Which ethical theory (of the 6 approved ones ONLY – Kant; Act Utilitarianism; Rule Utilitarianism; Care Ethics; Virtue Ethics; and Social Contract) would you apply to this topic to defend your stance? Explain fully.

Reflective Journal Template – Topic Reflection

 

Topic	Prenatal Testing Scenario and Reflection
What are the key points of contention on this topic?
What side of the argument (stance) do you take on this topic?
What strong points does the other side of this topic have?
What were the three most important things you took away from the topic?   1.   2.   3.
Which ethical theory (of the 6 approved ones ONLY – Kant; Act Utilitarianism; Rule Utilitarianism; Care Ethics; Virtue Ethics; and Social Contract) would you apply to this topic to defend your stance? Explain fully. 250 words A)   In this reflection you must first define the key terms of the debate and what are the different types B)    Define and explain the ethical theory you chose (show me you know exactly what the theory is and does – in your own words) C)    Present the evidence both pro and con and follow up how using your ethical theory is the best way to determine whether or not your stance is really ethical D)   Conclusion – any final thoughts and opinions would go here E)    2 to 3 resources as support for your evidence (text book counts as 1)     Textbook Pence, E. G. (2021) Medical ethics: Accounts of ground-breaking cases 9th ed. New York: McGraw Hill Education.

Prenatal Testing Scenario

Good morning concerns have been raised recently that the strides that specialists are making in prenatal genetic testing are leading us down the path of eugenics of course is the theory and practice of human improvement by way of genetic manipulation to produce desired traits in a child. if history is any indicator there is calls for alarm where ethics issues and eugenics are concerned eugenics played a clear role in the Nazi “master race” project and there examination of millions of people who did not meet Nazi criteria can the mistakes of the past be avoided doctors and legislators need to be open minded and willing to hear all options on the topic today we are talking specifically about the blood test used to screen for Down syndrome during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Dr Williams’s opinion

The genetic test in question gives us the ability to identify Down syndrome in the womb without causing any harm to the fetus through the use of a simple blood test. Down syndrome can bring with it a lifetime of pain and frustration which in addition to the potential for physical abnormalities, can include a loss of cognitive ability, respiratory problems, heart defects and more. The test is extremely low risk and almost 100% accurate: there is no reason to feel this as ethically questionable. Giving parents this information in advance means parents have more options in general and an opportunity to raise a healthier child.

Dr. Garcia’s opinion

Obviously, there’s more to it than that. For starters many children with Down syndrome develop into healthy adults who do not suffer from the health conditions you mentioned. And many of those potential conditions can develop independent of this syndrome in the general population. As there is no cure for Down syndrome that opportunity to raise a healthier child you refer to implies aborting a child after a positive blood test. By promoting this test aren’t we stepping into a grey area where we are engineering human improvement based on a subjective evaluation of what is a better human being. Since there’s no cure for Down syndrome testing for the condition will lead parents to abort fetuses that could have led full and happy lives.

Question from the audience:

Doctor Garcia, we have a question from the audience for you. I know there is no cure but how long do people with Down syndrome typically live and what is their quality of life?

Dr. Garcia – advances in medicine have improved life dramatically for those with Down syndrome. True most still live shorter lives on average than those without the disorder but many now live to be 60 or older. In the United States many people with Down syndrome complete high school and some go on to college. People with Down syndrome can work volunteer and vote. And they are able to give and receive love like everyone else.

Dr. Williams – We are not telling parents what to do with the information we give them. We are simply identifying a potential health hazard. this test is a medical advance, plain and simple. Previous tests for Down syndrome were not as accurate and required withdrawing amniotic fluid which came with substantial risks. This is a basic blood test we are identifying a clear health risk.

Dr. Garcia:

Perhaps not “strictly”. the test will inevitably lead some parents to abort a child who tested positive for Down syndrome, but who would not have developed any of the health problems potentially associated with the disorder. a healthy life would have been prevented in favor of another life with more culturally accepted aesthetics and little more. making this test available is also making decisions about which lives we value as a society and with that we are stepping beyond the realm of healthcare. this is the reason that some of us fear that these tests are leading us as a culture toward eugenics. the blood test for Down syndrome is a medical advice but that does not mean it is an ethical advance.

Another Q from the audience:

OK we have a question from the audience. What is the pregnancy termination rate after a diagnosis of Down syndrome ? Doctor Garcia

Dr. Garcia – statistics vary widely, but following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome 60 to 90% of expectant parents choose to terminate the pregnancy.

We have a question from the audience for doctor Williams how rare is Down syndrome?

Dr. Williams – the CDC estimated that frequency of Down syndrome in the United states as one in 691 live births in 2011 up from one in 1087 in 1990.