Benchmark Assignment: Ethical Dilemmas And Pregnancy

Benchmark Assignment: Ethical Dilemmas
Ethical dilemmas are something that we all face on a daily basis. Whether they involve huge and life changing decisions, or small dilemmas that may seem trivial in the course of our days, we use our belief systems to help us navigate these dilemmas and choose the best solution for our lives. The results of the decisions we make regarding our ethical dilemmas can have both extreme consequences and incredible benefits to our lives. This paper will examine an ethical dilemma involving a woman experiencing unexpected test results in her pregnancy, and how the Christian worldview and other worldviews influence her decision about how to proceed with her pregnancy.
Ethical Dilemma
This dilemma involves a woman, Susan, who finally becomes pregnant after many years of trying. A blood test reveals that the baby she is carrying had Downs Syndrome. Both her doctor and a professor of evolutionary biology, Richard, who she consulted, suggest that she terminate the pregnancy based on the amount of suffering that both she and the child would endure as a result of the Downs Syndrome diagnosis. Richard went so far as to say that aborting the pregnancy would be the most ethical decision in the situation, given the circumstances.
One sure benefit to her would be that she would be able to go through life knowing that she did not choose to end an innocent life. “Regardless of the challenges, one person's right to a preferred lifestyle is not greater than another person's right to a life” (The Rights, 2015). Another benefit to Susan would be that she gets to become a mother and form a bond with her precious child, regardless of the challenges that they will face. Lastly, she will know that she stayed faithful to God’s commandments and obeyed Him. The benefits in this situation definitely outweigh the consequences according to the Christian