Case Study: Fetal Abnormality
QUESTION
Based on “Case Study: Fetal Abnormality” and the required topic Resources, write a 550-750word 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 Resources.
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
ANSWER
Case Study
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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?
Based on the Christian view, life is termed as a gift from God hence no one is permitted to their other people’s lives or their lives (VanDrunen, 2021). According to this case, it is hard to make decisions related to abortion, the Christian nature of life is against abortion despite the prevailing circumstance. This case entails four people who are in a dilemma on making a decisions regrading abortion of Jessica’s fetus who will not have arms upon birth. Doctors a vital role in ensuring that quality diagnosis is offered. They should also offer unbiased information and educate the patients in available alternatives as this aids in making right decisions.
Christian ideas provide a key notion and protect human rights and dignity (VanDrunen, 2021). According to Dr. Wilson’s medical knowledge, he has provided all vital details through cognitive theory which terms moral status as the ability to have logical reasoning and awareness. Jessica’s fetus on the other hand has no moral status thus it can be aborted. Moral status requires people to uphold respect and equality and provide harmless services to foster human rights, dignity and respect.
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?
After Jessica stayed with her aunt Maria, she realized that she is pregnant after moving into their new home. However, an issue arises as the fetus she is carrying has an abnormality and this is realized by Dr. Wilson who notices this and advises that procuring an abortion is the best alternative. Based on the doctor’s reasoning, abortion is medically and scientifically the best option in determining fetus’ moral status. The aunt has a different theory in analyzing the moral state of fetus since is s religious person and advises Maria to keep the pregnancy since God is the giver of life. Maria encourages Jessica to take full responsibility of her unborn child. Marco, who is Jessica’s wife, leaves his wife to make the decision pertaining the fetus and promises to support his wife’s decision. From the analyzed theories from the four characters, it is clear that they have a different view of what action should be taken based on their beliefs and values.
How does the theory determine or influence each of their recommendations for action?
The different theories also define every of their recommendation for actions in different ways. For example, Maria’s theory is that Jessica should not abort as that is against God’s will. She is a staunch Christian who abides by Christianity principles and values. Dr. Wilson understands the pain of losing a baby but still knows that it is not advisable for Jessica to keep the baby who has an abnormality (Blackshaw, 2020). He advises that safe abortion should be procured to avoid risking the mother’s life. The doctor’s theory, from the beginning is that Jessica should abort which is permitted by the law and afterwards she can have a child who has no abnormalities. Marco’s theory relies on the wife decision based on what she feels is good for the unborn child.
What theory do you agree with? Why? How would that theory determine or influence the recommendation for action?
I would support the doctor’s theory and recommend abortion as the best alternative. Abortion is the best option as it would give Jessica solutions to have a baby with no abnormalities in the future (Kimport, 2022). Also taking care of a child with abnormalities is financially draining and thus Jessica should consider this and avoid incurring extra costs hence abort the fetus since they are already facing financial challenges. Despite supporting abortion I do not want to assume that Christian values and Christianity is wrong but in this situation the doctor’s theory appears to be the most applicable. Also aborting would be the best alternative since Jessica would protect her life and this the doctor’s theory would aid ensure that she has aborted before the situations gets out of hand.
References
Blackshaw, B. P. (2020). Genetic selective abortion: Still a matter of choice. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 23(2), 445-455.
Kimport, K. (2022). Choosing abortion for a serious fetal health issue: from medical information to values. In Facing Death: Familial Responses to Illness and Death (Vol. 19, pp. 91-118). Emerald Publishing Limited.
VanDrunen, D. (2021). Abortion in the Reformed Christian Tradition. In Abortion (pp. 111-125). Springer, Cham.