D&C?

[avemaria40]

I know a D&C is wrong if the intent is to murder an unborn baby, but would its use in misscarriage be acceptable?

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='avemaria40' date='Jan 28 2006, 08:56 PM']I know a D&C is wrong if the intent is to murder an unborn baby, but would its use in misscarriage be acceptable?
[right][snapback]868904[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
If the child was already dead it would be morally licit. But it is really a different procedure in this case. They even have a different instrument that they use when it is done outside the context of an abortion. In abortion the instrument is designed to cut and tear the baby's body, but in therapeutic D&C the instrument is more blunt and perhaps safer, since the uterus can be damaged during the D&C abortion procedure.
But they still have to stretch open the cervix which doesn't sound very pleasant.
This procedure is used, as I understand it, in the event that the body's natural means of dealing with miscarriage is complicated. A less invasive and probably more common alternative would be various drugs available that cause the body to expell the infant's remains.
Either way, my understanding is that the D&C procedure for reasons other than abortion is pretty rare, since there are generally better alternatives. D&C was once used for diagnostic purposes which can now be done better with the latest ultrasound technology.

I hope this helps.