Fetal Abnormality: A Philosophical Analysis of Moral Status and Action

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the ethical and moral issues surrounding fetal abnormality, based on the provided case study. It begins by examining the Christian view on the nature of human persons, and its compatibility with moral status theories, highlighting the concept of intrinsic human value and dignity. The essay then explores the moral theories employed by the individuals in the case study – Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson – to determine the moral status of the fetus, providing specific examples from the case to support the identification of these theories. It delves into how each individual's chosen theory influences their recommendations for action, and ultimately concludes with the author's perspective on the most compelling theory, explaining how it would shape a recommended course of action. The essay also explores the virtue ethics theory and its relevance to addressing the situation, emphasizing the importance of providing support and happiness to Jessica. Finally, the essay proposes an action plan for addressing the adverse situation, including empowering the family members on the process of the child's growth and providing proper nutritional knowledge to the parents, along with an assessment of morality theories by the doctors.

Running head: FETAL ABNORMALITY
FETAL ABNORMALITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1FETAL ABNORMALITY
Introduction
Fetal abnormality can be the leading cause for the abortion among the people of the
society now days. However, in terms of the Christian religious mind set or the culture abortion is
a sin. On the basis of the Catholic Church human lives are eternal and must be protected and
respected from the moment they have born (Evans & Tonge, 2018). Hence, the process of the
abortion is condemned in the culture. Thus in case of Jessica and Marco’s unborn child decision
of Dr. Wilson abortion has not been accepted by Marco and Aunt Maria. In this following
section the factor of the abnormal fetus and the mindset of the parents about the abortion would
be discussed.
Description
Based on the case study it can be seen that Jessica and Marco are hard working persons
and having their baby in the fetus condition. However, the fetus found to be abnormal and
premature as it has not been able to develop the hands and the legs even after four months of
pregnancy of Jessica. Hence, Dr. Wilson also found that the child has the possibility to born with
Down syndrome. Thus Dr. Wilson decided to inform the couple to consider the factor of the
abortion in order to eliminate the factor of the abnormal child bearing. As per the doctor it can be
traumatic for them and Marco told the doctor not to inform his wife about the factor as she would
be in shock and would not be able to sustain the trauma. However, Aunt Maria has informed
Jessica and she was crying and could not be able to take this factor normally. Hence, we can say
that the factor of the fetus abortion has affected the mental condition of the family members and
they could be able to adjust with the decision of the doctor.

2FETAL ABNORMALITY
Feelings
Based on this discussion we can feel that the moral of the fetus has been determined by
every person of this scenario and the theory which can be related to the factor of the moral
determination would be the moral agency theory. This theory refers to the moral judgment of a
person on the basis of some possibly right or wrong aspects and which would be hold accounted
for the actions (Heersmink, 2017). Here, the doctor decided to abort the fetus in order to prevent
the lifelong burden of the parents and also the child as a down syndrome and premature child
cannot be to cope up with other children of the society and could possibly be disabled as well
which would hamper the life of the parents. On the hand Marco was preventing the doctor to let
Jessica know about the situation in order to prevent the mental trauma which would occur after
knowing the situation for Jessica. As a mother Jessica could not be able to consider the abortion
process as she wanted to let her child born. On the other hand Aunt Maria has a religious thought
process and wanted to leave everything on the hand of God and do not wanted to abort the child
which can be related to the divine command theory of morality. On the basis of everyone’s point
of view the moral agency theory and the divine command theory are the theories that address all
the character’s mindset for the action of the fetus abortion or not abortion (Minkoff et al., 2016).
Evaluation
Based on this discussion it can be evaluated that the Christian religious culture is the
factor that prevents the family from taking action that is abortion against the abnormal fetus. On
this basis it can be said that the Christian culture of not aborting the unborn child and thinking

3FETAL ABNORMALITY
about the religious outcome of the child in the future time is the factor that affected the mindset
of the family. Every life is precious and must be protected; it is the primary concept of the
Christian culture that is why Aunt Maria has not been able to accept the decision of the doctor of
abortion of the child (Chistyakova, 2016). On the other hand the psychological dilemma of
Marco was the factor that preventing him to inform Jessica about the condition of the fetus.
Hence, the divine command theory of morality would effectively help the mother to sustain in
this context.
Analysis
Based on the description and the feelings about the concept of the fetus abortion and
morality we can say that the factor of the virtue ethics theory would be able to address the factor
of the process of the morality of the fetus. This theory depicts that the happiness of the human
being is the most important concept of virtue and ethics (Vaughn, 2015). Hence, we can say that
Dr. Wilson, Marco, Aunt Maria should be able to find the way to provide the support and
happiness to Jessica in order to morally handle the situation other than the factor of the process
of arguing over the aspect of the fetus abortion or let the child born.
Conclusion
Based on the above discussion we can be able to conclude that the factor of the fetus
morality all the characters should be able to find the clinical aspects of the fetus development and
how to provide proper nutrition to the fetus so that it can be able to grow normally. The
prevention of abortion can only be possible by that way not by praying to God or harshly
deciding about aborting the fetus before it is born.

4FETAL ABNORMALITY
Action Plan
Hence, on the basis of these factors we can be able to recommend the action plan for
addressing the adverse situation which include the empowerment of the family members on the
process of the child growth in the fetus form and also providing the proper nutritional knowledge
to the parents as well. On the other hand the morality theories should be assessed by the doctors
in order to provide support to the family members and the mother in this kind of adverse
situations. As of this context the divine command theory would be the concern that can be able to
negate the factor of the fetal abnormality and the counter measures recommended for that ill
situation as the theory refers to the human value from the beginning of life and do not consider
the burden of abnormality upon the parents and the child itself.

5FETAL ABNORMALITY
References
Chistyakova, O. V. (2016, May). Postmodernism, Christian Patristics, and Values of Peace in the
Modern Cultures In the Context of Educational Process. In 2nd International Conference
on Arts, Design and Contemporary Education. Atlantis Press.
Evans, J., & Tonge, J. (2018). Partisan and religious drivers of moral conservatism: Same-sex
marriage and abortion in Northern Ireland. Party Politics, 24(4), 335-346.
Heersmink, R. (2017). Distributed cognition and distributed morality: Agency, artifacts and
systems. Science and engineering ethics, 23(2), 431-448.
Minkoff, H., Zafra, K., Amrita, S., Wilson, T. E., & Homel, P. (2016). Physician morality and
perinatal decisions. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive
Biology, 206, 36-40.
Vaughn, L. (2015). Doing ethics: Moral reasoning and contemporary issues. WW Norton &
Company.