Case Study: Fetal Abnormality Paper-nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples

Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples

Most people associate the nature of a human with the nature of a creator, a higher being, connected spiritually. However, scientism attempts to explain the origin of the human being, the reasons for existence, and the nature of a person, creating multiple theories, including evolution theory, that provide assertions regarding the source of life. Nonetheless, the belief in a higher being is still stronger through religions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other cultures. This paper seeks to discuss the Christian perception of the nature of the human being and people’s determination of moral status (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

Christian View of the Nature of Human Persons and Compatible Theory of Moral Status

Per the Christian worldview, the nature of the human person includes morality, the soul, rationality, free will, creativity, and fallenness. The Christian’s belief in life after death encourages them to be morally upright and righteous to enjoy eternity. Humans have an immortal soul, and only human beings possess one as the spiritual element that connects them to God, provided in Jeremiah 1:5 as an element of human existence even before birth (Perkins, 2021) (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

Moreover, humans are moral beings and know what is right in God’s eyes, an ability specific to humans, justifying their dominance over other creations. Christians have free will to choose how to live and select alternatives between right and wrong. Free will is God-given to allow humans to make their own cautious decisions (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

According to Clarke (2023), humans have rational decisions and judgments. Humans are also creative beings, giving them dominion over other creations, including naming and caring for them. Furthermore, human beings possess the aspect of fallenness. Humans are born with the original sin Adam and Eve committed after disobeying God, creating a separation between them and God (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

The Christian understanding and perception of the nature of the human being is consistent with the theory of human properties. According to Beckwith and Thornton (2020), the human properties theory is the only moral status theory that accords moral status to a fetus, providing that life begins at fertilization. Once it begins, the fetus possesses full moral rights and status as an adult (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).  

Determination of Moral Status

The case study on fetal abnormality shows how different worldviews and moral beliefs influence people’s decisions. The cognitive properties, moral agency, and sentience theories of moral status influence Dr. Wilson’s and Marco’s determination of the fetus’ moral status, who base their decisions on the difficulties of raising a child with abnormality, preferring abortion. The cognitive properties theory accords moral status if a being has awareness, perception, memory, understanding, and thinking, which is not true for a fetus (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013) (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

The theory of moral agency accords a being moral status if they can make moral judgments regarding right and wrong and can be judged morally, which is not true for a fetus (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). Moreover, the fetus in the case study does not have sentience and, therefore, cannot feel pain and pleasure (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). The fetus can have sentience after at least 18-25 weeks, which is not true for the four-month-old fetus in the case study (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

On the other hand, the theories of human properties and relationships influence Aunt Maria and Jessica’s determination of the fetus’ moral status. The human properties theory provides that every human has status and only humans possess it, which aligns with Aunt Marie’s and Jessica’s belief that all life is sacred. Per the theory, human life begins at conception, giving a fetus full moral rights and status (Beckwith & Thornton, 2020) (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

The theory founded on relationships provides that moral status is based on the relationship between parties (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). Mothers begin bonding with their children while in the womb. Therefore, Jessica feels an obligation as a mother and accords the fetus’s moral status based on this relationship. Additionally, Aunt Marie persuades Jessica to think about her responsibility as a mother, implying that Aunt Marie accords the fetus’ moral status based on the fetus-mother relationship (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

Recommendation for Action

The theories of cognitive properties, moral agency, and sentience align with the doctor’s and Marco’s reasoning regarding the fetus’ moral status and influence their recommendation for abortion rather than giving birth to a child with abnormalities that would present multiple socio-economic challenges to raise.

The doctor and Marco do not accord the fetus moral status, hence the support for abortion. The theory of human properties aligns with Aunt Marie’s and Jessica’s reasoning that the fetus has moral status like any other human and all life is sacred and should not be aborted. The theory of relationships also influences Aunt Marie’s recommendation for Jessica to follow through with the pregnancy and Jessica’s sense of obligation as a mother (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).  

Personal Response to Case Study

Dr. Wilson’s scans show that the child will potentially be disabled without certainty but with a higher likelihood of developing Down’s Syndrome. Nonetheless, my moral beliefs and character about human life and respect for every person, irrespective of their status, align with human properties theory. I understand that raising a child with a disability would be straining economically and socially. However, I believe that every life is sacred and should be protected, including the fetus (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

Promoting abortion in every instance a fetus is determined to develop a disability potentially implies the life of those born with a disability is insignificant and lacks worth, which is not true. Conclusively, those with disabilities have the same inherent worth and dignity as those without, and partaking in abortions due to scans indicating potential disability disregards life (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

Conclusion

Every person has inherent value and dignity irrespective of status, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, gender, physical attributes, and abilities. Christians place worth on life, believing it is sacred. Therefore, in this case, the fetus’ life is worth saving regardless of the potential disability. Every human being is unique and has a purpose in life. Thus, denying them a chance to live and fulfill their purpose is unjust and wrong per the Christian worldview and the human properties theory (Nature of Human-Nursing Paper Examples).

References

Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. (2013). Principles of biomedical ethics (7th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Beckwith, F., & Thornton, A. K. (2020). Moral status and the architects of Principlism. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy: A Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy of Medicine, 45(4-5), 504-520. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/jhaa019

Clarke S. (2023). The sanctity of life is a sacred value. Bioethics, 37(1), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13094

Perkins I. (2021). Human Flourishing in Christ: A Journey of Hope in the Christian Community. The Linacre Quarterly, 88(2), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1177/0024363920920409