Carlatan, City of San Fernando

College of Nursing

HEALTH CARE ETHICS (NCM 108)

FIRST SEMESTER SY 2020-2021
MIDTERM - CONTRACEPTION

CASE SCENARIO
Setting: Inside a Family Planning Clinic
Background: Accompanied by her parents, a 16-year-old girl visits.
Conversation: Mother: Doc our daughter has engaged in premarital sex at times. We fear she
may get pregnant at a very premature age and become uninterested to finish her studies.
Besides, her boyfriend is still so young and irresponsible. And we do not want our daughter to
have a ruined future. Please give her contraceptives. This is better than abortion.
Question: Does early age justify the use of contraceptive methods? What should a doctor,
equipped with moral principles do about the situation? What could be the response of the health
care practitioner?

Truthfully speaking yes, early age justify the use of contraceptive methods as it will prevent the
occurrence of teenage pregnancy and it is way better than getting an abortion. Although, at an
early age she should not be engaging at premarital sex since she is at risk in getting pregnant
and she might not finish her studies. But then, it’s the parent’s decision to educate their
daughter and introduce the use of contraceptives as they do not want their daughter to have a
ruined future. However, the doctor should educate them first and conduct health teaching about
the risk of pre-marital sex as well as the different contraceptives, its benefits and disadvantages
before giving it to them. They must be equipped with knowledge on how the contraceptive
works, like for birth control pills it is effective against pregnancy but it does not protect her in
acquiring sexually transmitted infections. On the other hand, as a health care provider the
doctor can also talk to the parents regarding on disciplining their daughter not to engage in
premarital sex and focus on other things like joining into recreational activities, and focusing on
her studies, instead of relying to contraceptives. Nonetheless, the doctor must respect the
autonomy to refuse or continue the use of contraceptives since the parents are in charge of
deciding for the patient. Thus, if they decided to continue what they wishes to give for their
daughter, then the doctor will immediately prescribe the contraceptive for them.

When we say contraception is morally wrong. Where in itself does the evil of contraception
reside?

1
Contraception or birth control is a method used to prevent pregnancy. Contraception is morally
wrong due to the fact that it violates the teachings of the church as it deprives the very purpose
and nature of human sexuality, and this further undermines the dignity of the human person.
Contraception leads to widespread sexual immorality and it is somewhat use as a tool to cover
up impulsive decisions. For instance, it makes easier to have sex outside marriage and also
allows people to have sex purely for enjoyment therefore, the respect for ones dignity and the
religious beliefs are being set aside. Furthermore, it is immoral because i t separates the
purpose of intercourse from its love and life giving meaning and the very nature and dignity of
the sacrament of marriage is violated.   However, it shifts the emphasis in sexual relations from
fruitfulness to pleasure and prevents potential human beings being conceived. For human
persons, sex is clearly oriented toward love and the creation of new life. Hence, by eliminating
the possibility of new life and the permanent bonding it demands, contraception decreases the
meaning of human sexuality to pleasure and commitment. Therefore, at the present time
contraceptives direct people especially the teen agers to decide impulsively such as engaging to
pre-marital sex without even considering the consequences and the moral value of their action.