Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay
Based on “Case Study: Fetal Abnormality” and other 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? Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
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.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay.
Case Study: Fetal Abnormality
Introduction
This case study presents four people who are faced with the possible decision of aborting a fetus that has an abnormality. The fetus has a 25% chance of having Down Syndrome and has not yet developed arms and there is a low probability that the fetus will develop any arms. The four people faced with decision making include Jessica, Dr. Wilson, Maria, and Marco. Marco is the father and he claims to support Jessica’s decision. Maria is the aunt and is advising Jessica is against the abortion based on her religious beliefs while Dr. Wilson supports fetal abortion. Accordingly, this paper will present various theories that each individual utilizes to determine the moral status of the fetus. Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay.
Dr. Wilson moral standing is for pro-abortion and based on his medical knowledge he is supporting abortion on the fetus. He explained to the family regarding the available options, but depicts highest support for abortion owing to his medical knowledge regarding the possible deformities the child will have and the burden the child will bestow on the family. Dr. Wilson is using the theory of cognitive properties. According to this theory, for a person to have a moral status, an individual should have the ability to show a level of awareness and reasonableness, not possessed by the other party (Buckner, 2015). Accordingly, the moral status of Dr. Wilson is subjective of scientism where he applies science and medical knowledge. In addition, under this theory, the fetus does not have any moral status because it does not have awareness and rationality and hence aborting the fetus is acceptable.
On the other hand, Maria seems to be strongly opposed to abortion. According to her, the basis of the moral status of the fetus is on the responsibility of Jessica as a mother. Therefore, the applicable theory regarding Maria’s view of the fetal moral status is on the theory based on relationships Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay. According to this theory, an individual should not impede with another individual and should respect the rights of other individuals due to the relationship they have between them (Baumeister, 2017). For instance, the relationship between parents and their children makes it morally wrong for parents to kill their children. Jessica has a relationship with the fetus being the mother, as well as relationship with God; these relationships bestow the fetus a moral status and hence aborting it is wrong. Another relevant theory is the theory of moral agency. This theory is also evident where Maria is prompting Jessica to be a moral agent and integrate relationship properties by not terminating her pregnancy because abortion is wrong (Baumeister, 2017). Additionally, the divine command theory is also applicable in Maria’s point of view. This theory is based on the supremacy of God the creator, and him alone having the ability to make moral decisions (Fadda et al, 2016). This is evidenct where Maria tries to put forth faith and religion and beg Jessica not to terminate the pregnancy and allow God’s plan to pass through Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay.
Moral agency theory is applicable to Jessica. Being the mother, Jessica appears conflicted due to the financial burden the child poses, as well as her religious beliefs that are against abortion. Additionally, Jessica will make a decision regarding the moral status of the child. In this case, Jessica is acting as a moral agent, and hence moral agency theory is applicable in her case. Jessica seems to feel that abortion is wrong in spite of the financial burden that the child will pose. As per the moral agency theory, the moral status of a being is defined by the ability to differential between right and wrong (Baumeister, 2017). Therefore, Jessica is conflicted regarding what is the right decision to do. Jessica is also the mother to the fetus and hence there is a relationship, and this makes moral agency theory based on relationship applicable.
Moreover, theory based on relationship is also applicable to Marco. This is because Marco feels that due to his relationship with Jessica, he should support any decision Jessica makes. His decision to support Jessica’s decision whether to keep the pregnancy or terminate the pregnancy is solely based on her relationship with her.
I agree with the theory of moral agency. This is because I belief that the basis of every person’s ability to make moral decisions should be on what is right and wrong. I am thus a moral agent who can differentiate between right and wrong and hence I have the moral duty not to cause unwarranted harm to the unborn child (Nilsen, 2015). Accordingly, the decision would be for Jessica to continue with the pregnancy because abortion is morally wrong. Terminating the pregnancy would be killing the unborn child, which is morally wrong. Therefore, moral agency theory would support Jessica to continue with the pregnancy Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay.
Conclusion
The paper has presented theories that influenced various individuals regarding their suggestions in determining the moral status of the fetus. Dr. Wilson utilized the theory of cognitive properties because he used his knowledge on science to make his moral standing Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay. Maria and Marco utilized theory based on relationships in order to make their moral standings because their decisions are due to their relationship with Jessica as well as the fact that Maria fees that Jessica is the mother to the child and hence she should not kill the child through abortion. Jessica’s moral standing is based on theory of moral agency because she feels it is morally wrong to kill her unborn child through abortion. Personally, I agree with theory of moral agency because I believe it is wrong to kill unborn child through abortion because every individual has the right to live regardless of disabilities.
References
Baumeister D. (2017). Social Conceptions of Moral Agency in Hegel and Sellars. International Journal of Philosophical Studies . 25(2), pp: 249-265.
Buckner C. (2015). A property cluster theory of cognition. Philosophical Psychology Journal. 28(3), 307-336. Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay.
Fadda R, Parisi M, Luca F, Saba G, Maria F et al. (2016). Exploring the Role of Theory of Mind in Moral Judgment: The Case of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychol. 7(523).
Nilsen P. (2015). Making sense of implementation theories, models and frameworks. Implement Sci. 10(53).
Panda B & Leepsa N. (2017). Agency theory: Review of Theory and Evidence on Problems and Perspectives. Indian Journal of Corporate Governance. 1(1). Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Essay