Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2. SPINA BIFIDA
BIRTH DEFORMITIES o An opening of the spine, a bulging sac resulting from
protrusion of the membrane covering the spinal cord
o Spinal fluid and nerve tissue contained in swelling
Birth Deformities protuberance
o Are defects, malformations or abnormalities of a child o Paralysis below the waist
which are present at birth. o No control of bladder and bowel movements
2. Congenital deformities
o Are defects present at birth or develop in the
utero
o Non – hereditary
Types of Deformities
1. TRISOMY 21
o Down’s syndrome/ Mongolism
o A genetic disease resulting from the presence of extra
chromosome in the genetic formation
o They are born retarded with various physical
deformities like having broad skull, a large tongue an
upward slant of the eyelids
Treatment
o Surgical treatment- by inserting a thin tube (shunt) to drain
the fluid from the brain to the heart or abdomen.
5. ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA
o Refers to closing of esophagus Moral issue
o The muscular tube has no opening through which milk o Should a malformed child be given only ordinary care or
or food may reach the stomach extraordinary medical treatment be given to save life?
o Surgery is required and chances are very high. o Should it be given no medical attention at all and simply
allow to die?
o or should it be killed in a merciful way?
KANTIAN PRINCIPLES
6. DUODENAL ATRESIA o If the malformed is baby is a person, it possesses an
o The duodenum/ the upper part of the small intestine is inherent dignity and worth.
closed and food cannot passed through and be o But aside from being defective, it lacks the capacity to
digested reason and to express its will which are the basis of
o It is more common in boys than girls human dignity.
o 1 per 5000-10,000 live births
o Surgical operation is highly successful. ROSS ETHICS
o Which prima facie duty is more stringent?
o The duty to have a deformed baby be operated on his/her
condition, the cost of which is tremendous and
burdensome to the family; or the duty to just let the
malformed child die in a painless and quiet way?
UTILITARIANISM
o It justify the act of commission to put an end to the
miserable life of a newborn with severe deformities with
the ff reasons:
a) Personal
o in terms of suffering of the infant, anguish of the
parents, discomfort it brings to the family
members.
b) Social
o Monetary cost to society
o Being liability than asset to the community
PRAGMATISM
o When the child deformities are so serious and severe that
all medical measures are unnecessary and useless, the
most realistic and practical decision to be made is to put
its life to a speedy and painless end.
PRINCIPLE OF NON-MALEFICENCE
o “Do no harm”/ Duty to avoid evil
o Stresses that harm or pain should not be inflicted upon
others regardless of status
o Urge everyone to avoid inflicting harm as a moral
obligation
o It mandates the right not to be killed, not to have bodily
injury or pain on one self