The New Clergy: How Physicians Became Arbiters of Life and Morality

Part 1: When does life begin?

During the 2024 election cycle, abortion was a prominent topic. A common assertion among pro-choice advocates was that the decision to terminate a pregnancy should remain between a woman and her doctor. Why? Aside from assessing the health of both mother and child, what role does a doctor truly have in such a decision? Ideally, none. Yet, as I will explore in this series—examining various examples along the way—I want to begin with the discussion about the value of unborn life. How have we elevated physicians to a level of authority once reserved for prophets and clergy, transforming them into modern-day arbiters of moral truth?

Historically, physicians made judgments based solely on medical necessity and physical well-being absent any broader ethical considerations. In its extreme form, this functional approach is demonstrated by the character “Organic Mechanic” in the popular Mad Max movie. He views patients as mere biological machines to be repaired or repurposed, focusing purely on…