Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies
Based on \”Case Study: Fetal Abnormality\” and the required topic study materials, write a 750-1,000-word reflection that answers the following questions:
What is the Christian view of the nature of human persons, and which theory of moral status is it compatible with? How is this related to the intrinsic human value and dignity?Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies
Which theory or theories are being used by Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson to determine the moral status of the fetus? What from the case study specifically leads you to believe that they hold the theory you selected?
How does the theory determine or influence each of their recommendations for action?
What theory do you agree with? Why? How would that theory determine or influence the recommendation for action?
Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials.
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Case Study: Fetal Abnormality
Jessica is a 30-year-old immigrant from Mexico City. She and her husband Marco have been in the United States for the last three years and have finally earned enough money to move out of their Aunt Maria’s home and into an apartment of their own. They are both hard workers. Jessica works 50 hours a week at a local restaurant and Marco has been contracting side jobs in construction. Six months before their move to an apartment, Jessica finds out she is pregnant.
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Four months later, Jessica and Marco arrive at the county hospital, a large, public, nonteaching hospital. A preliminary ultrasound indicates a possible abnormality with the fetus. Further scans are conducted, and it is determined that the fetus has a rare condition in which it has not developed any arms and will not likely develop them. There is also a 25% chance that the fetus may have Down syndrome.
Dr. Wilson, the primary attending physician, is seeing Jessica for the first time, since she and Marco did not receive earlier prenatal care over concerns about finances. Marco insists that Dr. Wilson refrain from telling Jessica the scan results, assuring him that he will tell his wife himself when she is emotionally ready for the news. While Marco and Dr. Wilson are talking in another room, Aunt Maria walks into the room with a distressed look on her face. She can tell that something is wrong and inquires of Dr. Wilson. After hearing of the diagnosis, she walks out of the room wailing loudly and praying aloud.
Marco and Dr. Wilson continue their discussion, and Dr. Wilson insists that he has an obligation to Jessica as his patient and that she has a right to know the diagnosis of the fetus. He furthermore is intent on discussing all relevant factors and options regarding the next step, including abortion. Marco insists on taking some time to think of how to break the news to Jessica, but Dr. Wilson, frustrated with the direction of the conversation, informs the husband that such a choice is not his to make. Dr. Wilson proceeds back across the hall, where he walks in on Aunt Maria awkwardly praying with Jessica and phoning the priest. At that point, Dr. Wilson gently but briefly informs Jessica of the diagnosis and lays out the option for abortion as a responsible medical alternative, given the quality of life such a child would have. Jessica looks at him and struggles to hold back her tears.Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies
Jessica is torn between her hopes of a better socioeconomic position and increased independence, along with her conviction that all life is sacred. Marco will support Jessica in whatever decision she makes but is finding it difficult not to view the pregnancy and the prospects of a disabled child as a burden and a barrier to their economic security and plans. Dr. Wilson lays out all of the options but clearly makes his view known that abortion is “scientifically” and medically a wise choice in this situation. Aunt Maria pleads with Jessica to follow through with the pregnancy and allow what “God intends” to take place and urges Jessica to think of her responsibility as a mother.
A person’s behavior and ability to make decisions is determined by an individual’s set of values, ethics, and morals and influenced by aspects such as culture, family, religion, relationships, and worldviews. Morals influence decision-making based on what is wrong and right and in most instances is often applied when faced with ethical dilemmas to choose a morally correct action from different options. In this paper, the author discusses the worldviews and moral theories demonstrated by Dr. Wilson, Maria, Jessica, and Marco and how they influence their recommendations for action.
Christian View on the Nature of Human Person’s
The Christian worldview holds that humans are made in the image of God’s image the capacity to connect both spiritually and physically. It is through this association that human beings have established a theory on the moral status that has an intrinsic value and incorporates respect, self-worth, and dignity. It is from this worldview that people have developed diverse opinions about humans with a focus on the uniqueness of every Christian based on human values.
Theories Used By Each of the Characters
Doctor Wilson and Scientism
Dr. Wilson bases his decisions on positive scientific facts to explain to Jessica and Marco the Down syndrome fetal status. He additionally bases his reasoning and arguments on scientific facts when discussing the various options that Marco and Jessica should consider. He proposed abortion as a good option with medical and scientific evidence. It is also important to note that during this entire time, Dr. Wilson was cautious not to include religiosity in his discussion. According to Peels (2018), scientism promotes science as the only objective approach to promote a person’s understanding of an issue that should be used to determine both epistemological and normative values. It promotes knowledge based on scientific methods and influences science to inform a person what is wrong and right.
