You want an ethical dilemma? You got one!

[Undecided]

Woman denies avoiding Caesarean because of scar
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A woman accused of murder because she allegedly avoided a Caesarean section that could have saved her unborn twin has denied the charge, saying she already had scars from earlier C-sections.
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Her attorney, Michael Sikora, called a C-section major surgery and told the Tribune "it would come as no surprise that a woman with major mental illness would fear it."
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The documents allege that Rowland was warned numerous times between Christmas and January 9 that her unborn twins would likely die if she did not get immediate medical treatment, the documents allege. When she delivered them on January 13, the twin girl survived but the boy died.
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The case could affect abortion rights and open the door to the prosecution of mothers who smoke or don't follow their obstetrician's diet, said Marguerite Driessen, a law professor at Brigham Young University.
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The same day, a nurse at Salt Lake Regional Hospital saw Rowland, who allegedly told her she had left LDS Hospital because the doctor wanted to cut her "from breast bone to pubic bone," a procedure that would "ruin her life."
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http://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/West/03/12/mother.charged.ap/index.html

What an ethical controversy, this has the potential to affect the abortion debate as well. If it decided that the fetus was a living being and she could be convicted with murder of an unborn fetus it sets a very dangerous precedent. Should this woman be convicted of murder?

 

[otheadp]

1 she was here first
2 it's eventually up to her
3 this woman needs rest and moral support, not arrest, trial and dragging of her name through the mud by money hungry media, not to mention being constantly reminded of the death of her baby

 

[immane1]

I posted this story FIRST, in the political section today, where it seems to belong, given the questions I asked. If you comment on mine first, I will then comment on yours. Yes, I am 12.

 

[SpyMoose]

*further validates Undecided's version of the thread*

This is an appaling case, mentaly disturbed women who get pregnant should not have so much power over the process, in fact, I think that the state should nationalize the womb of every mentaly retarted or mentaly disturbed person who has one, and allow some sort of federal pannel decide what will happen concerning it.

 

[immane1]

"I think that the state should nationalize the womb of every mentaly retarted or mentaly disturbed person who has one, and allow some sort of federal pannel decide what will happen concerning it."

Of course you do! The government is your mommy and your daddy. You have no idea what is right or wrong. Now go outside and play with Jimmy, and be a good little boy.

 

[one_raven]

How would it affect Abortion laws?
Third trimetser abortions are already illegal unless not doing so poses an immediate threat to the mother, as far as I understood it.
Is that no so?

 

[Undecided]

Well the reason why I say it could affect things like abortion is because it sets precedent, if the fetus/baby is classified as a living human being. Then wouldn't all forms of abortion be considered murder? The fetus is still not breathing in the womb, and it is dependant. Thus what can we conclude? Conservatives are going to use this to their advantage and liberals are going to be on the fence, or reject that this woman did anything illegal. If she is convicted of murder an argument could be made that abortion is no different. Remember this woman did not have the C-section b/c she didn't want her aesthetics’ to be hampered with and she said it would ruin her life. She at no time was threatened by this pregnancy, so? What can we discern from this?

 

[Raithere]

There's another consideration as well. Major surgery of this kind is inherently dangerous. If the court rules that the woman is guilty of murder they are essentially saying that she is required to endanger her life for the life of another. While there are laws that make actions that actively endanger the life of a child illegal they do not require you to risk your life to prevent some 'natural' danger.

~Raithere

 

[one_raven]

Well the reason why I say it could affect things like abortion is because it sets precedent

Too late for that.
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act (supported by Bush and already passed by The House) goes up for a no-fillibuster Senate vote in less than two weeks.

http://www.nrlc.org/Unborn_Victims/UpdateUVVA031204.html

 

[Dr Lou Natic]

If she's a retard, thank god her children died.
I don't see how this woman can be in trouble though.
For not having a caserean, thats absurd. Why don't we go round up some women from tribal villages and incarcerate them for not having c-sections.
So she doesn't live in a tribal culture, she's still animal and can have birth anywhere and anyway she see's fit.
Thats not even kind of anyone elses business.
I don't think anyone should ever be held accountable for NOT doing something, especially something like this, not having a c-section. She's being arrested for going into labour and birthing a dead child(or children or whatever it is).
Obviously thats ridiculous.
Can someone be charged for attempted suicide for not taking medicine?

 

[SpyMoose]

Of course you do! The government is your mommy and your daddy. You have no idea what is right or wrong.

Yes immane1, my god you are getting it! Jackbooted fetal fascists marching down the avenue in their tan shirts, knowing no parent but the state, and no teat but its ruler. Unborn supermen are our superiors.

 

[one_raven]

Can someone be charged for attempted suicide for not taking medicine?

Sadly enough, yes, actually.
If a board of doctors and a judge are satisfied that the person is a threat to themselves by not taking the prescribed meds (intentional or not), they can be locked up in a mental instituion against their will for an indefinite amount of time.

 

[Dr Lou Natic]

Well, thats messed up, not much else to say about that.

 

[alain]

yep, i agree, any country that has suicide as a crime, is just messed up
i think it funny (in a sadistic way)
that by doing what she did, she got arrested
if she had the operation, the doctor could have got sued if he failed the operation.
if she did have the operation, she could possibly be arrested for trying to commit suicide by having adangerous procedure for no reason
there is no way to win, stupid media and Govt see to that

 

[slotty]

in english law ,the unborn child is not considered living and a separate being until the umbilical cord is actually cut.therefore in english law she could not be tried for any offence against her unborn child.

 

[Undecided]

Since I live in Canada same thing here, so that's why I thought it could spark a abortion debate. But I guess it's different in the US.