Can a pregnant woman undergo chemotherapy if it will harm her child?
The short answer
Yes. The principle of double effect can apply. With a cancer as serious as stage four, often terminal, she could still use the treatment. St. Gianna Beretta Molla chose not to, but she could have.
The principle of double effect can apply here. Stage four cancer is often terminal, and in the situation you describe she could still undergo the treatment.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla chose not to, but she could have.
Continue exploring
- Can I accept medical treatment that will impair my fertility?Q&A
- Can we use contraception for medical reasons?Q&A
- Am I required to have a large family?Q&A
- Are distinctions like these just legalism?Q&A
- Are marital relations not supposed to be pleasurable, since they are for reproduction?Q&A
- Aren't pro-life Catholics who support a war being hypocritical?Q&A