Stephen Dawson Case Summary

The case of Stephen Dawson raised many ethical issues. According to our course notes ethics is understanding what is right, wrong, good, and bad and also what ways of living are good, bad, right or wrong. The most significant issues in this case are firstly, that the institution for long term care and rehabilitation for physically disabled children placed Stephen in foster care because his condition was just too severe and they decided that somebody else would be more beneficial from their treatment and help. Secondly, Stephen's parents initially gave permission for the doctors to go ahead with the second shunt operation required to save Stephen's life but shortly after changed their minds because they thought it would just be better off for Steven to be allowed to die. Thirdly, The superintendent of family and child services did not agree with the parents decision and fought for custody of Stephen, eventually succeeding and approving …show more content…
Stephen’s disability required him to have many hours of attentive care a day, which was a lot for his family to handle. After being admitted to an institution for long-term care and rehabilitation for physically disabled children and then rehomed into foster care, doctors discovered that Stephen would have to undergo a second shunt operation. At first Stephen's parents gave permission for the doctors to go ahead with the operation, but changed their minds shortly after. Stephen’s parents decided that Stephen was suffering and it would be better off for Stephen to be allowed to pass away instead of made to live and suffer. The superintendent of family and child services did not agree with Stephen's parents decision and fought for custody of Stephen, initially losing but he did get granted custody of Stephen shortly after and the operation went ahead, saving Stephen’s