PHI220_Week 8_Assignment_Outline Applied Ethics Essay_AHuckeby_Draft
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[Case Study: Health Care Ethics
Jennifer Johnson: Maternal Drug Use and Fetal Rights (2)
When 23-year-old Jennifer Johnson arrived to give birth to her fourth child, hospital drug tests found traces of cocaine in her blood. It was later revealed that her other children had all been cocaine-affected babies. A Florida judge found her guilty of delivery (through the umbilical cord) of a controlled substance to a child. Johnson was sentenced to 15 years of probation, drug treatment, random drug testing, and educational and vocational training. She was ordered to participate in an intensive pre-natal care program if she should ever become pregnant again.
According to the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine, an estimated one in five women use illegal drugs. The cost of caring for a cocaine-exposed infant can run into the millions of dollars. In response, several states have passed civil child abuse and neglect laws, which state that taking illicit drugs or alcohol during pregnancy constitutes child abuse. As a result of these laws, thousands of women have lost custody of their children and some have even been jailed or placed in mandatory drug treatment programs. As in the case of Jennifer Johnson,
addicted women can avoid prison by agreeing to undergo drug treatment.
Question Chosen:
Does a pregnant woman who plans to carry her fetus to term have a moral obligation to refrain from using substances that are harmful to the fetus? If so, does the obligation necessarily depend
upon the personhood or moral status of the fetus? Can we have a duty to refrain from behavior that might harm persons who do not yet exist?]
Child Abuse
Jennifer has been pregnant with three other children. She understands what is expected and what a mother should and shouldn’t do. The moral obligation of a mother is to carry, nurture, and
protect their children
. Being this is not her first pregnancy; she should already be aware of the affect drug might have on a fetus. Being held liable for the repercussions or potential affects that she subject to her child. Jennifer being placed on probation, required to do random drug treatment, educational, vocational training and ordered to participate in a pre-natal care program if she should ever become pregnant again, will teach and further educate Jennifer on what the efforts and future that
the child may be subject to live due to her actions. Jennifer needs to be held accountable for the actions that she has carried out while pregnant and the effects she caused. It’s unethical and morally wrong. (1)
Outline: Applied Ethics Essay
Ashley Huckeby
Strayer University
PHI220 – Ethics
Richard Foster
December 13, 2023
1.
Position: What is your position on this issue? This is the conclusion you came to.
a.
It was not morally acceptable for Jennifer to take any drug while pregnant knowing the efforts it could potentially cause the infant.
2.
Relevant Facts of the Case: What facts (that is, premises or reasons) from the case support your conclusion?
a.
It is illegal for a pregnant woman to take illegal substances. b.
This is child abuse and negligence.
3.
Clarifying Concepts: What ideas need to be clarified to ensure mutual understanding of the particular concepts relevant to the case?
a.
“Using illegal drugs during pregnancy is dangerous for an unborn baby and the mother. Studies show when a pregnant woman uses illegal drugs during pregnancy it can result in miscarriage, low birth weight, premature labor, placental abruption, seizures, respiratory problems, feeding difficulties, and death of the baby and the mother.” (2)
b.
“Across the country, hundreds of pregnant women and new mothers have been accused of child abuse or other crimes when they or their newborns tested positive for controlled substances. Laws on drug testing of infants and new mothers vary, but the stakes are always high. In many places, women lose their children or end up in behind bars, sometimes even if the drug was prescribed. Here is a survey of state laws.” (3)
4.
Ethical Standard Pertinent to the Case: The standard may be drawn from Virtue Ethics, Natural Law, Ethical Egoism, Utilitarianism, and Kantianism. Be sure to clearly state the standard from one of these moral theories in your set of premises
.
a.
Ethical Egoism, where you have a moral obligation to be selfless to ensure the happiness of us and others around us. This related to the obligation as mothers we hold to our children. “We all want to be happy, and taking our interests seriously is important to our happiness. These truths have been mostly ignored in moral systems emphasizing self-sacrifice and altruism as the highest moral duties.” (1)
5.
Source List 1.
Judith Boss. 2019. Ethics for Life
(7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Chapter 7. Ethical Egoism. pp. 138.
Explains basic tenets of Ethical egoism thought.
2.
American Pregnancy Association. 2023. Using Illegal Drugs During Pregnancy. Using Illegal Drugs During Pregnancy - American Pregnancy Association
Discusses the effects of drug use while pregnant.
3.
Leticia Miranda. Vince Dixon. Cecilia Reyes. September, 30, 2015. How States Handle Drug Use During Pregnancy. ProPublica. How States Handle Drug Use During Pregnancy (propublica.org)
Discusses drug use of pregnant woman, the effects, and what happens to them once caught
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4.
