Medical ethics is all about doing what is considered to be right while achieving the best possible outcome for every patient. There are many factors to consider while making life changing decisions, whether that is about you or for the future of others. This decision could be made as a parent, guardian or a healthcare professional. Medical ethics and legal issues need to be considered; also the patients’ beliefs and religion may also play a vital part in decisions.
Abortion is a great example in which medical ethics and legal issues play a huge role. Some may argue that the mother has the right to make the sole decision on whether she decides to have the abortion or not, as it is her body that will carry the foetus through to full term. This …show more content…
According to Peter Singer, ‘’at least when carried out before 18 weeks, abortion is in itself morally neutral. Even later abortions, when some pain may be involved, could be justified if the outcome were to prevent much greater suffering’’ (Medical law and ethics, 4th edition, Shaun D. Pattinson, pg 231). Here Singer has a utilitarian view, according to him ‘’ to have any moral status at all one must be sentient (which requires consciousness and self-awareness)’’ (Medical law and ethics, 4th edition, Shaun D. Pattinson, pg 231). This means that as the baby in Susans’ case is said to have no moral status according to what Singer has said her abortion would be morally correct and justified. Utilitarianism is the concept that the consequences of a person’s actions can be good or can be bad. A measure of good or bad can be through happiness. If happiness increases then the action had a good consequence however if happiness decreases then the action had a bad consequence. Susan may be happier after the abortion as she will feel like she can carry on with her life and her career, but the abortion will also affect other people like her husband. She has not considered how he feels and has not discussed the abortion with him. He may want to keep the baby and may feel he should play a key part in making the decision whether or not Susan should have an
Abortion is a great example in which medical ethics and legal issues play a huge role. Some may argue that the mother has the right to make the sole decision on whether she decides to have the abortion or not, as it is her body that will carry the foetus through to full term. This …show more content…
According to Peter Singer, ‘’at least when carried out before 18 weeks, abortion is in itself morally neutral. Even later abortions, when some pain may be involved, could be justified if the outcome were to prevent much greater suffering’’ (Medical law and ethics, 4th edition, Shaun D. Pattinson, pg 231). Here Singer has a utilitarian view, according to him ‘’ to have any moral status at all one must be sentient (which requires consciousness and self-awareness)’’ (Medical law and ethics, 4th edition, Shaun D. Pattinson, pg 231). This means that as the baby in Susans’ case is said to have no moral status according to what Singer has said her abortion would be morally correct and justified. Utilitarianism is the concept that the consequences of a person’s actions can be good or can be bad. A measure of good or bad can be through happiness. If happiness increases then the action had a good consequence however if happiness decreases then the action had a bad consequence. Susan may be happier after the abortion as she will feel like she can carry on with her life and her career, but the abortion will also affect other people like her husband. She has not considered how he feels and has not discussed the abortion with him. He may want to keep the baby and may feel he should play a key part in making the decision whether or not Susan should have an