Christianity as Expressed by Maria
After listening to and understanding Dr. Wilson’s recommendations, she disagrees with the suggestion of abortion. Instead, she prioritizes praying for her family since she is a strong Christian and believer and goes further to call the priest with a prayer item. Maria urges Jessica to contemplate over her role as a mother to the unborn fetus and correlates all the occurrences as God’s plan that should not be questioned. This Christian worldview inspires Maria to analyze all the occurrences from a Christian perspective by considering the essence of prayer and faith in God as the best course of action in care (Samuel, 2015). Although Christianity also recognizes the role played by science and technology in healthcare, it refers to the actions of Jesus and primarily emphasizes the need to provide and care through comfort.Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies
Materialism as Expressed by Marco
Although Marco openly admits that he will support the decisions made by his wife, he expresses concern about their future life, economic security, and plans which portrays the theory of materialism. According to Jaspers & Pieters (2016), this theory prioritizes materialistic possessions and an individual’s progress in material form as the most valuable aspects of life. It is for this reason that Marco openly acknowledges that the most likely outcome of the pregnancy will result in having a disabled child whose upkeep will be burdensome both socially and economically. This implies that materialism disregards science, culture, and religion and does not account for incidences and events after death.
Blended theories and the Modern Western Worldview as Expressed by Jessica
Jessica has a blended worldview such that, her line of thought and ideas is partly the same as Marcos and partly similar to Maria’s. She agrees with Marco’s concern that a disabled child is a hindrance to social and economic progress and plans. This concern reveals the theory of materialism which disregards religion, relationships, and culture over materialistic possessions. In other instances, Jessica agrees with Maria’s concern over every person’s right to life and the sacredness of life, which reflects a Christian worldview. Having a blend of materialism and Christianity indicates a high likelihood that Jessica has an intrapersonal conflict to decide between good and evil with a modern Western worldview that is primarily influenced by religion and dualism science.
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Recommendations for Action
Recommendations by Dr. Wilson using scientism
Dr. Wilson uses scientific evidence to highlight the fetus abnormalities in its QoL after birth. Based on his suggestion, abortion is the best and most preferred course of action as backed by both medical and scientific evidence. Dr. Wilson believes that there are specific cognitive properties that influence the moral status of a human being which also denies all humans equal fundamental dignity. According to Peels (2018), these properties include; the level of awareness, rationality, and self-consciousness and make abortion permissible for Jessica.
Recommendations made by Maria using Christianity
Maria is a staunch believer and Christian thus displays the moral status theory of Christianity by encouraging Jessica to act according to God’s intentions by choosing life. She emphasizes that, although life supersedes choice, an individual’s right to live is non-dependent on their moral worth or circumstances but based on a religious belief in God that gives humans an intrinsic value(Samuel, 2015). Maria further reminds Jessica that in Go’s eye, Jessica has a role of nurturing and caring for the fetus irrespective of its status whose major determinant is God. Basing on this theory of moral status, the best course of action would be to carry the pregnancy to term, to deliver and care for it.Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies
Recommendations made by Marco Using Materialism
Based on Jaspers & Pieters (2016) explanation of the theory of materialism, Marco’s acknowledgment of the fetus status as a hindrance to attaining social and economic stability in the future. This influences termination of the pregnancy as the best course of action since the fetus will cease to exist thereafter. However, Marco’s idea to support Jessica’s decision partly reveals that he has conflicting thoughts on whether or not to have the child live. This thought reveals the theory of moral relativism and a pro-choice advocate who is guided by choice rather than actions.
Jessica’s recommended Action
Jessica’s is partly influenced by religious convictions and partly by scientism relativism and materialism. Dr. Wilson, Marco, and Maria play a huge role in influencing Jessica’s decision and action. If Jessica prioritizes her socio-economic status and the fetus QoL after birth, she will likely terminate the pregnancy. In comparison, if she considers that all life is sacred, all people are created in God’s image and that every person has a right to life, she will likely choose to carry the pregnancy to term, deliver and play her role in caring for the child.
The theory I Agree With
The author has a blended worldview such that, the decision to pursue a specific course of action depends on the situation. Therefore, the author has no description or definition of correct actions or decisions. People’s choices, actions, and decisions are influenced by aspects such as relationships, religion, and culture. This implies that people get inspired differently to pursue a specific course of action. In clinical situations where there is scientific evidence that can be used in decision making, I embrace scientism whereas, in instances that lack scientific evidence, I assume a Christian worldview which bases on absolute morals. This theory states that all humans are made in God’s image and a right to life does not supersede moral cognitive.
References
HLT 310V Case Study: Fetal Abnormality. (n.d.). Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ.
Jaspers, E. D., & Pieters, R. G. (2016). Materialism across the lifespan: An age-period-cohort analysis. Journal of personality and social psychology, 111(3), 451.
Peels, R. (2018). A conceptual map of scientism. Scientism: Prospects and Problems, 28-56.
Samuel, A. S. (2015). The Nature of a Christian Worldview, Christianity and the Elements of Philosophy. SA Sarkodie Publications, 2(5). Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies