In this paper we explore how the meanings of life are produced in the moral controversy about induced abortion through the use of interpretative repertoires. The focus of this study was the injunction by the Marco Aurelio Mello, Minister of the Supreme Court, who in 2004 authorized the termination of pregnancy in cases of fetal anencephaly. Our discursive analysis was based on the description and interpretation of linguistic repertoires used for constructing arguments for and against approval of induced abortion in cases of pregnancy of an anencephalic fetus. The analysis of the documents indicates that the uses of language to refer to "pregnant women", "fetus" and "abortion" gives preeminence to religious values in the evaluation of reproductive rights which block the effectiveness of welfare policies for women's health.
interpretative repertoires; discursive psychology; anencephaly; abortion