ARELLANO UNIVERSITY

PLARIDEL CAMPUS
53 Gen. Kalentong St., Mandaluyong City

GCAS 02 - Understanding The Self

Sahagun, Nina Samantha C. Ma’am Rhodora Thiam
1AB-Psychology Midterm-Act#2
Natural Law (Case Problem)
1. A middle-aged man has a heart condition and needs a new heart valve. Is it natural to do
this or should the man be allowed to die naturally without medical intervention?
2. Two adults of the same sex are living together as a settled and happy couple. They decide
that they want a family to make their relationship complete. They decide to adopt a child.
Is this morally, right?
3. Explain what kind of ethical principles, each situation.

ANSWER:
1. For the middle-aged man, it is only natural that he gets surgery for a new heart valve if it
is available in the said hospital. This also depends on the man himself, or his family if he
is unconscious at the time. I also believe this also depends on the capacity they have to
pay for hospital bills, considering heart surgeries cost too much and may affect the entire
lifestyle of a family who is living from paycheck to paycheck or someone who came
from poverty. One should always consider what can be good for the whole family. But if
there is no family available and the man is unconscious, it is natural for doctors to do
their role in aiding people with what they need to survive.
2. Same-sex marriage is still not accepted in our country which is ironic because in the same
country that colonized us and taught us about the same religion the majority have already
approved of same-sex marriage in their country. Discrimination against minorities will
always prevail if a higher power can’t embrace something that promotes equality in
sexual orientation. Even before making a family and thinking of rearing a child, one must
think about the child’s future and how capable they can be for their child no matter the
gender they have. It is morally right if the adoption of a child is legal.
3. The ethical principles observed in items 1 and 2 are:
a. Autonomy, beneficence - It is the man’s decision for himself which explains why
autonomy is observed and beneficence is where the doctor does his job to save
people no matter what.
b. Autonomy, veracity, responsibility - It is also the decision of both homosexual
parents of how they can healthily raise a child and be capable as parents. In
veracity, parents should also be honest about how the world will perceive them
and must educate the child on what really is the concept of morally wrong deeds.
Responsibility is another ethical principle that can be observed because parents
should be more responsible on how to rear a child that may experience the harsh
reality some people still reject.