Hinduism and Abortion

Hinduism and abortion

Hindu medical ethics stem from the principle of ahimsa - of non-violence.

When considering abortion, the Hindu way is to choose the action that will do least harm to all involved: the mother and father, the foetus and society.

Hinduism is therefore generally opposed to abortion except where it is necessary to save the mother's life.

Classical Hindu texts are strongly opposed to abortion:

• one text compares abortion to the killing of a priest
• another text considers abortion a worse sin than killing one's parents
• another text says that a woman who aborts her child will lose her caste

Traditional Hinduism and many modern Hindus also see abortion as a breach of the duty to produce children in order to continue the family and produce new members of society.

Many Hindus regard the production of offspring as a 'public duty', not simply an 'individual expression of personal choice' (see Lipner, "The classical Hindu view on abortion and the moral status of the unborn" 1989).

In practice, however, abortion is practiced in Hindu culture in India, because the religious ban on abortion is sometimes overruled by the cultural preference for sons. This can lead to abortion to prevent the birth of girl babies, which is called 'female foeticide'.