The legal and ethical implications of abortions and conscientious objection - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1652 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Law Essay Type Case study Level High school Tags: Abortion Essay Pregnancy Essay Women Essay Did you like this example? Case Title: Samantha Broughton à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Term 2 Describe the case as concisely as possible. Samantha is a 15 year old school student with a previous history of miscarriage. She is in a sexual relationship with Tom who is 17 years old and has been prescribed oral contraceptives as a method of birth control. After failing to take the contraceptive as directed Samantha discovers she is pregnant. Samantha seeks help and advice from her GP (Dr Hannah Jenkins). At this consultation Samantha indicates to Dr Jenkins that she has discussed the pregnancy with her boyfriend Tom but not with her parents as they would not approve. Samantha tells Dr Jenkins that she knows she can have an abortion without her parentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s knowledge. It is at this point in the consultation that Dr Jenkins informs Samantha that she has a conscientious objection to abortion. She then tells Samantha that if this is her decision then she would have to be referred to a colleague, however, the only other female GP within the practice also has the same conscientious objection. Samantha is th en told the names of external clinics and advised to come back in one weeksà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ time with her mother if possible. Summarize the ethical issue(s) raised by the case. The main ethical issues within the aforementioned case include; medical practioners having a conscientious objection to abortion and requests for abortions in under 16s. Provide a critical discussion of these issues. Ensure the discussion is balanced and relevant. There are few medical procedures as argumentative and politically charged as the termination of pregnancy (BMA, 2014). Abortion is legal in England, Scotland and Wales (E, S W) as long as the provided criteria are met and is governed by the Abortion Act (1987). Unless an abortion is necessary to save a womanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s life, doctors in E, S W have a right of conscientious objection under the aforementioned Abortion Act (Department of Health, 2014). At the same time, patients have the right to receive objective and non-judgemental care (GMC, 2013). GPs are for many the first point of contact for individuals seeking advice and support. In this case Samantha appears to be a capable and competent young women who has sought the help and advice from her GP regarding her current pregnancy. What is less apparent is whether the issues that arose due Samanthaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s consultation with her GP could have had a positive or negative effect on Samantha and her decision to go ahead with either an abortion or to proceed with the pregnancy. The following considerations will be looked at: Dr Jenkins behaviour in relation to General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines on conscientious objection Whether Dr Jenkins conscientious objection had the potential to cause undue stress for Samantha What the legal position on providing an abortion or abortion advice to girls under 16 years are The GMC sets out clear guidelines for doctors who have a conscientious objection to providing particular treatments because of personal beliefs or values (GMC, 2013). Upon Samantha indicating that she was considering an abortion Dr Jenkins did explain that she had a conscientious objection to this procedure and indicated that she would have to be referred to a colleague. Further to this she also indicated that her female colleague within the practice also had a conscientious objection to abortion. Whilst this does follow GMC guidelines Dr Jenkins failed to provide Samantha with enough information to arrange to see another doctor who did not hold the same objection. She advised of the names of several clinics without providing a named individual whom Samantha could speak to or to provide written information regarding these clinics with which Samantha could take away. The level of anxiety and stress that Samantha may have been experiencing during this consultation should also be taken into account and may have affected the spoken information which was retained (Kessels, 2003). Further to this the British Medical Association indicates that it is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“not sufficient to simply tell the patient to seek views elsewhereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (BMA 2013) and as such it may have been more practical for Dr Jenkins to aid Samantha in arranging to see another named doctor. Dr Jenkins also deferred any referral process by asking Samantha to return in a week which could be construed as a further contradiction to the GMC guidelines which state that à ¢Ã ¢â€š ¬Ã…“arrangements should be made without delayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (GMC, 2013). During this consultation there was the potential to cause a level of undue stress to Samantha. She had approached Dr Jenkins for advice and left the consultation with no measures put in place to assist her. Although Dr Jenkins may have not construed her actions as undue stress and may have felt that asking Samantha to come back would allow her additional time to process her