product of conception after the death of the pregnant
woman brought about by the post-mortem contraction of the uterine muscles. It is
possible during the early stage of pregnancy when the fetus is small. During the later
stage, the contraction of the uterus may cause its rupture and expel its contents of
pregnancy into the abdominal cavity.

Reasons Why Some Women Procure Abortion:

1. To preserve the life and health of the pregnant woman.

2. To terminate prematurely illegitimate pregnancy to con- the dishonor of the
woman.

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3. Financial difficulty. Additional member means an added expense in the family.

4. To preserve body form. Some women do not wish to make their pregnancies
advance to full terms on the fear that their bodies might be deformed.

How Abortion is Induced or Produced:

By General Violence:

This includes intentional violence, as exerting strong physical efforts in golf,

horse riding, cycling, strong pressure applied on the abdomen, and other forms of
strenuous and exhaustive exercises.

a. Severe pressure on the abdomen by kneading blows, kicks, jumping, and

tight lacing.
b. Violent exercise, such as riding on horseback, cycling, jump• ing from a
height, jolting caused by driving on rough roads, long-running up and
down the stairs, and carrying or lifting heavyweights.
c. Cupping, usually by placing a lighted wick on the hypogastric region and
turning a big glass bottle mouth downwards over it. It probably causes
separation of the placenta or possibly injury to the uterine paries.
d. Application of leeches to the pudenda, perineum, and the inner surface of
the thighs.

Using Local Violence:

Local violence may be applied in any portion of the generative organ. This is
usually resorted to when general violence and the use of drug fails to give the desired
result.

Local violence may be applied by the pregnant woman herself, by the physician,
midwife, or by the parents. The most common methods applied

1. Use of douche of warm and cold water.

2. Injection of fluid into the uterine cavity.
3. Use of luminaria tent or tangle tent to promote dilatation of the cervix.
4. Use of soft rubber inserted into the cervix.
5. Dilatation of the cervix by instrumentation.

By the Use of Drugs

This is the most common method resorted to by women to produce abortion.

There is no drug or combination of drugs which when taken by mouth or parenterally will
cause the healthy uterus to empty itself without endangering the life of the woman.

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Factors Responsible for Abortion after Ingestion or Administration of Poisonous

Substances:

a. General severe intoxication of the mother resulting in impairment of her

circulation, metabolism, and vital functions, or producing anemia and
hemorrhage.
b. Interruption or impairment of the placental blood circulation as a result of
hemorrhage, thrombosis, lowering of the blood pressure, necrosis, and
inflammation of endometrium and placenta.
c. The general convulsion of the body.
d. Severe gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea.
e. Irritation of automatic and peripheral nerves leading to uterine contraction.
f. Direct transmission of the poison from the maternal through the placenta into
the fetal circulation, thus damaging the fetus

Complications of Abortion:

Immediate Untoward Effects:

Shock:

The shock may be due to the laceration of the uterus or the adjacent organ, like
the bladder, rectum, intestine, or blood vessels. The injury may be due to the
introduction of instruments or the application of hot fluid or corrosive substances.

No definite autopsy findings may be seen, except the presence of the gravid
uterus, remnants of the fetus and placenta, and the laceration or perforation. Secondary
shock may develop later and may be due to hemorrhage, infection, or corrosions.

Hemorrhage and Anemia:

Occasionally, big pelvic vessels are injured or failure of the uterine wall to
contract is observed in abortion. The rupture of the blood vessels may be due to the
injury of the uterine and vaginal wall of injudicious instrumentation. Adherent placental
tissue, infection, presence of foreign bodies, and atony of the uterus may cause
hemorrhage for the failure of the uterine muscles to contract.

Embolism:

1. Air Embolism:
The air may enter the lacerated vessels of the vagina and uterine wall and
be carried by the blood to the inferior vena cava, heart and block the
pulmonary circulation. In cases wherein the foramen ovale is potent, the
air may escape pulmonary circulation and block the cerebral circulation.

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 Special Crime investigation with Legal Medicine MODULE

2. Fat Embolism:
The injection of oily fluid or laceration of the adipose tissue may cause the
formation of fat emboli in the bloodstream which may lodge in the heart,
lungs, and brain. Fat emboli may be observed in the renal glomeruli,
coronary vessels, and also in the vessels of the choroid plexus of the
brain.
3. Thrombo - Embolism
Injury of the uterine wall may cause the formation of thrombus which may
be detached and carried by the circulation to different parts of the body:
4. Bacterial Embolism:
Infection of the uterus after an abortion may cause a lump of bacteria to
enter the circulation in the form of an embolus.

Infection: Pathogenic organisms may be introduced into the uterus and produce
systemic symptoms. If death occurs signs of toxemia may be observed at autopsy.

