Abortion, the double effect and mens rea

The Double Effect was explained to me in a talk by a senior lecturer in
bioedmical ethics, a talk where I called him an idiot. LOL.

Personally I don't understand it but here's the info.
http://www.saintmarys.edu/~incandel/doubleeffect.html
<http://www.saintmarys.edu/%7Eincandel/doubleeffect.html>

I think I don't understand it because I'm not a religious person. I'm
not a lawyer either but I get he jist of Mens rea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_rea#England

Its the "knowingly bit" which seems to be confusing me.

Regardless, I think the rhetoric of abortion could be applied to
assisted suicide.

It's my body and it's my life and it's my death to chose how and when it
happens.