Response 4
Response: 1
In the ethical violation news about the woman in Texas, the primary concern is that, can we consider her parents’ and husband’s decision as her own free will? A person who is medically declared as brain-dead cannot take a decision. In most of the cases, such patient’s relatives take the decision. As we discuss the right of the patient to be freed from life support, we should also think about the right of the baby in her womb to live. Removing the life support will kill the baby as well, which leads to another serious ethical dilemma. (Fernandez, 2014) As per medical science, a patient who is brain dead is not able to perceive feelings, pain, etc. However, the baby inside is capable of perceiving all those aspects. Hence, in my opinion, it is more unethical to deny the remotest opportunity for the baby to survive. I strongly agree with your feelings for the woman’s sufferings. The arguments that you made to end her suffering is also appreciable. There is a remote chance for the baby to survive. In that case, the doctors may wait till they make a last effort to let the baby survive. There is a precedence of a 22-year old lady Karla Perez, who gave birth to a healthy baby after spending 54 days of confirming brain death. (Buchanan) Do you believe that the woman would have agreed to her relatives plan if she was conscious? Can we justify the action of killing a healthy baby growing inside her womb?
Response: 2
As you mentioned in the paper, everyone has the right over one’s own body. However, in the case of a pregnant woman, her right to use tobacco is partially limited by the rights of the baby growing within her. The baby too has its own rights. Hence in a legal sense, the doctors are bound to take action.
On an ethical perspective, I would strongly agree with you about the way in which doctors handled the issue. A woman going into labor will be under stress. She will be in a medically compromised situation, and putting her under additional pressure should be avoided. In an extreme case, it may even pose a threat to the baby as well, in which case all the efforts made by the doctors will go in vain. She might have requested to switch hospital, as she was treated with a prejudice about smoking. Such prejudices should also be avoided by the doctors. (Stein, Curtis) Your comments about smoking and presenting the fact that smoking is the worst thing one can do during pregnancy are important. As you clearly explained, the prime objective of the doctors should have been to offer maximum comfort for the patient during her delivery time. They could have escalated the issue afterwards. Your explanation about the issue about the doctor not considering the patient as a human being is also worth mentioning. Often medical practitioners are more worried about rules and regulations rather than people in front of them. (Purtilo and Doherty, p. 186)
Do you believe that dealing with the scenario on a legal angle during labor time would be acceptable from an ethical point of view? Was the code of conduct of a medical practitioner violated on an ethical angle?
Works Cited
Buchanan, Sarah. "Mother Gives Birth to Healthy Baby Boy 54 Days after She Was Declared Brain-dead." Web. 08 Apr. 2016. <http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/575040/Karla-Perez-brain-dead-woman-gives-birth-healthy-baby-boy-Angel>.
Fernandez, Manny, and Erik Eckholm. "Pregnant, and Forced to Stay on Life Support." The New York Times. The New York Times, 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/us/pregnant-and-forced-to-stay-on-life-support.html?_r=0>.
Stein, Letitia, and Curtis Krueger. "Pregnant Woman's Involuntary Hospitalization Raises Legal, Ethical, Medical Questions." Tampa Bay Times. Web. 08 Apr. 2016. <http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/pregnant-womans-involuntary-hospitalization-raises-legal-ethical-medical/1068455>.
Purtilo, R. B., and Doherty, R. F. (2011) Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier
