Revisiting Relational Pandemic Ethics in Light of the COVID-19 Abortion Bans in the United States

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-3-2021

Publication Title

International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics

Volume

14

Issue

1

First page number:

141

Last page number:

156

Abstract

The experiences of working-class people and those from communities of color seeking abortions in the United States before and during COVID-19 call for feminist, relational pandemic ethics. Françoise Baylis and colleagues argue for public health ethics that emphasize relational personhood, relational autonomy, social justice, and solidarity. COVID-19 abortion bans in the United States require vigilance against powerful actors who abuse these values-particularly that of solidarity-to further their political, religious, and/or economic agendas in harmful ways. Thus, efforts to promote solidarity during a pandemic must attend to social injustice and systemic oppression and provide resources to vulnerable people.

Keywords

Abortion; COVID-19; Pandemic ethics; Public health; Social justice; Solidarity

Disciplines

Bioethics and Medical Ethics | Ethics and Political Philosophy

Language

English

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