Virtue Theory: Is It Right To Fetal Abnormality?

Introduction Fetal abnormality is the most horrible and unbelievable news one can receive during pregnancy especially if it is the first one. But the life growing in the uterus is as important as fully grown human being. In this paper we are looking at the sanctity of life. Is it right for Dr. Wilson to advise Marco and Jessica to terminate the pregnancy due to fetal abnormality? But Aunt Maria pleads with Jessica to follow through with the pregnancy and let God have His way. Theory Virtue theory is being used in this case. As defined “Virtue Theory is an approach to ethics that emphasizes an individual's character as the key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules about the acts themselves (Deontology) or their consequences (Consequentialism)” (Mastin, 2008, p.1). As known virtue is the knowledge of good and evil. In this case, Jessica, Marco and Maria seems to believe in the sanctity of life. So deontology is what they used which is defined as “an approach to ethics that focuses on the rightness or wrongness of actions themselves, as opposed to the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions or to the character …show more content…
As the bible says in Exodus 20:13 “thou shall not kill” (King James Version, 2016, p.9).As a mother, she will feel guilty for the rest of her life that she killed her own child. The doctor is looking at the medical point of view that the child won`t have the quality of life and may be the baby may die but this is also costly if she goes to full term. Generally “a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome or result, and the consequences of an action or rule generally outweigh all other considerations (i.e. the ends justify the means)” (Mastin, 2008,