decision. Dr Jenkins did note that she appeared to have very limited support but advised Samantha to come back with her mother whom she had already noted would not approve. Whilst it is recognised that a level of support is required both before and after an abortion, Dr Jenkins should have also recognised that support can be given from whoever the patient feels comfortable with (GMC, 2013), giving consideration for both safeguarding issues and family dynamics within a given situation. The GMC sets out guidance for the advice and treatment of an abortion to those aged under 16 years without parental knowledge or consent (GMC, 2013). In the case of Samantha although she has not been provided with all the relevant information regarding an abortion it is reasonable to assume that she would be able to understand the risks and possible side effects of the procedure as she has already been deemed a competent minor (BMA, 2014) by Dr Jenkins. She has also been advised to speak to her parents although it may also be in her best interest to receive advice and treatment without fulfilling this criteria. Regardless of age, minors who can be deemed competent have the right to make choices regarding their health including their sexual health (Department of Health, 2004). Case law has been laid down most notable by Gillick (1986) and most recently by Axon (2006) which strengthens the argument for competent minors to be treated as autonomous individuals. It is important to note that as a doctor you do have the right to have your own personal beliefs as having true integrity is fundamental in your role (BMA, 2014). A doctors beliefs to having a conscientious objection to abortions must not however impact on the medical advice and treatment given to the patient (GMC, 2014). Whilst there is a conscientious objection clause in Section 4 of the Abortion Act (1967) for refusal of participation past case law (Janaway, 1989 and Doogan Wood, 2014) have questioned what the meaning of the words à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“participateà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“treatmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  actually mean. The result of the case of Janaway infers that GPs cannot reasonably claim exemption for putting in place any necessary processes or providing advice to women who wish to undergo a termination. With the result from Doogan and Wood inferring that the scope of the word à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“treatmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  is defined as direct involvement rather than the broad scope of any involvement. Conscientious objections m ust therefore not impinge upon the reproductive rights of women. Indicate what you would have done/recommend and why. Provide reasons to support your position. From the evidence presented I would not have acted in the same way as Dr Jenkins during this consultation. Although Samantha has been deemed a competent young woman, vulnerability associated with such a young age should always be remembered. I would initially ask her why she would be reluctant to visit a male GP and explain that he would be able to assist her fully regardless of his gender. If she still wished to see a female GP I would regardless of my own personal beliefs speak through all the relevant information regarding abortion including any risks and side effects with her and made sure that she had further information to take away. I would also ensure that Samantha was referred to a named individual who could provide further advice. My conscientious objection to abortion should not stop me from providing information and referral for abortion as I am neither participating nor being directly involved in the termination. I would then explain that as her GP I would be there for all her other healthcare needs. I would have further discussed any other support networks that she may have other than simply parental support and I would have ensured that she left with a plan of where her situation was going and what help we as healthcare professionals could provide her with. By doing this I feel I would have fulfilled the criteria set out by the GMC in relation to both conscientious objections and abortion advice in under 16s. References: Abortion Act 1967. British Medical Association (2014). Expression of doctorsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ beliefs https://bma.org.uk/practical-support-at-work/ethics/expressions-of-doctors-beliefs [Accessed 13/2/2015] Department of Health (2004) Best practice guidance for doctors and other health professionals on the provision of advice and treatment to young people under 16 on contraception, sexual and reproductive health, DH, London. Department of Health (2014) Guidance in Relation to the Requirements of the Abortion Act 1967: For all those responsible for commissioning, providing and managing service provision, DH, London. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/31 3459/20140509_-Abortion_Guidance_Document.pdf [Accessed 13/2/2015] Doogan Wood vs Greater Glasgow and Clyde [2012] General Medical Council (2013). 0-18 yearà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s guidance: Contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). https://w ww.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/children_guidance_70_71_contraception.asp [Accessed 13/2/2015] General Medical Council (2013). Conscientious objection. https://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/21177.asp [Accessed 13/2/2015] General Medical Council (2013) Good Medical Practice, GMC, London. General Medical Council (2013). Personal beliefs and medical practice. https://www.gmc-uk.org/ guidance [Accessed 13/2/2015] Gillick v West Norfolk Wisbech Area Health Authority [1986]. Janaway v Salford Health Authority [1989]. Kessels RPC. Patientà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s memory for medical information. J R Soc Med 2003; 96 (5): 219-222. R (Axon) v Secretary of State for Health [2006]. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The legal and ethical implications of abortions and conscientious objection" essay for you Create order

