Ethics of Care Task

Each of the party’s decision-making among the parties had an ethical imperative. Jessica’s actions after the sad news of fetal abnormality do not indicate any ethical perspective. However, her previous agreement with Marco to wait for sufficient money before going for the ultrasound is an action of ethics of care. The moral principle of care argues that people are generally receivers and givers of care. Hence, actions that create, reinforce and sustain strong interpersonal relationships or interconnectedness are the most suitable ones when there is a dilemma (By & Burnes, 2013).  On the other hand, Marco’s refrain from disclosing the diagnosis results to is lover and Maria’s breaking of the sad news are actions that are founded on virtue ethics. The moral approach asserts that character should be the foundation for moral actions. More specifically, people should choose the universally accepted codes of conduct such as compassion, courage, temperance, and wisdom and avoid or discard choices that make them depict greed, selfishness, and jealousy when making their decisions. However, Dr.Wilson’s choice to break the fetal abnormality news directly to Jessica and giving advice about abortion without considering its potential outcome reveals that his decision-making was in conformity with deontological ethical model. The duty-based ethics accentuates on the autonomy of rules as the primary grounds for moral judgments. According to the principle, only those choices that conform with moral rules unconditionally should be chosen without paying attention to the consequences and vice versa.

Question 2

Jessica opted to wait for their money to be sufficient to cater for the costs of ultrasound out of concern for the financial status of her spouse. In addition, she was unwilling to burden her husband with a disabled child, which could threaten the financial and plans of her family. Apparently, the diagnosis delay and concern for taking care of a disabled child indicate that she is believes in a healthy relationship or connectedness with Marco. On the other hand, Marco’s decision to delay the sad news can be viewed as a wise decision for Marco because its benefits outweighed the costs. Apparently, the potential effects of the fetal abnormality news could lead to adverse consequences such as anger, disillusionment, and general emotional breakdown in Jessica. By allowing Jessica to be emotionally-stable before disclosing them, the concerns could be addressed easily.

As argued by the deontological ethics, Dr. Wilson perceived that it was his duty as a physician to disclose the unwelcome medical results to his client regardless of their potential outcomes. The strategy could build a patient doctor relationship that is based on trust as suggested by MacKenzie (2009). In addition, it was his duty to inform his client about the essence of aborting the child.  Lastly, Maria’s decision to break the sad news to Jessica and asking her to raise the disabled child afterwards was based on the virtue of truthfulness. According to Maria, concealing the ultrasound information from Jessica as suggested by Marco would be equivalent to lying to her. Moreover, Maria stood by the moral absolutes of Christianity that killing of any kind is ethically unacceptable.

Question 3

 When faced with a dilemma, the seriousness of the situation can be based on conscience how one conducts himself. Ethical choices that fail to produce generally pleasant results can be meaningless. The theory moral principles suggest that both the means and an end of a choice are important when establishing morality of an action.  Therefore, navigating through ethical alternatives and making the right choice is important thing in the abnormal fetus dilemma. Based on this assumption, I agree with Dr. Wilson’s perspective of deontological ethics because it takes account of the best interests of the patient, her family and her future. Wilson opts to avoid emphasis on happiness while failing to identify conducts that duty prescribes. Despite that it appears crude to care moralists, Wilson’s decision to notify Jessica that the fetus that she is carrying in her womb is abnormal makes him portray a virtue of truthfulness, which could play an important role in her subsequent decision-making (Barry & Edgman-Levitan, 2012). Therefore, his deontological approach to the dilemma conforms to both duty and virtue ethics. On the other hand, informing her that scientific abortion is a moral choice portrays him as a person that cars about Jessica’s future (consequentialist this). Jessica could easily make the right choice about the fate of her pregnancy as a result of the physician’s truthfulness. The doctor’s decision to disclose Jessica’s pregnancy issue without delay and recommending safe abortion option is the most appropriate action to take to shield Jessica from future family problems. Failing to deliver the information about the fetal condition and abortion alternatives could portray the physician as a negligent person and a liar, which is unethical according to virtue and care ethics.

Question 4

Christianity is built on the golden rule of doing unto others what he can expect others to do for him (Matthew 7:12). Acting beneficently is best done by showing compassion. Apparently, delivering the news about the abnormal fetus to Jessica in a compassionate way as suggested by Marco is acceptable because it indicates kindness and mercy for her. Additionally, the Bible advocates for autonomy whereby adequate information is availed and an individual allowed to make a decision independently. Apparently, Maria and Dr. Wilson violate the autonomy notion.

References

Barry, M. J., & Edgman-Levitan, S. (2012). Shared decision making—the pinnacle of patient-centered care. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(9), 780-781.

By, R. T., & Burnes, B. (Eds.). (2013). Organizational change, leadership and ethics: Leading organizations

MacKenzie, C. R. (2009). What would a good doctor do? Reflections on the ethics of medicine. HSS journal, 5(2), 196-199towards sustainability. Routledge.