Generally, there are various theories which have been used to determine the fetus’s moral status. Each of them has a significant impact on the choices taken by people. They affect the worldview of individuals, especially when faced with challenging issues. The essay aims at discussing theories utilized by Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr Wilson in establishing the morality of abortion. It also explains the theory which I support and how it influences the recommendation of the action.
Different theories are used to explain the morality of abortion, and each one of them had a significant impact on the choices made by individuals. Jessica is a 30-year immigrant whose unborn child was at a higher risk of a genetic disorder. She wants to exercise her parental duty; however, she is not ready to incur financial expenses after birth. Marco is Jessica’s husband who moved to the country with his wife. He considers religious and moral beliefs; however, he wants his wife to take time and make her choice. The consequentialism theory pertains to Marco because he focuses much on the outcome of having the baby. This means that the theory is based on a relationship, as the moral status of the fetus may change depending on the decision made by his wife, Jessica.
Maria and Dr. William have different views on the moral status of abortion. First, Maria ascribes to divine command theory and does not support abortion. She insists that Jessica has the responsibility of protecting the fetus despite possible deformity and believes God is the creator and decides morality. Contrastingly, Dr. William has an opinion that medical situations should be based on common sense and rationality and ignores emotion and morality. He supports abortion to avoid the risks which are associated with pregnancy. He ascribes to the theory of cognitive property, which stresses rational decision making. A decision involving abortion is a difficult choice to make because a patient will live with it for the rest of their lives; therefore, professionals should provide all alternatives without bias.
Influence of the Theory on Their Recommendation for Action
The theory utilized by individuals influences their choice and worldview, especially when faced with challenging issue such as abortion. Maria focuses on the moral aspect of the decision despite the consequences. She ascribes to divine command theory and considers God’s commandment, which prohibits killing. Maria believes that humans are created in God’s likeness; hence, every life is valuable; ending it is considered sin (Fisher, Dimmock, Imler, & Whaley, 2020).
Dr. William and Marco made their choices, considering the consequences of abortion. They ascribe to cognitive properties and believe that the right decision results in an appropriate outcome (Savulescu & Wilkinson, 2019). They support abortion due to a high risk of deformity and down syndrome, which will be a financial burden on the family. On the other hand, Jessica is torn between the theories as she wants to protect the fetus, but she thinks that her family is financially unstable.
The Theory I Agree with, and Its Influence on My Recommendation for Action
I agree with the theory of divine command as it regards abortion as murder, therefore, it should not be considered as an amicable alternative. Human life should be valued despite health outcomes (Symons, 2018). The family should not focus much on their financial position because it can change. Therefore, Jessica should not abort due to financial instability. All humans are valuable, hence, should be respected. Although it may sound unfair to bring a baby with a disability into the world and not offer medical support, abortion may affect couples psychologically.
The concept of personhood, dignity, and moral status has guided me through everyday life. The concept of moral status has contributed to understanding the differences between right and wrong. As a result, I turned out to be a more loving and empathetic person. Everyone is equal and should be respected despite their race, culture, and sexual orientation. Health care professionals should be committed to patient care irrespective of their background.
References
Fisher, A., Dimmock, M., Imler, H., & Whaley, K. (2020). Religious ethical systems. In Philosophical thought.
Savulescu, J., & Wilkinson, D. (2019). Consequentialism and the law in medicine. In T. C. de Campos, J. Herring, & As. M. Phillips (Eds), Philosophical foundations of medical law (p. 68). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Symons, X. (2018). Ethically speaking, is a fetus a person? The OG Magazine. Web.