Case Study: Moral Status of a Fetus with Abnormality and Abortion

This case study delves into the complex ethical considerations surrounding fetal abnormality and abortion, presenting a scenario involving Jessica, who is pregnant with a fetus with a potential for Down syndrome and without arms. The case study analyzes the viewpoints of Dr. Wilson, who supports abortion based on medical knowledge; Maria, who opposes abortion based on religious beliefs; and Marco, Jessica's husband, who is supportive. It explores Christian perspectives on abortion, moral status theory, and the theories of cognitive properties, relationship, and moral agency. The author favors the theories of relationship and sentience. The case study concludes with a reflection on the challenges of making decisions about abortion and the role of medical professionals in providing unbiased information.

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Case Study on Moral Status
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Case Study on Moral Status
In the case study of Fetal Abnormality, there are four typical persons that can make their
feelings on abortion of a fetus as indicated. The individuals are Dr Wilson, Maria, Jessica and
Marco. In the case study, Jessica is pregnant with a fetus that has a 25 percent probability of
developing Down syndrome. Besides, the fetus does not have arms with a low likelihood of
development (Oliveira Melo et al., 2016). Jessica’s husband is Marco who is responsible for
offering her support. Dr Wilson, on the other hand, is responsible for support of the abortion of
the fetus, while Maria is religious, she, therefore, asks Jessica to avoid aborting the child, and
instead obey her duty to the child as well as God (Walker & Van Zyl, 2015).
Christian Views
According to the Christians, human life is considered as sacred and thus it is a gift from
God that needs to be protected and respected. The teachings from the Bible indicates that all
human beings were created in the image of God. Additionally, it educates that murder is
forbidden. Therefore, there are numerous views of Christians based on abortion. For instance,
certain Christians believe that morally abortion is wrong, and this is based on the belief that the
life of any human being begins at conception. Others also believe that it the choice of a woman
on whether to abort or not to, since it is her body. Apart from that, there are Christians who
totally believe that abortion is wrong in every particular circumstance.
Moral Status Theory
According to the case study, Dr Wilson has offered all the available options to the family
regarding the situation. For instance, he has indicated the most significant support relating to
abortion based on his medical knowledge of the disabilities the child is likely to have. Apart

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from that Dr Wilson has told the family the burden they will have if the child is born. Based on
the whole situation, the theory being used by Dr Wilson is the theory of cognitive properties, that
stipulates that to gain a moral status, an individual must display some level of rationality as well
as awareness (McAdams, 2015) However, in the case study, the fetus does not have features
required for one to be considered possess a moral status. Conclusively, the fetus does not have
the moral status; thus it should be aborted.
Explanation of Theories Used By Each of the Characters
Jessica is asked by Maria not to abort the fetus based on the argument that there was the
need for her to think about her duties as a mother to the particular child, and also obeying the
intentions of God. The mentioned aspect is based on the theory of relationship. There is a mother
to child relationship already existing between the child and Jessica. She also has a relationship
with God. The mentioned relationships offer the fetus a moral status that makes the whole
abortion thing unacceptable (Knill, 2017).
Thus a divine command theory is displayed in the mentioned situation, and this is
according to the fact that God is the creator, and makes decisions on morality.
In the case study, a conflict is created where Jessica is sad because of the financial burden she
will have when the child is finally born, and at the same time, her religious beliefs do not allow
for abortion. She is seen to act as the moral agent, that implies an individual that works for
herself to make the right decisions. The theory of moral agency is depicted in this scenario since
Jessica should ascertain the moral status of the child (Marquis, 2017).

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Despite being concerned about the burden that will be brought upon Jessica by the
disabled child, Marco is going to support Jessica. The mentioned concern of Marco is an
indication of the theory that is based on the relationship since there is a possibility of a change in
the moral status of the child that is to be decided upon by Jessica.
Theory that is Preferable
The opinion of the Authors
Based on the case study, the two theories that the authors believe in are mainly, the
theory of relationship and sentience. The sentient livings tend to possess the connections as well
as the moral status that ascertains the moral status (Le Grice & Braun, 2017). The decision
relating to abortion will, therefore, be influenced since there is believe by the author that a
feeling of pain is likely to be felt by the fetus. At the same time, the mother has a duty to care for
the fetus. The mother should protect the child, and this is because it is her duty to God to protect
his creations.
Conclusion
To conclude, the people mentioned in the case study including the author have a variety
of values in relation to the life of human beings. For instance, the author believes that as a
Christian, carrying out an abortion is immoral because it is against the will of God. My opinion
should not influence the decision of any particular patient as a Nurse. A crucial decision relating
to abortion is typically a challenging choice to make. Therefore it is a decision that an individual
has to live with for as long as he or she lives. It is the obligation of a medical professional to

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offer all the available alternatives without any particular bias to help different people to make the
right decision on matters pertaining to health issues.
References
Knill, C. (Ed.). (2017). Morality policies in europe: Concepts, theories and empirical evidence.
Routledge.
Le Grice, J. S., & Braun, V. (2017). Indigenous (Māori) perspectives on abortion in New
Zealand. Feminism & Psychology, 27(2), 144-162.
Marquis, D. (2017). Why Abortion is Immoral. Applied Ethics: A Multicultural Approach, 367.
McAdams, R. H. (2015). The expressive powers of law: Theories and limits. Harvard University
Press.
Oliveira Melo, A. S., Malinger, G., Ximenes, R., Szejnfeld, P. O., Alves Sampaio, S., & Bispo
de Filippis, A. M. (2016). Zika virus intrauterine infection causes fetal brain abnormality
and microcephaly: tip of the iceberg?. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 47(1), 6-
7.

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Walker, R., & Van Zyl, L. (2015). Surrogate motherhood and abortion for fetal
abnormality. Bioethics, 29(8), 529-535.