Untitled Essay, Research Paper

Matt Domin

MWF 9:00Abortion and the Mentally HandicappedMs. Smith,

We of the Ethics Committee have reviewed your case for

an extended period of time. We took into consideration, for our decision,

the yearn of any female to experience childbearing, child birth, and the

joy of raising young. Being a mother is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,

and once you become a mother you are a mother for life. There is a tremendous

amount of responsibility and work that goes along with having children. We

understand your desire to continue the pregnancy, and to keep the child,

but due to your legal status, mental health, and the baby’s well being, the

decision to terminate the pregnancy has been reached and voted for

unanimously.

Your mother has proper legal custody, and as you know,

wants the abortion to take place. We agree with her concern for your well-being.

Child birth is an extremely stressful situation. The trauma of the pregnancy

could intensify your paranoid schizophrenia, or cause some other mental disorder.

Mrs. Smith has informed us that she herself is not capable of caring for

the child. We feel that you will suffer further if you are forced to give

up the child. Your psychiatrist has come to the conclusion that you are not

capable of being a responsible parent, but you are, at times, capable of

making rational moral decisions. However, because you are not able to make

important, rational, moral decisions most of the time your mother can claim

that you are not mentally capable of raising a child. Also. We took in to

account that the father of this unborn child is unknown. There is no one

to help you make this decision, but more importantly, there is not another

parental figure to aid in the raising and caring for this child. From testimonies

from your mother and your psychiatrist, it is our understanding that you

can do neither on your own.

Ms. Smith, you have been diagnosed with paranoid

schizophrenia. As you know, the treatment for paranoid schizophrenia is a

variety of different drugs. This gives you a slightly higher chance of having

fetal defects such as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema, abruptioplacentae,

miscarriage, or placenta previa to name a few. We also feel that there is

an increased chance that the child will develop a mental disorder. It is

not fair for the child or its’ care takers to suffer from deformities that

were caused from drug reactions. You must understand our position in caring

for the physical health and safety of this child.

You will not be able to provide for the child, because

you have no annual income. We feel that the child will not have equal

opportunities to have positive growth and development because of this. Living

in Community Hospital’s long term care unit does not provide a heathy environment

for the baby to live in. The baby will have little opportunity to go outside,

be with peers, and have friends. A baby needs a healthy environment to grow

and be nurtured in. This is a basic right that should be granted to any new

born. We feel that because of your living situation your baby will not get

the essentials.

Adoption is another issue to be dealt with. As we stated

earlier, you might suffer more if you are you are forced to give the baby

up for adoption. You could possibly develop serious depression, and worsen

your paranoid schizophrenia. You may think you give the child up for adoption

to benefit their well being, but once you actually give birth to this child,

your feelings may change. The could cause serious emotional trauma on you,

your mother, and in the long run will hurt your child. Orphanages aren’t

the best environment for a child to grow up in. If you did put your child

up for adoption, the likelihood that someone will want to adopt a mental

patient’s child is low, and if the child is deformed in some way the chance

is even smaller. You took the responsibility to have sex, now you must take

the responsibility to do what is right for your child, no matter how much

pain will be placed on you. Every child deserves to have loving, providing

parents and we feel you can’t give your child that, and an adoption may not

be successful. We, as an Ethics Committee are not willing to take that chance

with an unborn child’s life.

Children’s development is influenced by several different

mediums like environment, parents, friends, and personal characteristics.

We feel that if this child were born under these circumstances, the influences

presented would be negative, and the baby’s well being, health, and security

are top priority in this case. Being an ethics committee, we cannot permit

you to give birth to this fetus. You are not mentally capable to bear, or

properly raise the child. Your lifestyle is not suitable for properly raising

a child. Living in a mental hospital does not provide an acceptable environment

for a baby to grow in, and the negatives of this case out way the

positives.

We are truly sorry about this decision, but it is the

best for you and the child. We will do our best to help you in any way. We

are here to offer mental and physical support. Please understand that this

is the best solution for everyone involved. If you have any problems or questions

feel free to contact us any time. We did not impose this decision to hurt

you in any way. We want you to get healthy and care for yourself. Until you

can care for, and have responsibility for yourself, you can’t care for and

take responsibility for another. This decision is final and you must cooperate

with us to make this painful situation as easy as possible. We have sent

a copy of this letter to your mother and to your doctors and we would like

to talk with you further. Thank You for your cooperation.Sincerely,

The Ethics Committee