Fetal Abnormality

Jessica is a 30-year-old immigrant from Mexico City. She and her husband Marco have been in" rel="nofollow">in the U.S. for the last 3 years and have fin" rel="nofollow">inally earned enough money to move out of their Aunt Maria’s home and in" rel="nofollow">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 contractin" rel="nofollow">ing side jobs in" rel="nofollow">in construction. Six months before their move to an apartment, Jessica fin" rel="nofollow">inds out she is pregnant. Four months later, Jessica and Marco arrive at the county hospital, a large, public, nonteachin" rel="nofollow">ing hospital. A prelimin" rel="nofollow">inary ultrasound in" rel="nofollow">indicates a possible abnormality with the fetus. Further scans are conducted and it is determin" rel="nofollow">ined that the fetus has a rare condition in" rel="nofollow">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 attendin" rel="nofollow">ing physician is seein" rel="nofollow">ing Jessica for the first time, sin" rel="nofollow">ince she and Marco did not receive earlier prenatal care over concerns about fin" rel="nofollow">inances. Marco in" rel="nofollow">insists that Dr. Wilson refrain" rel="nofollow">in from tellin" rel="nofollow">ing Jessica the scan results, assurin" rel="nofollow">ing him that he will tell his wife himself when she is emotionally ready for the news. While Marco and Dr. Wilson are talkin" rel="nofollow">ing in" rel="nofollow">in another room, Aunt Maria walks in" rel="nofollow">into the room with a distressed look on her face. She can tell that somethin" rel="nofollow">ing is wrong and in" rel="nofollow">inquires of Dr. Wilson. After hearin" rel="nofollow">ing of the diagnosis, she walks out of the room wailin" rel="nofollow">ing loudly and prayin" rel="nofollow">ing out loud. Marco and Dr. Wilson contin" rel="nofollow">inue their discussion, and Dr. Wilson in" rel="nofollow">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 in" rel="nofollow">intent on discussin" rel="nofollow">ing all relevant factors and options regardin" rel="nofollow">ing the next step, in" rel="nofollow">includin" rel="nofollow">ing abortion. Marco in" rel="nofollow">insists on takin" rel="nofollow">ing some time to thin" rel="nofollow">ink of how to break the news to Jessica, but Dr. Wilson, frustrated with the direction of the conversation, in" rel="nofollow">informs the husband that such a choice is not his to make. Dr. Wilson proceeds back across the hall, where he walks in" rel="nofollow">in on Aunt Maria awkwardly prayin" rel="nofollow">ing with Jessica and phonin" rel="nofollow">ing the priest. At that poin" rel="nofollow">int, Dr. Wilson gently but briefly in" rel="nofollow">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. Jessica is torn between her hopes of a better socioeconomic position and in" rel="nofollow">increased in" rel="nofollow">independence, along with her conviction that all life is sacred. Marco will support Jessica in" rel="nofollow">in whatever decision she makes, but is fin" rel="nofollow">indin" rel="nofollow">ing it difficult to not 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" rel="nofollow">in this situation. Aunt Maria pleads with Jessica to follow through with the pregnancy and allow what “God in" rel="nofollow">intends” to take place, and urges Jessica to thin" rel="nofollow">ink of her responsibility as a mother. Case Study on Moral Status Write a 500-750 word analysis of "Case Study: Fetal Abnormality." address the followin" rel="nofollow">ing questions: Which theory or theories are bein" rel="nofollow">ing used by Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson to determin" rel="nofollow">ine the moral status of the fetus? Explain" rel="nofollow">in. How does the theory determin" rel="nofollow">ine or in" rel="nofollow">influence each of their recommendation for action? What theory do you agree with? How would the theory determin" rel="nofollow">ine or in" rel="nofollow">influence the recommendation for action? Prepare this assignment accordin" rel="nofollow">ing to the APA guidelin" rel="nofollow">ines