I used the terms “unfortunate consequence” and “secondary result” rather than “unintended effect,” but the meaning of what I said is basically the same.
Perhaps I should have said that a fallopian pregnancy is not a NORMAL pregnancy, since that was what I intended.
Catholic theologians speak of primary intention—to cure a health problem—and secondary, unintended consequences. Nonetheless, if the baby’s life could be saved by a different procedured, then it would be wrong to use a procedure that killed the baby—primary intention or not. It is certainly a significant aspect of the case that a baby in the fallopian tube cannot be saved, as well as that its continued presence would result in the death of the mother. So there really isn’t any doubt what to do, whereas in a case of lung cancer, for instance, there would be questions of how much more risk there would be to the mother in postponing chemotherapy for another month or two to give the baby a chance. Instead of proceding with no real doubts, that would be case for the mother to discuss with the doctor, and perhaps get a second opinion, before making the choice of whether or not to wait.
I agree with most everything you posted, and it may seem that I'm picking a nit. However, in #27, you said:
“But it is legitimate to remove the fetus when it is an ectopic pregnancy, because leaving it will 100% kill the mother, and there is 0% chance that the child will survive.”
The “because leaving it will...” is problematic. The reason why it's licit isn't because the ectopic pregnancy will definitely kill the mother and there is no chance for survival of the unborn child. The reason why it's licit is because there is an underlying medical problem - the inflammation or infection of the fallopian tube - that is life-threatening and for which there is a medical treatment that is not direct, intentional abortion.
That's why it's possible to say that the death of the child is an indirect, unintentional effect.
With a direct, intentional abortion, what is being “treated," what is the “disease” being “cured” is the baby.
That's all.
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