On May 4, 1898, the Holy Office published the following decree, which was approved by the Pope:
BEATISSIME PATER,--Episcopus Sinaloen. ad pedes S. V. provolutus, humiliter petit resolutionem insequentium dubiorum:
I. Eritne licita partus acceleratio quoties ex mulieris arctitudine impossibilis evaderet foetus egressio suo naturali tempore?
II. Et si mulieris arctitudo talis sit, ut neque partus prematurus possibilis censeatur, licebitne abortum provocare aut caesariam suo tempore perficere operationem?
III. Estne licita laparotomia quando agitur de pregnatione extra-uterina, seu de ectopicis conceptibus?
In Congregatione habita, etc . . . EE. ac RR. Patres rescribendum censuerunt:
Ad I. Partus accelerationem per se illicitam non esse, duromodo perficiatur justis de causis et eo tempore ac modis, quibus ex ordinariis contingentibus matris et foetus vitae consulatur.
Ad II. Quoad primam partem, _negative_, juxta decretum, Feria iv., 24 Julii, 1895, de abortus illiceitate.--Ad secundam vero quod spectat: nihil obstare quominus mulier de qua agitur caesareae operationi suo tempore subjiciatur.
Ad III. Necessitate cogente, licitam esse laparotomiam ad extra-hendos e sinu matris ectopicos conceptos, dummodo et foetus et matris vitae, quantum fieri potest, serio et opportune provideatur.
In sequenti Feria vi., die 6 ejusdem mensis et anni . . . SSmus responsiones EE. ac RR. Patrum approbavit.
The third question proposed by the bishop is:
"Is laparotomy licit when performed for extrauterine pregnancy or ectopic gestation?"
The approved answer of the Holy Office to this question is:
"In a case of necessity, laparotomy for the purpose of removing an ectopic foetus (_conceptus_) from the abdomen of the mother is licit, provided the lives of both the foetus and the mother, as far as is possible, are carefully and fitly guarded."
The expression, "dummodo et foetus et matris vitae, quantum fieri potest, serio et opportune provideatur," is capable of various translations and interpretations.
The words might have this meaning: "In a case of necessity you may do laparotomy and remove an ectopic gestation, provided you do not kill either the mother or the foetus." If that is the interpretation, the decree means that we may never remove an unviable ectopic foetus when we know that the foetus is alive, because removal will kill it.