Question: “Pastor Ronald, kung Christian doctor ka at panganib sa panganganak ay pipili sa buhay ng ina o sanggol, ano ang gagawin?”

Answer:

Bro, bigat ng tanong mo and real talk, hindi ito “textbook debate,” kundi actual life-and-death wrestling sa harap ng Diyos. Pero sige, let’s unpack it biblically, ethically, and pastorally, making it clear.

1. Una: Abortion Is Wrong Pero Iba ang Moral Category ng “Indirect Loss of Life” sa “Intentional Killing”

Ang abortion is the intentional taking of an innocent life. Pero ang life-saving medical decision in extreme emergencies is not a deliberate killing, kundi tragic but unavoidable consequence of trying to save someone’s life. Hindi mo pinapatay ang baby. Sinusubukan mong iligtas ang ina at may posible, unintended loss. Ibang moral category yun. This is the same reasoning behind what Christian ethicists historically call:

“Double Effect Principle”

— ginagawa mo ang morally good act (saving a life)

— pero may have unintended harmful consequences

— hindi mo ginustong patayin ang bata

— You simply could not save both

At bro, hindi ito un-Christian or compromise. This is compassion + reality in a fallen world.

2. Pangalawa: Sa actual OB-Gyne medicine, 99% of “danger to the mother” cases,

The doctor’s goal is to save both and often, by emergency delivery, C-section, or preterm intervention. Ang tunay na life-threatening situations na hindi mo kayang iligtas ang dalawa ay napakabihira pero posible:

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Placental abruption

• Uterine rupture

• Severe preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome

• Septic shock

• Pulmonary embolism

Sa mga ganitong kaso, ang OB specialist is not choosing death. He is choosing life, but he can only save one.

3. Biblically speaking, the doctor is not morally guilty if the baby dies as an unintended effect of trying to save the mother.

Why?

✔ The Bible does not teach that letting someone die is the same as killing.

(Gen. 50:20, Deut. 19:4–6 distinguishes accidental harm from intentional killing.)

✔ God evaluates the intention of the heart.

(1 Sam. 16:7)

✔ Physicians are called to preserve life, not magically do the impossible.

(Luke 10 — Good Samaritan ethic)

Kung impossible ang “save both,” then the doctor must save the one who can be saved. The guilt does not fall on the doctor or the parents.

4. Pastoral clarity: Choosing to save the mother is NOT choosing to kill the baby.

Tandaan mo bro:

The goal: Save life.
The tragedy: You cannot save both.
The result: You save the person na may highest chance of surviving.

Hindi ka murderer. Hindi ka abortionist. Hindi ka gumagawa ng kasalanan. You are saving life in a broken world where sometimes the options are heartbreaking.

5. Pero ito ang important pastoral point: “Lord, have mercy” ang posture.

Hindi ito decision na gagawin mo nang mag-isa. Sa ganitong cases:

• consult multiple doctors

• Consult the ethics committee

• Pray with the family,

• explain medically what’s actually happening

• ensure walang intentional killing or direct abortion

Always: Choose life where life can be saved. Trust God where human ability ends.

6. Final Answer:

Kung Christian doctor ka, and it becomes medically impossible to save both, your moral responsibility is to save the one life that can still be saved, the mother, while grieving the loss of the child you did not intend to harm.

That is NOT abortion. That is not sin. That is not murder. That is bearing the weight of a fallen world and doing the most loving, life-honoring action possible before God.

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Former Adventists Philippines

“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”

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