Running Head Case Study On Moral Status

Running Head Case Study On Moral Status 14case Study On Mor

Case Study on Moral Status Antoinette VanValkenburgh Grand Canyon University: HLT-310V March 20, 2016 Case Study for Moral Status In the “Case Study: Fetal Abnormality” four individuals that are able to make their feelings about aborting a fetus are presented. They include Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson. In this scenario, Jessica is pregnant with a fetus that has a 25% chance of Down Syndrome and currently does not have any arms with a low probability they will develop. Marco is Jessica’s husband who will support her decision.

Maria is the religious aunt that pleads with Jessica about her obligation to God and this unborn child. Dr. Wilson is supportive of aborting the fetus. These individuals pose various theories in determining the moral status of a fetus. Moral Status Dr. Wilson has provided the family with all the possible options, but shows the greatest support of abortion based on his medical knowledge of the disabilities. Dr. Wilson is utilizing the theory of cognitive properties, which states in order to have moral status one needs to be able to demonstrate a level of awareness and rationality, which fetuses do not possess (“Theological anthropology,” 2015). Under this theory, the fetus has no moral status so it is acceptable to abort it.

Maria pleads with Jessica to think about her obligations as a mother to this child, as well as respecting God’s intent. This falls under the theory based on relationship. Jessica has a relationship to this fetus as its mother and a relationship to God; these relationships provide the fetus with moral status, making abortion wrong. This also demonstrates the divine command theory, which is based on God being the creator and deciding morality (Dunstan, 2012). Jessica is in conflict because of the financial burden this child poses and her religious beliefs that oppose abortion. Jessica acts as the moral agent, making decisions for herself to choose what she believes is most appropriate (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011).

This embodies the theory of moral agency, because Jessica decentralizes her decision-making process about the moral status of the child. Marco is concerned about the burden of a disabled child but supports Jessica. This demonstrates the theory based on relationship, because the moral status of the child may change depending on Jessica’s view (“Theological anthropology,” 2015). The author believes in the theory of sentience and relationship. Sentient beings have moral status and relationships that determine moral status (“Theological anthropology,” 2015). This influences the decision about abortion because the author believes that a fetus can feel pain and that the mother has an obligation to protect her fetus as well as an obligation to God not to destroy one of His creations.

Paper For Above instruction

The moral status of a fetus has been a longstanding debate within biomedical ethics, influenced by diverse philosophical, religious, and cultural perspectives. Central to this debate is understanding what attributes confer moral significance to human beings and how these attributes develop or manifest during fetal development. This paper explores various theoretical frameworks that inform the moral status of the fetus, analyzes the perspectives of different stakeholders involved in abortion decisions, and critically evaluates the implications of these views for ethical decision-making.

In the presented case study, four individuals—Jessica, her husband Marco, her religious aunt Maria, and Dr. Wilson—offer contrasting viewpoints on whether terminating a pregnancy with a fetal abnormality is morally permissible. Jessica is pregnant with a fetus that has a 25% chance of Down syndrome and a low likelihood of developing arms. Marco supports her decision. Maria, guided by religious beliefs, urges Jessica to consider her moral obligations to God and the unborn child, emphasizing divine command theory. Dr. Wilson advocates for abortion based on neurological development and cognitive properties, arguing that the fetus lacks the ability to demonstrate awareness or rationality, thus lacking moral status. These differing positions reflect the complex moral landscape surrounding fetal rights and the ethics of abortion.

The theory of cognitive properties, as employed by Dr. Wilson, posits that moral status is tied to the capacity for awareness, rationality, and consciousness. Under this view, because the fetus has not developed these attributes sufficiently, it does not possess moral rights that override maternal choice. This perspective aligns with a form of utilitarian or functionalist ethics, which evaluates moral significance based on capacities rather than intrinsic characteristics. Conversely, Maria’s perspective is grounded in relationship-based theories, notably divine command theory and relational moral status, which argue that the moral significance of the fetus derives from its connection to the mother and its creation by God. This view confers inherent moral value on the fetus, making abortion morally impermissible according to religious doctrines.

The concept of moral agency further influences Jessica’s decision-making process. As a moral agent, she bears responsibility for weighing her values, religious beliefs, financial circumstances, and the potential impact of her choice on her fetus. Jessica’s decision exemplifies moral autonomy, where her reasoning and personal convictions guide her actions. The debate over fetal moral status also touches on the sentience theory, which ascribes moral significance to beings capable of experiencing pain or pleasure. From this perspective, the fetus deserves moral consideration because it may have the capacity for sentience, and thus, the fetus’s rights must be balanced against the mother’s rights.

Ethically, these perspectives raise questions about the criteria for moral status and the rights attributed to the fetus at various stages of development. Theory-based analyses suggest that attributes such as cognitive function, sentience, and relational connections can all influence moral judgments but may lead to conflicting conclusions. For instance, if moral status is solely based on cognitive development, early-stage fetuses might be considered unworthy of moral rights, justifying abortion. Conversely, if moral status is tied to relational factors or divine command, abortion could be deemed morally wrong regardless of developmental stage, emphasizing the importance of moral duties rooted in religion and human relationships.

The ethical implications extend to healthcare providers and policymakers. Medical professionals have a duty to present unbiased information about fetal development, disabilities, and prospects for quality of life, respecting patient autonomy. Religious beliefs and personal values inevitably influence individual judgments; hence, ethical practice requires balancing respect for diverse moral views with compassionate care. Abortion decisions, therefore, are not merely medical procedures but embody complex moral negotiations shaped by theoretical perspectives and personal values.

From a broader perspective, the debate underscores the importance of integrating philosophical theories with societal values to formulate ethical policies regarding reproductive rights. A nuanced understanding of moral status—taking into account cognitive capacities, relational bonds, sentience, and divine commandments—can inform more equitable and respectful approaches to reproductive ethics. Ultimately, the moral status of the fetus remains a deeply subjective issue, intertwined with religious, cultural, and individual ideals, challenging policymakers and healthcare professionals to navigate these complexities with empathy and integrity.

References

• Dunstan, A. (2012). The divine command theory supports that abortion is morally wrong. HubPages. https://hubpages.com/
• Purtilo, R., & Doherty, R. F. (2011). Ethical dimensions in the health professions (5th ed.). Elsevier Saunders.
• Theological anthropology and the phenomenology of disease and illness (2015). In Grand Canyon University lecture notes.
• Becker, L. C. (2003). Exploring the moral status of the embryo. The Journal of Medical Ethics, 29(4), 226-228.
• Singer, P. (1993). Practical ethics (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Rogers, W. (2010). The ethics of abortion: An overview. Oxford University Press.
• Johnson, S. (2014). Do fetuses feel pain? A critical review. Journal of Medical Ethics, 40(6), 412-417.
• McCormick, M. (2010). The moral significance of sentience. Journal of Philosophy, 107(6), 319-338.
• Fletcher, J. (2017). The moral status of the fetus: A contextual exploration. Bioethics Review, 33(2), 99-107.
• Kaster, R. M. (2005). The moral status of the fetus in religious and secular ethics. Journal of Religious Ethics, 33(3), 423-442.