Introduction
The case study presents the situation Jessica and her husband Marco encounter when they discover that their fetus has abnormalities, due to which it is unlikely to develop arms. In addition, it has a high chance of having Down syndrome. The couples’ aunt Maria is against abortion while their doctor advocates for terminating the pregnancy. The paper analyzes the theories these individuals use in their arguments and recommendations.
Answers
The Christian view of the nature of human beings is that every individual is the living image of God. According to Christian teachings, human nature comes from God himself, and all humans have the “capacity for God” (The Mary Foundation, 2019). Moreover, the church proclaims that the lives of all people are sacred. It is possible to say that the Christian view is compatible with the theory of human properties, as this theory claims that human life begins at fertilization and that all individuals have moral statuses and rights once their lives begin (“Moral Status,” 2019). The Christian view of the nature of human beings is related to intrinsic human value and dignity because a person is a basis of a moral version of society (The Mary Foundation, 2019). According to the Christian view, all individuals are precious, and no institution should threaten their lives and dignity.
Maria is using the theories based on human properties because she tries to force Jessica not to terminate her pregnancy, believing that all individuals have moral rights once living beings. In her perspective, if Jessica has an abortion, she will make an immoral decision, which is against her values and the Christian view. Jessica is likely to use the theories of cognitive properties and sentience because she may contemplate what the fetus may feel while thinking about its capacity to feel pain. It is possible to say that Marco uses the theory of relationships because he wants to consider Jessica’s feelings and feels that it is necessary to prepare her for the news about the fetus’ conditions; he does not try to determine the moral status of the fetus. Finally, Dr. Wilson seems to utilize the theory of cognitive properties. He believes that abortion is the best option in the situation and is likely to think that the fetus cannot be considered an individual at this stage of its development. He notes that abortion is the right decision from both the scientific and the medical perspectives.
The theories presented above affect the recommendations for action Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson have significantly. For instance, it is possible to say that Maria does not consider the option of terminating the pregnancy because it is highly against her values. She believes that Jessica is responsible for giving birth to her future child and accept God’s will. In comparison, although Marco wants to tell the news to his wife himself, he is ready to support her in any decision she wants to make. He does not insist on any argument because the theory he uses values relationships the most; it is important for him to save his relationships with his wife. The theory Dr. Wilson utilizes affects his recommendations a lot, as he presents all available options but arguments for the one that seems the most appropriate for him. The cognitive properties theory allows him to analyze the abilities the fetus may have and the results of following through with the pregnancy. Finally, Jessica does not know what recommendations she can offer herself because she views the situation from different perspectives. She is hesitant because the theories she uses confront one another.
I agree with the theory based on cognitive properties because it values cognition, freedom to act, rationality, and self-awareness. To me, these qualities are significant parts of the individual’s personality and the factors that make people human. This theory would influence the recommendation for action in the following way. According to the theory, it would be possible to recommend Jessica to terminate her pregnancy, as her fetus cannot be considered a fully developed individual. The fetus has no ability to understand, think, and perceive the things or actions that happen around it; moreover, it cannot make decisions or communicate its desires. From this perspective, it is not feasible to follow through with the pregnancy, as it will pose a significant financial and emotional burden on Jessica and Marco’s family while not being beneficial for the fetus. The only possible argument for not terminating this pregnancy is the religious view on the situation. However, the theory of cognitive properties contradicts the one that focuses on human properties and is similar to Christian teachings.
Conclusion
The paper reveals that Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson utilize different theories in their arguments and recommendations. Jessica uses the theories of cognitive properties and sentience, Marco is focused on the theory of relationships, and Maria and Dr. Wilson’s theories may be considered opposing. The individuals’ perspectives affect their recommendations highly; for instance, Maria has a strict view of the actions that should be done.
References
Moral Status. (2019). Web.
The Mary Foundation. (2019). Man’s capacity for God. Web.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2019). Life and dignity of the human person. Web.