Outline Of A Speech On Hiv And Aids - 1284 Words

Name:____Lucas Burr___________ Hour:___5____ Title of Speech:____Hemophilia and HIV/AIDs in the modern world__________ I. Introduction: (attention getter and transition to get to thesis) Attention Getter: About 400,000 people are living with hemophilia, a rare blood disorder that causes blood to clot abnormally. Many of these people also develop HIV and AIDS, an immune deficiency. Even more shocking is the 78 million people living with HIV. All of these conditions are lifelong and fatal. Over 40 million people each year die of HIV or hemophilia. What s even more terrifying is the amount of misinformation pertaining to these subjects, such as the difference between HIV and AIDs, and the causes of these conditions. Thesis Statement: Today were going to focus on how hemophilia, HIV, and AIDs are linked, their effects and treatments, and how they have changed from the first outbreak in the 1980 s. 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Swagg Free Essays

Sydney Kpundeh Professor Couch Introduction to Philosophy 1101 February 23, 2013 Artificial Intelligence The year is 2013 and technology dominates our day and age. Our society is turning to one that requires some sort of technology to survive. One may argue that a lot of people have cell phones or know how to use one. We will write a custom essay sample on Swagg or any similar topic only for you Order Now That can range from a ten year old child, to an eighty-five year old grandmother. One may also argue that most households have either a television or computer or even both in most cases. The use of technology in people’s lives is growing and therefore the demand for technological products. Children are addicted to playing games on their PlayStation or texting their buddies and their parents are busy sending emails and checking stocks on their iPads’. With this steady growth in usage of technology in people’s lives, the demand for these machines is also growing. Competitors selling these machines compete to make their products better than the rest of the sellers, constantly keeping them updated and in tune with what people would want to see in these machines and what they need from them. For example, let us look at â€Å"SIRI,† which is software developed by the company Apple. It is an intelligent personal assistant which is used in Apple products. Siri is given a woman’s voice and uses it to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Web services. Most machines in this generation are equipped with this personal assistant ability or something very similar. This new recent development in machines has stirred a very interesting debate amongst philosophers. That debate is whether or not machines have the ability to think. Alan Turning, who was a computer scientist, wrote a 950 page paper in the 1950s, about a way to test whether machines can actually think. It became known as the Turning Test for Thinking Machines. In his paper Turning also outlines some objections people had to machine intelligence. Christopher Evans was also a computer scientist and he also wrote a paper entitled, â€Å"Can Machines think† in which he summarizes Turnings objections, comments on them, and also gives his own opinion on the subject. In this paper, I will ocus on two of his objections to the thesis that machines can think that Evans considers and replies to, and I will explain my side on those issues. The first objection is the Theological objection—â€Å"Man is a creation of God, and has been given a soul and the power of conscious thought. Machines are not spiritual beings, have no soul and thus must be incapable of thought† (Evans 221). This argument objects to the thesis that machines can think. Evans leans on what Turning already pointed out in his paper, that this objection puts an unwarranted restriction on God. Why shouldn’t he give machines souls and allow them to think if he wanted to? † (Evans 221). Evan replies by saying that this is irrefutable. If we define thinking as something that only man can do and something that only God has the power to grant, then machines cannot think because God created man with the ability to think. Man created machines but since man does not have the same powers as God, they are not able to give these machines the ability to think. Therefore machines cannot think. I am a strong believer in God and I believe he created all living creatures on this earth, along with humans and the ground we inhabit. Everything else that we see now in the world is a byproduct of those 3 things and therefore not a creation by God. That means that they do not have the same functions as the things created by God. Thought is one of those functions. A building was created by man and nobody would argue that a building has the ability to even speak yet alone think. Machines, like computers, iPods, iPhones, PlayStations, etc. , were