Medical Ethics

Thomson takes it a step further by saying if the woman has bars installed but the robber still gets in through her open windows, it would be absurd to call it her fault that the robber got in. However, when women get pregnant because of malfunctioning birth control, they are often seen as voluntarily getting pregnant. Thomson also brings up the people-seed scenario, where there are people-seeds floating around outside, so you install very fine mesh screens to prevent them from getting in once you open your window. However, when one gets past the screen and takes root in your house, Thomson asks if it is your responsibility to keep the plant. The only way to really prevent those seeds from getting in, is to never open your windows in the first place. In summary, Thomson is saying that there are scenarios where the fetus has right to its mother body, and some scenarios where it doesn’t. It is impossible to make a blanket statement specifying when a pregnancy is voluntary or involuntary and when an abortion is just or unjust.