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3 pages/≈825 words
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Health, Medicine, Nursing
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Topic:

How Theories of Morality apply in the case of Fetal Abnormality

Essay Instructions:

Based on "Case Study: Fetal Abnormality" and the required topic study materials, write a 750-1,000-word reflection that answers the following questions:
What is the Christian view of the nature of human persons, and which theory of moral status is it compatible with? How is this related to the intrinsic human value and dignity?
Which theory or theories are being used by Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson to determine the moral status of the fetus? What from the case study specifically leads you to believe that they hold the theory you selected?
How does the theory determine or influence each of their recommendations for action?
What theory do you agree with? Why? How would that theory determine or influence the recommendation for action?
Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
Case Study: Fetal Abnormality
Jessica is a 30-year-old immigrant from Mexico City. She and her husband Marco have been in the United States for the last three years and have finally earned enough money to move out of their Aunt Maria’s home and into an apartment of their own. They are both hard workers. Jessica works 50 hours a week at a local restaurant and Marco has been contracting side jobs in construction. Six months before their move to an apartment, Jessica finds out she is pregnant.
Four months later, Jessica and Marco arrive at the county hospital, a large, public, nonteaching hospital. A preliminary ultrasound indicates a possible abnormality with the fetus. Further scans are conducted, and it is determined that the fetus has a rare condition in which it has not developed any arms and will not likely develop them. There is also a 25% chance that the fetus may have Down syndrome.
Dr. Wilson, the primary attending physician, is seeing Jessica for the first time, since she and Marco did not receive earlier prenatal care over concerns about finances. Marco insists that Dr. Wilson refrain from telling Jessica the scan results, assuring him that he will tell his wife himself when she is emotionally ready for the news. While Marco and Dr. Wilson are talking in another room, Aunt Maria walks into the room with a distressed look on her face. She can tell that something is wrong and inquires of Dr. Wilson. After hearing of the diagnosis, she walks out of the room wailing loudly and praying aloud.
Marco and Dr. Wilson continue their discussion, and Dr. Wilson insists that he has an obligation to Jessica as his patient and that she has a right to know the diagnosis of the fetus. He furthermore is intent on discussing all relevant factors and options regarding the next step, including abortion. Marco insists on taking some time to think of how to break the news to Jessica, but Dr. Wilson, frustrated with the direction of the conversation, informs the husband that such a choice is not his to make. Dr. Wilson proceeds back across the hall, where he walks in on Aunt Maria awkwardly praying with Jessica and phoning the priest. At that point, Dr. Wilson gently but briefly informs Jessica of the diagnosis and lays out the option for abortion as a responsible medical alternative, given the quality of life such a child would have. Jessica looks at him and struggles to hold back her tears.
Jessica is torn between her hopes of a better socioeconomic position and increased independence, along with her conviction that all life is sacred. Marco will support Jessica in whatever decision she makes but is finding it difficult not to view the pregnancy and the prospects of a disabled child as a burden and a barrier to their economic security and plans. Dr. Wilson lays out all of the options but clearly makes his view known that abortion is “scientifically” and medically a wise choice in this situation. Aunt Maria pleads with Jessica to follow through with the pregnancy and allow what “God intends” to take place and urges Jessica to think of her responsibility as a mother.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

How Theories of Morality apply in the case of Fetal Abnormality
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The Christian view on the human person made in the image and likeness of God continues to create controversy in the medical field. The confusion presents opportunities for research on the same and its effects on human dignity and moral convictions. The human person lives on the rules made for him by God and derives right and wrong from that. For him, morality and religion go hand in hand, and wrong means sin. Some theories of ethics, such as the Divine Command Theory, conquer with it while others contradict. Many ethical dilemmas continue to derail the field of medicine, and a single theory never seems to apply. The same happens to Jessica, who has just found out that her fetus has a disability and might have Down syndrome. The essay seeks to identify the different theories that apply to the case and the appropriate ones.
It is clear that Dr. William utilitarianism and Kantian theory to determine what is scientifically and medically right. Telling the truth is a moral obligation for any doctor because they are in an excellent position to know the consequences of the action. The utilitarianism theory stipulates choosing activities that maximize happiness and reduces suffering depending on the outcome of a situation. Jeremy Bentham views good as a form of pleasure and bad as leading to pain and promotes the need to contribute to the former while reducing the later (Bentham, 1748–1832). Despite Marco applies for the doctor to let him break the news at a later, the doctor goes ahead to do so because he knows the outcome. The doctor also applies the Kantian theory when he does his duty of informing the patient of the medical options available. Immanuel Kantian believed in universal principals and rules that governed right and wrong (Kantian, 1724-1804). I am in agreement with the theory, and it influences the doctor's actions.
On the other hand, Jessica applies moral subjectivism and ethical egoism theories where morality is determined by her feelings, opinion, and self-interests. It is because she ends up divided between having the baby and her dreams of better socioeconomic position, independence, and the notion that life is sacred. The main disadvantages of moral subjectivism are that there is no right and wrong and different options about something are all right. The probability of coming up with an inconsistent decision is high and dangerous for ...
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