De La Salle University Manila

2401 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila

Ectopic Pregnancy in Relation to

Ethics and Christian Morality
Research Proposal

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in The Filipino Christian in a Changing World (TREDTWO)

Research Proponents:
Cabonce, Regina
Eloriaga, Justin
Roy, Jillian
Tan, Nicole

Submitted to Dr. Willard Macaraan on October 12, 2015

Definition of Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy can be defined as one in which the human embryo does not implant in the
endometrium (lining of the uterus), which is the normal site of implantation. Instead, the embryo
implants somewhere outside of the endometrial cavity, such as the fallopian tube, cervix, ovary, or in
the abdominal or pelvic cavity.

Peter J. Cataldo, Ectopic Pregnancy, in New Catholic Encyclopedia: Supplement 2009, ed. Robert L.
Fastiggi (Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Cengage Learning, 2009), 253.

Roots and Diagnosis of Ectopic Pregnancy

Some studies indicate that ectopic pregnancy is primarily due to advanced age, history of pelvic
surgery and smoking. This can be diagnosed when symptoms such as extreme pain in the fallopian
tube, intense bleeding and immense pain in the abdominals are experienced. Generally, an ultrasound
can confirm the condition of ectopic pregnancy.

Jurkovik, D. , Wilkinson, H. (2011). Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. BMJ: British
Medical Journal Vol. 342, No. 7811, pp. 1353-1357

Diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy and then determining whether the unborn child is alive can be
difficult. The diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy begins by excluding a normal intrauterine pregnancy.
For a gestation of more than five and a half weeks, an intrauterine pregnancy can be identified with
nearly 100 percent accuracy by transvaginal ultrasound findings, such as a gestational sac, yolk sac,
fetal pole, and, later, cardiac motion (usually around six weeks).

Beata Seeber and Kurt Barnhart, Ectopic Pregnancy, in Danforths Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10th
ed., ed. Ronald S. Gibbs et al. (Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2008), 74.

Dilemmas on Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic or tubal pregnancy presents a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment in order to
contain risks of maternal death and morbidity, including loss of future fertility. Medical circumstances
involving individual patients and resources of the prevailing health care system will determine the
options and means of treatment. Termination of ectopic pregnancy does not constitute or directly

implicate abortion. Any practice of deliberately delaying treatment of reliably diagnosed ectopic
pregnancy, on non-clinical grounds, until rupture of the fallopian tube has occurred or is imminent, in
order to justify termination of the ectopic pregnancy on grounds of saving the patient's life, is unethical
and illegal. Those who undertake or counsel deliberate delay of medically-indicated treatment can be
charged with criminal offences and civil (non-criminal) liability, and medical professional misconduct.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2003 Jul;82(1):121-6.

Methods such as surgery have proven quite difficult due to the difficult pathways in the reproductive
organs. This is particularly true with regards to the fallopian tube which contains various important
veins and capillaries essential for the life of both the mother and child.

Jurkovik, D. , Wilkinson, H. (2011). Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. BMJ: British
Medical Journal Vol. 342, No. 7811, pp. 1353-1357

Catholic Viewpoint on Ectopic Pregnancy

Expectant therapy for ectopic pregnancy is perfectly acceptable from a Catholic perspective. No direct
or intended killing of the embryo is involved, and there is no moral problem unless the mothers
life is put unnecessarily at risk. To avoid such risk, careful monitoring is needed, which usually
involves B-hCG testing and ultrasound imaging.25 If it becomes clear that an ectopic pregnancy has
not resolved spontaneously, then other forms of management are indicated. Because expectant
herapy is morally acceptable, it should be recommended as an initial option until another means of
resolving the ectopic pregnancy is clearly needed.

Salpingostomy is a procedure that involves the removal of the embryo from the mothers tube while
leaving the tube intact. Although this method usually does not involve the loss of the mothers fertility,
it seeks to achieve a good end by an evil means, i.e., the direct killing of the human embryo. Although
this procedure is morally accept- able if the embryo has already died, it does not appear to be
acceptable if he or she is alive, because it involves the direct and intentional killing of an innocent
human being.

Diamond, Catholic Guide to Medical Ethics, 1718; and Joseph C. Howard Jr., The Principle of
Double Effect as Applied to the Maltese Conjoined Twins, National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 9.1
(Spring 2009): 87.