Case Study: Fetal Abnormality, Ethical Considerations, and Theories

This case study explores the ethical complexities surrounding a case of fetal abnormality, focusing on the contrasting perspectives of four individuals: Marco, Maria, Dr. Wilson, and Jessica. The analysis delves into their moral frameworks, including feminism, virtue ethics, and the right to life, and how these influence their views on abortion. The assignment highlights the moral agency of each individual and the conflicts that arise when differing values clash. The author supports Dr. Wilson's perspective, which aligns with medical values and suggests abortion to reduce family burden, emphasizing the legality of termination within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy and the importance of reducing economic strain. The case study underscores the importance of moral agency and the potential conflicts that arise when individuals try to influence each other's decisions, especially in sensitive situations like this.

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

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CASE STUDY: FETAL ABNORMALITY
Fetal abnormality is demarcated as the genetic defect or the physical defect that has been
detected in the fetus, which can lead to complications in the pregnancy of the individual (Greiner
& Conklin, 2015).According to the medical science, if the fetus has been detected with
abnormality, abortion should be done to avoid any further complications or the extra burden that
can be imposed due to children. However according to the Christian view, abortion is considered
as an illegal practice and is remarked as killing or murder. As according to the Christianity,
humans are created by god and hence pose a strong spiritual and physical connection with the
god and killing or aborting a fetus violates the connection between the human and the god.
Therefore human beings created by god and are considered as the image of the god and hence,
are fundamentally worthless and should be respected (Stensvold, 2015).
Moral status of the human being is demarcated as the concept which deals with the
values, beliefs and ethics of the individual and due to this only they are provided with special
regard. It is compatible with the hermeneutical model which states that human being is the breath
of the god and is assumed as the image of the god and should be respected.
According to the case study, the fetus has been detected with abnormality. Every
individual involved in the case study has different view regarding the abortion of the fetus. There
are four characters associated with the case study, which are Marco, Maria, Dr Wilson and
Jessica. The whole case study is mainly associated with the contrasting perspective of the entire
four individual (Habermas, 2018).
The moral status of the Jessica is influenced by theory of the feminism. According to the
theory, an individual holds the whole right to take any decision related to the fetus, however in
this case, Jessica is confused. Jessica do not wants to abort the child due to the emotional

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CASE STUDY: FETAL ABNORMALITY
attachment she have with the fetus but also knows that birth of the fetus will impose extra socio-
economic burden on the family (Pateman, 2018).
Second person is Dr Wilson, whose moral values support the virtue ethics theory.
According to the theory, if the abortion of the fetus is done due to any golden mean, then that
activity is not considered as murder and is remarked victorious mean (Prior, 2018). Dr Wilson
knows that birth of the children can give rise to extra burden on the economy of the family and
hence suggested Jessica to abort the child.
The third person is Maria, whose moral values support the theory of the right to live.
According to the theory, each and every human being is created by the god and hence, aborting a
fetus violates the theory and is considered as a punishable offence (Asch, 2017). Maria believes
that fetus of the Jessica is created by god and hence should not be aborted.
The last person is Marco, husband of Jessica. Marco supports the theory of the feminism,
according to which women holds the sole right to take any decision related to her pregnancy.
Marco wants Jessica to take the decision related to her abortion that she wants to take the child or
to abort the fetus. As according to him, Jessica is the mother and has the right to take any
decision related to the baby.
By observing the case study, it can be stared that each and every individual should
support moral status of the moral agency. According to the theory of the moral agency, nobody
holds the right to influence other’s decision. As in the case of the Jessica, she is confused
between the abortion and taking the child. However, Maria and Dr Wilson interfere with the
decision of the Jessica.

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CASE STUDY: FETAL ABNORMALITY
By observing the moral theory of each and every individual in the case study, I support
the moral theory of Dr Wilson as his moral values support the medical values. According to Dr
Wilson, it is good to abort the child rather than carrying extra burden on the family over the life
time. His decision is logical and also bears similarity with the scientific values. According to him
fetus can be aborted if it is for the noble cause. This theory is said to be effective in reducing the
conflict among the family member by reducing the economic burden on the family and also
termination of the fetus is legal within 24 weeks of pregnancy.

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CASE STUDY: FETAL ABNORMALITY
Reference:
Asch, A. (2017). Critical race theory, feminism, and disability: Reflections on social justice and
personal identity. In Disability and Equality Law (pp. 143-176). 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.
Habermas, J. (2018). The concept of human dignity and the realistic utopia of human rights. In
Human Dignity (pp. 52-70). Routledge.
Pateman, C. (2018). The disorder of women: Democracy, feminism and political theory. John
Wiley & Sons.
Prior, W. J. (2016). Virtue and knowledge: An Introduction to ancient Greek ethics. Routledge.
Stensvold, A. (2015). A history of pregnancy in Christianity: From original sin to contemporary
abortion debates. Routledge.