Causes of Death in Infection:

1. The rapid development of bacteremia.

2. Thrombophlebitis of uterine, pelvic, and femoral veins with multiple infarctions
and abscesses (pyemia).
3. Bacterial endocarditis with multiple septic infarctions.
4. Purulent metritis, parametritis, localized or generalized peritonitis, ileus.
5. Purulent salpingitis, tubal or ovarian abscesses followed by peritonitis.
6. Diffusely spreading retroperitoneal cellulitis, toxemia, and cachexia.

Poisoning:

Abortifacient Irritants that may be locally applied may be absorbed into the
circulation and produce systemic effects. Lysol corrosive sublimate, iodine solution are
frequently used for vaginal douche and may cause systemic poisoning.

Vagal inhibition:

Sudden dilatation of the cervix due to the introduction of some objects may cause
sudden collapse due to reflex inhibition of the vagus nerve.

Perforation of the bladder or any of the neighboring organs:

In the insertion of the uterine sound to determine the position of the uterus or in
the process of the bladder or the other surrounding organs may be perforated and
which may eventually result in death due to hemorrhage or shock.

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 Special Crime investigation with Legal Medicine MODULE

Delayed Untoward Effects:

a. Infection: Infection may develop immediately or later on account of septic care.

The infection may originate from the vaginal canal or the bloodstream coming
from a focus of infection in the body.
b. Fistula Formation: Communication between the vagina or the uterus with the
rectum or bladder may be an aftereffect of perforation due to instrumentation.
c. Sterility Plugging of the fallopian tubes, infection of the ovaries may sterility
d. Pelvic Adhesion: Infection and trauma may cause the uterus or vagina to
become adherent to the surrounding organs or tissues.

MEDICAL evidence OF ABORTION:

a. Medical Evidence of Abortion in the Living:

Presence of external signs of violence in the form of contusions,
abrasions, hematoma, open wounds of whatever form on the body surface
if induced by general violence. If violence is applied locally in the
generative tract, injuries of whatever form or description may be seen
therein.
b. Examination of the generative tract:
1. The appearance of the external genitalia and vagina may show laceration,
contusion, abrasions, and other marks of instrumentation.
2. Examine the external os for softness, tear, and discharge.
3. Note the size of the uterus, its consistency, and location.

c. Examination of the instrument used for the presence of blood, placental

tissue, or fetal parts.
d. History — Note the state of health beforehand after abortion. Inquire as to the
motive of the abortion and history of having ingested or injected with abortives.
e. Signs of previous pregnancy:
a. Condition of the breasts.
b. Laxity of the abdominal wall.
c. Paleness of integument.
d. General body weakness.
e. Presence of characteristic lochial discharge and odor.
f. Palpability of the uterus and laceration of the cervix and perineum.
f. Examination of the expelled product of conception:
a. Blood examination for maternity and paternity.
b. Marks of instrumentation.
c. Signs of physical violence.
d. Proof of viability or non-viability of the fetus.

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 Special Crime investigation with Legal Medicine MODULE

e. Presence of abortives and other toxic materials in the fetal blood.

f. Presence or absence of malformation.
g. Completeness of the placenta.
h. Other identifying marks.

A criminally aborted fetus about 5 to 6 months of intrauterine life.

g. Laboratory test for pregnancy.
h. Testimony of the physician who completed the abortion or of other persons who
witnessed the criminal act.

Medical Evidence of Abortion in the Dead:

Aside from the evidence of abortion in the living which may be found in the dead,
the following may be observed at autopsy.

Evidence of instrumentation:

This will include the presence of puncture wounds in the placenta, the presence
of remnants of the placenta inside the uterine cavity, the presence of perforation of the
uterus.

Examination of the stomach and its contents:

Abortifacient. drugs and other irritants may be found inside the stomach upon
chemical examination. It is advisable to submit the whole of the stomach with its
contents to a chemical laboratory examination for such determination.

Examination of the kidneys and other organs for irritants:

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 Special Crime investigation with Legal Medicine MODULE

Like the stomach and its contents, other organs like the kidneys, liver, spleen
must be subjected to a qualitative and quantitative chemical examination for the
presence of irritant poisons.

Examination of the uterine contents:

The remnant of the product of conception for the following:

1. Infection.
2. Stage of pregnancy.
3. Other complications of abortion.

Biological test:

1. Paternity test.
2. Pregnancy test.

Examination of some untoward effects of abortion:

1. Infection, toxemia or bacteremia.

2. Embolism.
3. Fistulae formation.
4. Pelvic adhesions.

THERAPEUTIC ABORTION

Therapeutic abortion is an abortion which the law allows under some specific
justifications.

Legal Justification for Therapeutic Abortion:

Art. 11, No. 4, Revised Penal Code:

Any person who, to avoid an evil or injury, does an act which causes damage to
another, provided that the following requisites are present.

