Ethical Approaches in Healthcare- A Case Study of Moral Status (Case Study Sample)

Ethical Approaches in Healthcare- A Case Study of Moral Status
Name
Institution
Course
Professor
Date
Ethical Approaches in Healthcare- A Case Study of Moral Status
Providing good quality healthcare is essential for good patient outcomes. Sometimes in practice, medical professionals encounter ethical dilemmas such as pregnancy termination and euthanasia, among others. Navigating these ethical dilemmas is essential in ensuring good patient outcomes. Ethical principles, moral rights theory and virtue ethics are the most common approaches practitioners employ when encountering an ethical conflict CITATION Joh19 \l 1033 (Johnstone, 2019).
The case study is of a fetal abnormality involving a pregnant 30-year-old Jessica and her husband. Ultrasound assessments at the pre-natal clinic suggest an abnormality of the fetal limbs. Moreover, the doctor concludes a 25% down syndrome possibility. Marco is conflicted with the information received and doesn't want the doctor, Dr. Wilson, to inform Jessica of the abnormality. Her, Aunt Maria, walks into the room, sensing the tension between the two, and is informed of the diagnosis. Maria is hurt by the news and moves out wailing and tries to comfort Jessica before the doctor comes and informs Jessica of the diagnosis and suggests an abortion, basing his argument on the eventuality of the quality of life of the fetus. Maria is against abortion, arguing for the sanctity of life. Maria is conflicted between aborting the child and protecting the sanctity of life as a Christian.
Christianity argues the sanctity of human life as a founding moral vision. The Catholic Church ascertains that upholding the dignity and life of a human person is the core foundation of the human person and that this sanctity is threatened by euthanasia and abortionsCITATION Beh20 \l 1033 (Cho & Smith, 2020). The bioethics approaches common in guiding caregivers through dilemmas of moral status in practice are ethical principlism, moral rights theory, and virtue ethics. Ethical principlism- autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice- conforms with the Christianity norms of the sanctity of life and the opinion on the scientific ending of life at its beginning, the principle of non-maleficenceCITATION Joh19 \l 1033 (Johnstone, 2019). The principle of non-maleficence argues strongly against harming others or doing evil to others. Maria is depicted as having solid Christian morals protecting life's sanctity at all costs. She is against the doctor's suggestion to Jessica to undertake scientific abortion.
Intrinsic human value and dignity define the moral status of an individual and society's moral obligation to the individual. According to Christian values, life begins at conception, thus the high regard for ethical argument in dilemmas of embryonic moral status CITATION Son21 \l 1033 (Song, 2021). The intrinsic human value defines the fetus as a being deserving of moral consideration as a living, breathing individual CITATION Joh19 \l 1033 (Johnstone, 2019). Christian virtues rebuke strongly scientific abortion on the grounds of the deformity without posing a significant health threat to the mother. These values are also reinforced by the principle of non-maleficence, arguing against causing harm or death to a human being. The two approaches- Christian virtues and non-maleficence- argue for the importance of preservation of life regardless of the stage and form of the individual.
Moral decisions need to be justified by solid ethical reasons prompting the decision. Human beings are, however, susceptible to intrinsic bias that makes it hard to make ethical choices CITATION DeG21 \l 1033 (DeGrazia & Millum, 2021). Each decision made by the individuals in the case study suggests an approach of ethical principlism. Dr. Wilson insists on sharing the diagnosis of the fetus with Jessica despite Marco's pleas not to. Jessica has shown no intention of not wanting to receive the information on the diagnosis.
Moreover, Jessica is receptive to the information. Dr. Wilson acts benevolently by sharing the information with Jessica and explaining his recommendation on the diagnosis to her. His recommendation of Jessica undergoes the principle and advises the parents on a scientific abortion of non-maleficence. He considers the economic burden that Jessica and Marco would face if they followed through with the pregnancy.
Dr. Wilson also considers the quality of life that the abnormal fetus would have should the parents decide to carry on with the pregnancy. Given the diagnosed possible abnormalities, providing for the fetus would require much effort and economic resources. Dr. Wilson is not convinced that they can provide for the needs of the child once born and anticipates that the child would suffer, thus considering non-maleficent to terminate the pregnancy at the fetal stage.
Marco's moral justifies his decision not to want Jessica to be informed of the diagnosis right away by the principle of benevolence and non-maleficence. Marco has a strong urge to protect Jessica from harm. He negotiated the type of care he wanted for his fiancé, given Jessica's emotional state. Marco considers withholding