Biotechnology and Reproductive Rights - Essay Example

These principles include honesty and truthfulness, respect for persons, justice, autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence (Timko, 2001). Consequentialism is a utilitarian theory advanced by John Stuart Mill. This theory holds that the consequences of an action or omission determine their ethical value (Portmore, 2011). Therefore, actions that yield the best consequences are right and thereby ethical. Rule consequentialism holds that individuals rely on moral rules society sets to determine the goodness and badness of an action (Mizzoni, 2009).

The Deontological theory by Emmanuel Kant also holds the same view as Rule consequentalism. However, this theory holds that actions construed on rational, moral rules are right (Hooker, 2012). Rational is the ability of a decision, act or moral rule to apply to similar but not necessarily identical situations. In the case of Doctor Michael, he did not follow the rules the California medical board set. Secondly there are the societal guidelines that indicate that the welfare of any child born or unborn should be given due consideration.

Breaking these laws is not morally permissible and the consequences cannot, therefore, be virtuous (Portmore, 2011). Therefore, the mother of the octuplets will have a hard time raising her children given her unemployed state and the existence of six other siblings. From all possible angles, the Doctor does not indicate that his actions are rational (Hooker, 2012). In fact, the California Medical board describes his actions as “beyond reasonable judgment”. As such, in view of Rule Consequentialism and the deontological theory, his action is unethical.

Act consequentialism, on the other hand, provides for an analysis of actions as individual entities. With each new circumstance, different actions occur resulting in different, therefore, their ethical state changes (Portmore, 2011). Given the circumstances, the doctor’s actions did not mitigate any dire situation. Secondly these actions have little positive result for patients and other parties such as children and society. Therefore, his actions were not ethical. From the two aforementioned theories, duty and consequences should guide the actions of individuals.

Meanwhile, virtue ethics theory provides for the analysis of an action or omission in view of the individual’s character stemming from his past life (Mizzoni, 2009). The rightness of an action in this case is secondary to the righteousness of the individual performing the action (Oakley, 2001). There are three counts that can nullify the doctor’s virtuousness in view of his actions. As a result, of the board investigating his actions, another instance of him performing IVF fertilization in questionable circumstances surfaced.

The doctor assisted a 48 year old get pregnant with quadruplets. He disregarded the fact that the recommended number of implants is three. A second patient, diagnosed with ovarian cancer was also under his treatment. Given his priors, the virtue theory of ethics will hold that the Doctor did not act ethically (Oakley, 2001). The theories of ethics are subject to criticism. Nonetheless, the case of the doctor is different because all the theories assert that his actions are not ethical. Besides the doctor’s actions, the controversies in the Nadya Suleman case are many.

In exercising autonomy in regard to her right to reproduce, Nadya outdid herself. She allowed the doctor to