1. First. That the evil sought to be avoided exists;

2. Second. That the injury feared to be greater than that done to avoid it;
3. Third. That there be no other practical and less harmful means of preventing it.

In the performance of an abortion, lives are involved, namely, the life of the
mother and the life of the fetus. One life must be sacrificed to save the life of another in
case of therapeutic abortion.

If both lives can be saved by the present state of medical science, then there is

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no justification for such abortion, hence the physician must be criminally liable.

A physician performing a therapeutic abortion is doing an act to save life or to

preserve the health of the mother. In so doing, the damage is done to the conceived
child. The child is deprived of its future existence.

The evil sought to be avoided is the danger of the life of the mother if such
pregnancy will be allowed to continue. Such evil may be an infection, organic condition,
or abnormality existing on the person of the woman and which under the ordinary
course of the event will cause death.

There is no practical and less harmful way of saving the life of the mother other
than sacrificing the life of the conceived child. If other methods may save both lives,
then abortion cannot be considered justifiable.

In the evaluation as to whose life must be spared, it is a common concept that

the life of the mother must be preferred over that of the unborn child. A conceived child
is not sure of its independent existence while the mother has already manifested real
life.

Grounds for Therapeutic Abortion:

The following conditions have been considered by some authorities to be a justifiable

ground for therapeutic abortion:

1. Cardio-vascular conditions as congestive heart failure, auricular fibrillation,

repeated hemoptysis, paroxysmal tachycardia.
2. Renal conditions as chronic nephritis, previous eclampsia, pyelitis, tuberculosis.
3. Pulmonary conditions as advanced tuberculosis.
4. Blood condition as severe anemia.
5. Gynecological conditions as refractory chorea gravidarum.
6. Organic nervous conditions as psychosis.
7. Miscellaneous conditions as diabetes, exophthalmic goiter.
8. Hereditary conditions as insanity.

The modern diagnostic procedure can determine whether the conceived fetus en
Utero is suffering from a defect or abnormality which may be severed to make
independent existence not possible or ample assistance from another person during his
lifetime is necessary. New drugs (LSD, thalidomide, etc) and non-conventional
methods of reproduction ( in vitro fertilization, artificial ovulation ) may lead to the
development of an abnormal fetus. If it can be proven that the fetus is abnormal, will it
not be a justifiable situation to induce an abortion? If the physician failed to induce
abortion and the child born is abnormal, will it not be a ground for civil action against the

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physician for wrongful life?

IUD (intrauterine device) is a method of contraception that allows the fertilization of the
egg cell by the sperm cell but prevents the implantation of the zygote into the uterus
because of the mecha• medical device. Abortion is the premature expulsion of the
product of conception. If it were so, then I.U.D. is abortive. Why is it allowed as a
contraceptive method and not prohibited like another way of committing an abortion?

Is the imminent danger of committing suicide on account of her existing pregnancy a

ground to induce therapeutic abortion to save the life of the woman?

Occasionally, on account of her disgrace in society, fear of violent reactions from

her parents for the sinful and immoral acts she has committed, or for some other
reasons that may be prejudicial to her future life, a woman may attempt on several
occasions to commit suicide. In this instance, may a physician institute necessary
measures to deliberately terminate the existing pregnancy to save her life? There are
divergent decisions on this point.

In the case of Hatchard v. State (48 N.W. 380 Wis.) a woman who threatened to
commit suicide unless she could be relieved of the child with which she was pregnant
does not present such a necessity for the performance of the operation to save the life
of the woman. The intention of the law applies only to cases where the death of the
mother might reasonably be anticipated from natural causes unless the product of
conception is destroyed.

However, in a case cited by Camp and Purchase (Practical Forensic Medicine, p. 32,
1957), a married woman with an unstable character finding herself pregnant, threatened
to commit suicide. The physician whom she repeatedly made her threat during her
unexpected visits referred her to a psychiatrist who recommended abortion. The
operation was carried on by a reputed gynecologist but un• fortunately, the patient died
of gangrene of the uterus. The coroner did not recommend prosecution because the
operation was done to save the life of the mother.

Safeguards to be Observed by Physician in Performing Therapeutic Abortion:

1. Lawful abortion must be performed by a licensed physician or surgeon.

2. Abortion to be justifiable must be performed to save the life or to preserve the
health of the mother. But modern advancement of medical science has reduced
the number of diseases which will endanger life and health if pregnancy is
allowed to progress to term. A physician must exercise due diligence in
considering a disease or a combination of diseases or conditions as grounds for
therapeutic abortion.

