week 5 debating abortion scenario and reflection

In the scenario assignments, you are asked to reflect on responses to the presented scenario. It should not just be writing down your first reaction or what you already know.

Reflection involves critical thinking, which means rethinking your existing knowledge and previously held opinions in light of what we have learned about theories of ethics, logic, and reasoning. You will need to question your current knowledge and beliefs. Discuss the main points of the debate, what stance you take, support that stance, and discuss the opposing argument. Also, discuss an ethical theory that would apply to defend your view.

To complete each scenario assignment:

1. Complete the entire scenario.

2. Fill out the template attached below, ask your professor for details on submission.

3. Compose the last question on the template reflection in a Word document and be sure to address, at a minimum, the following questions:

• Why do you feel the way you do about the issue presented?
• Of the four responses offered in the scenario, which do you think is the most ethical and why?
• Which ethical theory would you use to support your stance? Why does this theory work?

4. Support your conclusions with evidence and specific examples from the textbook, including a minimum of one theory of ethics to defend your stance.this is the book –> Medical Ethics: Accounts of Ground-Breaking Cases

• Author: Pence, G.
• Publisher: Boston: McGraw-Hill.
• Edition: (REV) 24 New Edition
• ISBN: 978-1-266-90523-0

5. Your reflection must be 1-2 pages in length and follow APA formatting and citation guidelines as appropriate, making sure to cite at least two sources.

6. Review the rubric for specific grading criteria

video transcript:

MODERATOR

Hello everyone, thank you for coming today. Few topics are more ethically charged than that of abortion. Both sides hold strong opinions.

Those who see a fertilized egg as a human being view abortion as an act of murder. However, restricting or outlawing abortion and forcing women to bring unwanted children to term would raise serious ethical and legal questions.

We should keep in mind while exploring abortion ethics, that abortion itself is legal, even if only for exceptional cases, in almost all developed countries.

DR. WILLIAMS

Thank you. I know that this is an emotional issue, but it is very important that we protect the rights of an adult, human mother before the rights of a fetus, whose life is dependent on the mother.

A fetus, depending on the stage of development, has not developed to the point that it can feel pain or think of itself as a being with an identity, qualities we often associate with human life.

This issue is too complex to do more than skim the surface at the moment, of course, but remember that abortion is legal, and it is the mothers rights that the law keeps in mind. Surely, those rights are clear.

ANNUAL ETHICS SYMPOSIUM INTRO

A fetus cannot be said to have the same moral rights as a fully grown, self-aware woman.

Agree?

DR. MEADOWS

We can barely skim the surface of this issue, thats true. But as long as were painting in broad strokes, lets look at the case for defending the life of the fetus. First of all, determining exactly when life begins has long been a bone of contention among medical professionals.

If we cannot be sure when life begins, doesnt it make sense to err on the side of caution so we dont mistakenly take a human life? And we do value human life. It isnt merely our job, its ethical to do so.

We should see the potential future of the life in question and protect that future.

In some cases, we might say the younger life is worth even more than an older one, because a greater potential future lies ahead. Thats why most parents would throw themselves in harms way to protect a child.

Legally, yes, a woman has a right to an abortion. That certainly doesnt mean we should encourage her to have one, or that she should make the decision without access to information on the life growing inside her.

A potential life has just as much value as an existing one.

Agree?

Press the thumbs up icon.

MODERATOR

We have a 2-part question from the audience.

How common is abortion? Is the number of abortions increasing or decreasing?

DR. MEADOWS

About half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and about four in 10 of these end in abortion.

Statistics are incomplete, but the CDC reports the total number and rate of reported abortions for 2011 decreased 5% from the previous year.

MODERATOR

Thank you, Dr. Meadows.

DR. WILLIAMS

Erring on the side of caution is a double-edged sword. If we acknowledge that the mother is clearly a human life that we must protect, and that a fetus may or may not yet be a human being, then our ethical responsibilities are with the mother.

If we are speaking of a young mother in a disadvantaged situation, all the more reason for our responsibilities to be so. The birth of the child could be unfeasible economically, it could hamper her ability to work or go to school, it could bring on depression, and, in short, completely alter the mothers life, and not always for the better. Is the mothers life worth less than that of an undeveloped child?

DR. MEADOWS

It isnt worth more. You mention school and work…the unborn childs ability to work or go to school is completely lost along with every other aspect of a life that could have been.

Furthermore, it hardly makes for a good argument that a woman can suffer from post-partum depression, when women who have abortions may suffer from depression as well.

If we value the sanctity of life, and if we also cannot say exactly when life begins, lets just assume it begins immediately upon conception. I realize that opens up many other issues with regard to the mother, but those are separate issues, and they do not directly affect the rights of an unborn child.

MODERATOR

Dr. Williams. This question is for you.

When are most abortions performed?

DR. WILLIAMS

The majority of abortions take place early in gestation. In 2011, more than 90% were performed at earlier than 13 weeks gestation; about 8% were performed at 1420 weeks gestation, and less than 2% were performed later than 21 weeks gestation.

MODERATOR

Thank you.