Fetal Abnormality Case Study: Moral Status and Ethical Dilemmas

This case study explores the ethical complexities surrounding fetal abnormality, focusing on the perspectives of Dr. Wilson, Maria, Marco, and Jessica. Dr. Wilson advocates for abortion based on medical and virtue ethics, while Maria opposes it, grounded in the "Right to Live" theory and Christian morals. Marco supports Jessica's autonomy, aligning with feminism. The student analyzes these viewpoints, the Christian view on human persons, and the moral status of the fetus. The student agrees with Dr. Wilson's approach, supporting abortion in cases of fetal abnormality to prevent undue burden on the family. The analysis highlights how each individual's chosen theory influences their recommendations for action, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach considering both scientific and ethical viewpoints. The case study highlights the conflict between different ethical stances and the importance of individual rights and societal considerations in such scenarios.

Running head: FETAL ABNORMALITY
FETAL ABNORMALITY
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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FETAL ABNORMALITY
Fetal abnormality is a medical term which is demarcated as the fetus who has been
detected with any disorder. Such fetus should be aborted according to the medical science
(Greiner & Conklin, 2015). However, according to the Christianity, each and every human being
has been created by the god and no one has the right to kill a human. According to the
Christianity, the abortion is considered as murder which is against the dignity of the human as
they are spiritually and physically connected to the god (Fromm & Anderson, 2017). The case
study involves around four main individual which includes, Dr Wilson, Maria, Marco and
Jessica. Each and every individual has different perspective regarding the abortion of the fetus.
According to Dr Wilson, Jessica should abort the child as the child has been detected
with fetal abnormality. If the child would not be aborted, it can lead to extra burden on the family
in terms of care and cost. The approach of Dr. Wilson is based on the scientific approach as if the
fetus with abnormality is born, its life expectancy will be lower as compared to the normal child.
The decision of the Dr Wilson is based on the moral status of the virtue ethics theory. In the
virtue ethics theory, there are twelve virtues of moral and also laid highlight on the abortion
(Prior, 2016). According to the theory given by Aristotle, abortion is considered as the
conquering action if it has been conducted for a genuine reason and needs a lot of courage which
aims to avoid the future harm.
Also, there is another person, which is Aunt Maria. Aunt Maria is their property-owner as
well as their concierge, she is the one who wants that Jessica should give birth to the baby,
regardless of the conditions and consequences that may take place. She has a theory which she
believes in and it is grounded on the “Right to live” theory. According to the theory of “Right to
live”, the foetus when recognized as an individual and has been provided with personhood,
terminating or aborting the fetus will be stated as assassination and the person will be punished

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FETAL ABNORMALITY
by the God for being the accused (Thebault & Rose, 2018)). Her philosophies were totally relied
on the Biblical morals which states that God is the creator of man and they are the reflection of
the God himself and when the blood of any human life is shed because of any means or anyone,
the action is sentenced as punishable offence (Williams, 2016)). At the end, it is believed that,
the only individual who has the right to make any decision is Jessica herself. She has left with
two options where, either she can proceed for the medical abortion or termination of the
pregnancy and the child or she can carry on with her motherhood. There is also a matter where if
the socioeconomic condition of her family ay get effected if she gives birth a child with
abnormalities. The theory of providing the mother with sole right and consent of aborting the
child is not correct.
The other person in the case study is Marco, jessica’s husband. Marco is extremely
supportive and gas decided to support Jessica no matter what. The approach which Marco is
following in the case study is feminism. According to the theory of feminism, right of Jessica
who is the mother of the child is more than that of anybody else (Clement, 2018). Hence, it is her
solely decision that whether she wants to keep the child or to abort the child. However, Marco
did not ensure access to the medical facilities in the initial days of the pregnancy.
By considering the moral status of everyone in the case study, the only moral theory
which is based on the scientific knowledge is of Dr wilson’s theory. Hence, I would support the
decision of the Dr Wilson. As the fetal abnormality has already been detected by the doctor and
the medical care providers. Hence after that also if the child is born, I will only extra pressure on
the family of the child, the family have to spend extra in order to provide better care to the child
as well as they also have to take more care of the patient.

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FETAL ABNORMALITY
If the moral theory of the doctor is followed, it can lead to less pressure on the parents as
well aborting a child who has been detected with abnormality is not a sin. Hence, everyone in the
case study should support the theory of the doctor.

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Reference:
Clement, G. (2018). Care, autonomy, and justice: Feminism and the ethic of care. Routledge.
Fromm, E., & Anderson, L. A. (2017). The sane society. Routledge.
Greiner, A. L., & Conklin, J. (2015). Breaking bad news to a pregnant woman with a fetal
abnormality on ultrasound. Obstetrical & gynecological survey, 70(1), 39-44.
Prior, W. J. (2016). Virtue and knowledge: An Introduction to ancient Greek ethics. Routledge.
Thebault, D., & Rose, L. (2018). What kind of Christianity? A v Switzerland. Oxford Journal of
Law and Religion, 7(3), 543-550.
Williams, D. K. (2016). From Anti-Contraceptive Campaigns to Fetal Rights: The Pro-Life
Movement's Attempt to Separate Itself from the Politics of Birth Control. US Catholic
Historian, 34(1), 77-102.