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

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.

Assignment

Based on “Case Study: Fetal Abnormality” and other required topic study materials, write a 750-1,000-word reflection that answers the following questions:

1. 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?
2. 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?
3. How does the theory determine or influence each of their recommendations for action?
4. 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.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

 

Expert Answer and Explanation

Case Study on Moral Status

The Christian View of the Nature of Human Persons

The nature of human persons, according to Christianity, is guided by the biblical beliefs of the creation and composition of man. Christians believe that humans are a creation of God, and meant to fulfill that which was purposed of them. It is from this perspective that the nature of a human person is derived according to the Christian perspective.

Christians also believe that humans were born sacred, and it is through their encounters with the events of this world that their sacred nature is tainted. This perspective removes the nature of a human person as a mere construct of biological features that can be created and altered using artificial procedures (Grenz, 2015).

The perceptions of Christianity on the nature of a human person go hand in hand with the theory of moral status based on human properties. This theory explains that human life begins immediately after fertilization and that the fetus, while still in the womb, has the same moral status as an adult. This theory, therefore, recognizes that a human being and the nature of a human person is already inherent when the child is still developing in the mother’s womb.

The theory of moral status based on human properties highlights the fact that human value and moral status are inherent from the period when a human is conceived. Human value and dignity are considered intrinsic in that they are not formulated by humans; rather, they are inherently part of a human. Human dignity can be termed as the inherent value that ever human has by virtue of being human.

This puts the intrinsic value of all humans to be on the same level (Andorno & Pele, 2017). The Christian view of a human person, together with the theory of moral status, therefore asserts the dignity of a human being the moment conception occurs. As such, a human is supposed to be valued from that point in time.

Theories of Moral Status Used by Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson

Jessica uses two moral theories in choosing the moral status of the child. The first theory is the moral theory based on cognitive properties, where Jessica considers the future in relation to socioeconomic position and increased independence. The second is the theory of moral status based on human properties.  This is seen where Jessica considers the life of her baby as being sacred, yet it is still unborn. The theory of human properties appreciates the fact that human life begins at fertilization, and it is from then that it gains the moral value and status (Sumner, 2014).

Marco, on the other hand, uses the theory based on moral agency. This is seen where Marco considers himself as the moral agent and can make the right decision on the moral status of the child when the time comes. His actions on deciding the moral status of the child conforms to the theory of moral agency as put forth by Sebo (2017). Marco also uses the theory focused on cognitive properties, where he views the pregnancy from his rational perspective as being a factor that will hinder their financial prospects.

Maria uses the theory on moral status based on human properties, where she considers that the baby is already a human being, and killing it is equivalent to killing a full-grown human being. Using the same theory, Maria already considers Jessica as a mother, despite the child not being born yet. She therefore accords the fetus full moral rights and status.

Dr. Wilson used the theory of moral status based on relationships. The rationale for choosing this as theory is based on his role as the primary attending physician (Fletcher, 2015). This is indicated when Dr. Wilson informs Jessica of the state of the fetus and the options available to her. Dr. Wilson further indicates to Jessica why abortion, in such a case, is considered a scientifically and medically wise decision

 Influence of the Theories on their Recommendations for Action

For Jessica and Maria, the theory based on human properties considers the beginning of life starting from fertilization. This theory considers the moral status of the fetus from the stage of fertilization. As such, the two consider that as a fact, therefore, informing their recommendation to be against abortion.

For Marco and also Jessica, they have their recommendation for an action founded on the moral status theory based on cognitive factors. This theory guides them using rationality as a basis in terms of future financial prospects. As for Dr. Wilson, the theory based on relationships guides his recommendation, given the facts at hand based on scientific and medical studies.

Selected Theory

I agree with the moral status theory based on relationships. This theory highlights the importance of performing our duty as caregivers, which pertains to giving the patient the correct information, which can help them make an informed decision. The theory by virtue of patient-physician relationship will require of me to recommend the best interceptive measure based on sufficient medical evidence on the matter (Fletcher, 2015). The recommendations given will also consider the spiritual perspectives of those involved, mainly the parents.

References

Andorno, R., & Pele, A. (2017). Human dignity. Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics, 1-11.

Fletcher, J. F. (2015). Morals and Medicine: the moral problems of the patient’s right to know the truth, contraception, artificial insemination, sterilization, euthanasia. Princeton University Press.

Grenz, S. J. (2016). The moral quest: Foundations of Christian ethics. InterVarsity Press.

Sebo, J. (2017). Agency and moral status. Journal of Moral Philosophy, 14(1), 1-22.

Sumner, L. W. (2014). Abortion and moral theory (Vol. 285). Princeton University Press

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