PHI220 – Ethics. 2023. Case Study: Health Care Ethics. Jennifer Johnson: Maternal Drug
Use and Fetal Rights.
Case Study chosen for this essay.
Applied Ethics Essay
Ashley Huckeby
Strayer University
PHI220 – Ethics
Richard Foster
December 16, 2023
Applied Ethics
When I think of a mother, I think of a nurturing, caring, loving, teaching, and protective figure. In fact that is what a mother should be. Is a woman that finds out she is pregnant with child does she have a moral obligation to not be or take illegal drugs? Even though they might hurt or affect the fetus? Even though the fetus does not yet exist in this world. Does a mother have a moral and ethical obligation to do right for the fetus and take care of not only herself but as well as the unborn child? Even though that fetus has yet to live life and cannot yet defend itself. A child did not ask to be brought into the world and shouldn’t have to reap the actions of another person.
“In addition to increasing a mother’s risk of overdose, untreated opioid use disorder during pregnancy can cause fetal growth restriction, placental abruption (separation of the placenta from
the uterus), preterm labor, and other problems, and sometimes even the death of the fetus.” (1) It is different from state to state, but mothers can face charges, loss of custody, or even termination of rights to the child. (1) “Across the country, hundreds of pregnant women and new mothers have been accused of child abuse or other crimes when they or their newborns tested positive for controlled substances. Laws on drug testing of infants and new mothers vary, but the stakes are always high. In many places, women lose their children or end up in behind bars, sometimes even if the drug was prescribed. Here is a survey of state laws.” (2)
In our case study it states, Jennifer has been pregnant with three other children. She understands what is expected and what a mother should and shouldn’t do. The moral obligation of a mother is to carry, nurture, and protect their children
. Being this is not her first pregnancy; she should already be aware of the affect drug might have on a fetus. Being held liable for the repercussions or potential effects that she subjects to her child. Jennifer being placed on
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
probation, required to do random drug treatment, educational, vocational training and ordered to participate in a pre-natal care program if she should ever become pregnant again, will teach and further educate Jennifer on what the efforts and future that the child may be subject to live due to
her actions. Jennifer needs to be held accountable for the actions that she has carried out while pregnant and the effects she caused. It’s unethical and morally wrong. (3) It was not morally acceptable for Jennifer to take any drug while pregnant knowing the efforts it could potentially cause the infant. I believe that it should be completely illegal for a pregnant woman to take illegal substances. I believe this is child abuse and negligent. “Using illegal drugs during pregnancy is dangerous for an unborn baby and the mother. Studies show when a pregnant woman uses illegal drugs during pregnancy it can result in miscarriage, low birth weight, premature labor, placental abruption, seizures, respiratory problems, feeding difficulties, and death of the baby and the mother.” (4) Ethical Egoism, where you have a moral obligation to be selfless to ensure the happiness of us
and others around us. This related to the obligation as mothers we hold to our children. “We all want to be happy, and taking our interests seriously is important to our happiness. These truths have been mostly ignored in moral systems emphasizing self-sacrifice and altruism as the highest
moral duties.” (3) As a mother you have a responsibility to ensure that the child is safe and in good luck up to your best ability. In conclusion, a “report presents information on the number of children who are living with at least one parent with an SUD related to their use of alcohol or illicit drugs.” (5) As humans we have free will. The ability to think and feel freely as we want. However, I feel as if the penalties for mothers that use illegal drugs while pregnant should have greater repercussions. Woman that finds out they are pregnant and continue to use illegal drugs disregarding the effect it could not
only have on their body but potentially to the unborn child is alerting. The effects are truly undetermined and could potentially cause lifelong affects for both mother and child. A child did not ask to be brought into the world and shouldn’t have to reap the actions of another person.
Sources:
1.
Dr. Nora Volko. February 15, 2023. Pregnant People With Substance Use Disorders Need
Treatment, Not Criminalization. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Pregnant People With Substance Use Disorders Need Treatment, Not Criminalization | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
2.
Leticia Miranda. Vince Dixon. Cecilia Reyes. September, 30, 2015. How States Handle Drug Use During Pregnancy. ProPublica. How States Handle Drug Use During Pregnancy (propublica.org)
3.
Judith Boss. 2019. Ethics for Life
(7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Chapter 7. Ethical Egoism. pp. 138.
4.
American Pregnancy Association. 2023. Using Illegal Drugs During Pregnancy. Using Illegal Drugs During Pregnancy - American Pregnancy Association
5.
Rachel N. Lipari, Ph.D., and Struther L. Van Horn, M.A. August 24, 2017. The Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Children Living with Parents who have a Substance Use Disorder. Children Living with Parents Who Have a Substance Use
Disorder (samhsa.gov)