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3. Abortion must be performed openly in a hospital to avoid the suspicion that it was
done for some cause other than to save the life of the mother. Abortion
performed in a private clinic wherein there are not sufficient facilities to cope with
an emergency that may arise in the course of the operation may be a ground for
malpractice.
4. It is advisable to have the opinion of other competent physicians as to the
justifiability of such therapeutic abortion. The opinion of one might be influenced
by prejudice and misjudgment.
5. Enlightened and expressed consent must be obtained from the woman herself if
she has no impediment to giving consent. It is advisable to have also the consent
of the husband since abortion will affect the marital relationship.

Reasons Why It Is Difficult to Prosecute Physicians Committing the of

Abortion:

1. The crime is performed clandestinely by an intelligent being who is fully aware of

his criminal act.
2. The physician has several medical reasons to justify his actions. There is no
hard and fast rule in medicine. He may claim that there is medical justification for
such abortion because the woman is suffering from a disease that might imperil
her life if the pregnancy will be allowed to progress to full term.
3. In most cases, the products of conception removed which may be utilized as
corpus delicti in the crime is lost.
4. The pregnant woman herself is in connivance with the physician and it is quite
difficult to let her testify truthfully as to the actual happening. She, herself, is in
pari delicto to the crime of criminal abortion.
5. Medical society seems to have a lukewarm attitude in helping the state prosecute
the abortionist.

Pros and Cons — Restrictive Abortion Law:

Reason Justifying Restrictive Abortion Law:

1. From the moment of conception, life begins to start and destruction of the
growing product of conception will be contrary to the law of mankind. This is in
line with the philosophy that God created man and only God can destroy it.

Reasons for Liberal Abortion Law:

Where abortion is illegal, the rich can resort to high-cost and illegal but safe
abortion at home or a pleasure trip abroad combined with an abortion. The poor can
only stay at home and face the consequence of high-risk and illegal abortion. This

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causes discrimination against the poor and favors the rich. It raises the serious issue of
justice and equal protection under the law.

2. It is no secret, in countries forbidding abortion under any circumstances, abortion

operations continue to exist with very few or non-prosecution. In the Philippines,
the draconian and restrictive abortion law has been accompanied in recent years
by non-prosecution, either of the woman or the abortionists (In-depth Study on
Law and Fertility Behavior: Preliminary Observation by Lee and Bulatao, 1972,
p. 40).
3. Statistics have shown that children born as a consequence of denied abortion to
terminate unwanted pregnancy are mentally and physically impaired. Any
unsuccessful illegal attempt to cause her abortion may cause trauma to the
developing product of conception. An overburdened multipara or a single girl
without support may cause psychiatric disturbance and the children may be a
social welfare problem. The children are abandoned by parents in an
overcrowded orphanage.
4. A strict anti-abortion law is violative of the right of privacy of a person. The right
of privacy means the right of the individual to the possession and control of his
person free from all restraints or interference of others. A woman should have the
right to decide whether or not to bear children and that this right includes the right
to have an abortion.
5. Modern advances in medical diagnostic procedures can determine whether a
developing fetus inside the uterus is suffering from physical abnormalities.
Allowing such product of conception to reach full term will cause sufferings on the
part of the parents and an overburdened social welfare institution of the
government. It is also a factor for the deterioration of the genetic stock if the
defective factor is familiar thus making an abnormal stock proliferate further.
6. A recent trend in Central Europe and America is towards liberalization of their
restrictive abortion laws. At present more than 70% of the total world population
are living in countries where abortion law is liberal. This trend is inconsonance
to solve the future problem of an over-populated world.

Religious Consideration of Abortion:

As a general rule, all induced abortions are considered sinful, illicit, and against
the tenets of the Catholic Church even if sanctioned by law. The principal basis is that
every human being, even the child in the mother's womb, has the right of existence
directly from God and that no human being has the right to destroy it. A conceived
child has the right to exist as that of the mother.

However, the Catholic Church classified abortion into two main categories to

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 Special Crime investigation with Legal Medicine MODULE

determine whether it may be allowable or

1. Direct Abortion — Deliberate expulsion of the product of conception. This is

never permitted by the Catholic Church even if the purpose is to save the life of
the mother.
2. Indirect Abortion — When the expulsion of the product of conception is not the
primary objective of an operation to save the life of the mother, but merely
incidental or unavoidable to an operation. This type of abortion is qualifiedly
permitted to some extent by the Catholic Church. Thus, the abortion which
occurred incidentally to an operation to suppress hemorrhage or removal of new
growth is permissible.

Among the Jews, the destruction of the fetus to save the life of the mother is not
only permissible but obligatory. To the Protestants, abortion is generally considered
sinful.

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Women?

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ABORTION

Refference:
Solis, P. P. Legal medicine . Manila : Beltran Educational Supply.
Lagonera, M. G. (2010). Legal medicine. Quezon City : Wiseman's Books Trading.

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