Essay about The Moral Status of the Fetus - 1121 Words

1 Philosophy 200 November 16, 2013 The Moral Status of the Fetus The debate over abortion comes down to one essential issue — the moral status of the unborn child. â€Å"Those choosing legalization of abortion will argue that the developing fetus lacks a moral status that would trump a woman’s desire to abort the child. Those against abortion argue by making the opposite claim; that the unborn child, because it is a developing human being, possesses a moral status because of its human existence; and that would clearly trump any rationale offered for its willful destruction.† (1)My moral belief would be that Life begins at Conception, therefore a fetus has just as much of a moral status as a newborn†¦show more content†¦One that is more than â€Å"just a group of cells† â€Å"They believe their childs life may have meaning or purpose they do not yet understand. They believe they were given this child for a reason.† (3) Another reason women may look to abortion as a solution i s if the fetus faces abnormalities or life threatening situations. At around 15 – 20 weeks gestation, women are given the option to undergo an amniocentesis. For some women, this is an option, for others, this is a must due to previous pregnancies with abnormalities.â€Å"This is a test done during pregnancy to get information about the fetus by sampling the amniotic fluid, which contains cells and chemicals which are fetal in origin.†(4) This test is looking for chromosomal genetic problems such as Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Cystic Fibrosis, Fragile X, and Sickle Cell Anemia. After these tests are done, results take anywhere from 10- 14 days. Fetal age is about 22 weeks when the mother is deciding the future of her unborn child. By this time, the babys heart is beating, major organs are formed and maturing, facial features are becoming distinctive, and the mother can now feel the babys movements. Clearly the fetus has a moral status, and yet some women still choose to abort the fetus. Why? Because they do not want to â€Å"Sentence a child to life with an acute handicap?† Or they do not want to sentence themselves? Speaking from personal experience, myShow MoreRelatedThe Moral Status Of A Fetus Essay1572 Words   |  7 Pages While the idea that a fetus is person or, at least, warrants moral consideration is held by many-- this view is largely tied to our inherent emotional feelings about human babies, and has little to no logical standing. Those who ascribe to the belief that a fetus has a moral status just because it will be a human or because it contains human DNA are negligent of the very characteristics that make humans moral patients to begin with. Our self-awareness, self-conscious emotion, and ability to performRead MoreFetal Abnormality Case Study Essay852 Words   |  4 Pagesabnormalities while a child is still a fetus and can create difficult choices for parents to make if severe anomalies are discovered. There are many theories regarding the moral status of the fetus that can be applied when deciding how to proceed if these abnormalities are detected. In the fetal abnormality case study, Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson each have varying opinions on what course of action to take based o n these different theories of moral status. Jessica is torn between her desireRead MoreA Case Study From Grand Canyon University1264 Words   |  6 Pagestheir moral recommendation and perception of the status of the fetus in Fetal Abnormality, a case study from Grand Canyon University. In evaluating the case study, the essay explores and describes the most appropriate theories and their impact on resolution. Additionally, the paper offers the author s recommendation on the issue. Identification of Theories Used by Those Involved Doctor Wilson Doctor Wilson s personal worldview is influenced by the theory that only sentient animals have moral statusRead MoreAbortion Analytical Essay1139 Words   |  5 Pagesthe moral status of a fetus. In this paper, I will be arguing against Bonnie Steinbock, who believes that abortions are morally acceptable. So I will be supporting the view that abortions are not morally acceptable. In Bonnie Steinbock’s essay, â€Å"Why Abortions Are Not Wrong,† she argues that abortions are morally acceptable because fetuses are non-sentient beings and therefore lack interests as well as moral status. 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We will isolate and divulge onRead MoreHlt 310v Week 2 Case Study on Moral Status1425 Words   |  6 PagesHLT 310V WEEK 2 CASE STUDY ON MORAL STATUS To purchase this tutorial visit here: http://wiseamerican.us/product/hlt-310v-week-2-case-study-moral-status/ contact us at: SUPPORT@WISEAMERICAN.US Max Points: 80 Details: Write a 250-500 word analysis of â€Å"Case Study: Fetal Abnormality.† Be sure to address the following questions: 1. Which theory or theories are being used by Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson to determine the moral status of the fetus? Explain. 2. How does the theory determineRead MoreThe Abortion Debate Essay1544 Words   |  7 Pagesfinal analysis I will show how utilitarianism, altruism, and situational ethical views apply to abortion. Having in mind the extreme controversy surrounding this issue, I will examine the history of abortion and why it is so highly debated today. The moral problem with abortion is when, if ever, is abortion morally justifiable? The answer to this question lies somewhere within one of three points of view. First, the conservative view is that abortion as never justifiable. Next, the liberals would sayRead MoreAbortion : Ethical And Moral1495 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Is it ethical and moral to have an abortion? The definition of abortion is â€Å"deliberate removal or deliberate action to cause the expulsion of a fetus from the womb of a human female, at the request of or through the agency of the mother, so as in fact to result in the death of the fetus† (Merriam-Webster, 2016). What about the morality of un-coerced, human abortion for our purposes abortions are voluntary, deliberate removals of a human fetus (Objections to Warren, 2016). The ArgumentRead MoreLife Or Death Of A Disabled Unborn Child961 Words   |  4 PagesIn this case study we have four different individual’s each of which have a different view in a very difficult situation considering life or death of a disabled unborn child. The fetus belonging to Jessica and Marco is determined to have a rare condition in which it has no arms and a 25% possibility of having Downs’s syndrome. Considering all these physical and mental disabilities, this child if born will not be productive, but must probably be attended to by a care taker day and night. In additionRead MoreThe Ethical Justification Of Abortion Essay1095 Words   |  5 Pagesnumerous significant theories that have been presented based on studies and researches. Basically, abortion refers to termination of pregnancy through removal of the undeveloped fetus. Seemingly, the act is highly condemned by majority sociologists and health practitioners due to violation of humanitarian ethics a nd morals. However, this particular perspective is orientated by the normative ethics system entailing utilitarianism versus deontology. Alternatively, this excerpt shall focus on analyzing