Mary was entering her third trimester, and beginning to work closely with doctor
ID: 3526959 • Letter: M
Question
Mary was entering her third trimester, and beginning to work closely with doctors and nurses in planning the delivery. She happily set off for an ultrasound, and get a glimpse of her baby girl. Her nurse that day, Ericka, seemed to thoroughly enjoy her job, getting to ravel in the joy of expectant mothers. Ericka performed the ultrasound, while Mary, beaming with excitement, asked Ericka jokingly if baby Julia had all her toes. Ericka continued to smile but swiftly left the room, saying very little to Mary before making her exit. Mary instantly felt that something was wrong. About a minute later, two doctors entered to tell Mary the crushing news, they had come to explain the new findings during this ultrasound, and the number of toes were the least of concern at this point. The doctors explained the Ericka had found malformations in the babies brain that would ultimately result in terrible physical ailments for baby Julia. It was possible the Julia would never be able to walk, speak, swallow, and may not even be able to breathe upon exiting the womb. In addition to this, Julia would suffer from mild to severe mental retardation, and likely have to sustain nutrition through a feeding tube for as long as she lived.
Mary called Jack in hysterics. The doctor had suggested a couple of options, both equally heartbreaking. Adoption, or a life filled with social workers, medical bills, and poor quality of life for not only Julia but for her family as well. Mary and Jack had several hard discussions, and together shared nights full of tears and misery. Ultimately, in their discussion, they believed truly in their hearts that abortion would be the best option for everyone involved. Unfortunately in their state, aborting a child in the third trimester, it against the law.
Question: How would John Stuart Mill of solved this dilemma in todays world?
Explanation / Answer
Answer.
In this debate between the parent’s right to abortion and the state law against abortion after the third trimester, J.S.Mill’s theory of utilitarianism can be applied as one constructive way to resolve this ethical issue. Mill would support the parent’s decision to abort the foetus and justify the utilitarian principle as the foundation of morals on life and death. This principle says actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote overall human happiness. So, Mill would focus on the potential negative consequences of the action to proceed with pregnancy that would lead to successful birth but a series of unfortunate effects for the child, her parents as well the healthcare system and the community resources that would be essential to provide care to an unhealthy individual born with developmental deformities. Moroever, the mental pain and suffering caused to the child and her parents would be more challenging consequences of the action to retain the deformed foetus.
Thus, according to Mill the decision towards abortion of severely deformed or unhealthy foetuses would be assessed not in terms of the rights nor ethical sentiments, but in terms of securing greater happiness and pleasure for the greater number of people involved in the action- including the child, the parents and the professionals vested with the responsibility of medical and social care.