Question

Is Fetal Endangerment a Mother's Right? by three different Jane is pregnant, 23 years old, unmarried, and the mother of four children by three di fathers. She has been an insulin-dependent diabetic since the age of 12 but had no com tions from the disease during the earlier pregnancies. During clinic visits, Jane has been advised of the risks of uncontrolled diabetes for her born child (increased risk for congenital deformities, premature birth, and being stillbomb does not seem to take the advice seriously. When questioned about how she is monitoring he blood sugar, she complains that she is too poor to buy the test strips, and even when she he the supplies, she often forgets. At 15 weeks' gestation, following an office visit, she is admitted to the hospital as an inpa tient to treat her diabetes. The next day, against her physician's advice, she checks herself our of the hospital even though the diabetes has not been fully brought under control. Once at home, she again fails to monitor her blood sugar adequately. At 22 weeks' gestation, Jane is again admitted to the hospital as her diabetes is again out of control. The next morning, she again announces that she wishes to check out. The physician and unit staff advise her that her actions are clearly not in the best interest of the fetus, Jane responds negatively to the advice and becomes belligerent, demanding to be released. 1. In this case, who has rights? Whose rights should prevail? Jane's? The fetus's? The hospital staff's? Should the physician attempt to get a court order to keep Jane hospitalized? 2. MORAL AND LEGAL RIGHTS

Answer 1

Answer: Fetus's rights should be considered as the fetus has rights because it is considered to be a human and possess all the rights. The fetus have right to live like human being as well as they need to given proper care. Under the moral law and civil law, fetus has right to live.

Physician should go to court to keep jane hospitalized because it is necessary to provide rights to fetus. For this purpose the courts order is mandatory so that the mother could be hospitalized as her glucose level is unstable and requires proper monitoring and treatment.