all created by Man. Therefore just like a building, there should not even be a debate about whether or not they have the ability to think. Just like how building designs have become more sophisticated, machines have also had significant advances from when they were first created. However all of these new developments are additions by humans and they have nothing to do with the primary functions of the building or machine. Buildings are still made to keep things in and keep things out. Machines are made for entertainment and to help our lives as humans run smoother. Nothing has changed. I agree strongly with Evans on this point which rejects the idea that machines can think, and believe he makes a good argument. The second objection is the Unpredictability objection- â€Å"Computers are created by humans according to a set of rules and operate according to carefully scripted programs which themselves are sets of rules. So if you wanted to, you could work out exactly what a computer was going to do at any particular time† (Evans 223). That being said, computers therefore are totally predictable. Humans however, are unpredictable and do not operate according to a set of rules. Therefore because humans are unpredictable, they are capable of error, which cannot be said about the predictable machines. The fact that machines are incapable of error and every one of their moves are predictable means that they do not have the ability to think. Evans replies by rejecting this thought. He says that machines nowadays are more complex and dynamic that they can surprise us and make mistakes. Although they are programmed in most of their actions, some still have the ability to re-program themselves and therefore can be unpredictable. Consequently, Evans argues that in this aspect machines have the ability to think. I disagree with Evans on this reply because I do not think he makes a strong argument. I will use the Siri example mentioned earlier to help support my position. Siri was programmed by Apple and all of Siri’s functions and response have been thought out and tested, and therefore predictable. However, it is impossible to predict everything that Siri says. Siri can surprise people because its response, even though they are predicted, caters to the user’s personality, interest, and likes. Siri saves and takes a note of every action you perform on your phone, or Apple product. If you constantly search for close McDonalds in the area and then ask Siri for example, what do I feel like eating today? It is highly probable that Siri is going to respond McDonalds. That does not mean Siri is thinking. It just means that is was programmed to study your search habits and interests. Siri could also say Wendy’s, because it knows you like fast food and Wendy’s has the same type of food as McDonalds, but it knows you always eat McDonald’s and could us e something different to eat. That again does not mean that Siri is thinking, it just means it is programmed to sort through your likes and habits, and decided to suggest something which was not what ost people would have predicted. This is just another reason why I believe machines cannot think. This debate is a very intriguing one. Previous generations probably would turn in their graves if they actually knew that we were spending time and money debating and researching the thought of machines having the ability to think. However now the time being the 21st century and with all the technology advances that comes with living in this age, it is a very plausible debate. The thesis and the common belief now is that these new machines, from phones to cars, think on their own but like Evans, I disagree with this argument. Although there can be valid cases for machines thinking on their own, and Evans even agrees with the norm on some occasions, there still is not enough evidence today to turn that claim into a fact. Evans makes very strong cases for why they still cannot think, cases that I have commented on above and stated my view, but in the end it goes down to the fundamental definition of the word â€Å"think†. Webster’s dictionary defines the word think as –â€Å"have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something: â€Å"she thought that nothing would be the same again. † Based on that definition alone machines cannot have their own opinions or beliefs about something. A car cannot, for example, not feel like driving today so it refuses to start. Therefore machines cannot think and they will never gain the ability to think because you cannot give someone or something an opinion. How to cite Swagg, Papers

Elder Interview free essay sample

ELDERLY AGENCY INTERVIEW CONTACT INFORMATION: SOUTH RICHMOND ADULT DAY CARE CENTER 1500 HULL STREET RICHMOND, VA. 23224 CENTRAL OFFICE: 804-231-9306 THIS INTERVIEW IS PERTAINING TO ISSUES, SERVICES, AND PROGRAMS THAT INVOLVES THE OLDER CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS DISCUSSION ON MATTERS THAT CONCERN AND COULD BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO THEM. THIS INTERVIEW ALSO DWELLS ON WHAT ADDICTIONAL SERVICES OR NEW SERVICES ARE NEEDED TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE UNMET NEEDS OF OLDER PEOPLE. WHICH I WILL OBTAIN THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO ANSWER THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I FEEL IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. MY AIM IS TO INTERVIEW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SANDRA ROLLINS, MSSW. THIS INTERVIEW BEGAN AT 2:00PM JUNE 25, 2010, THROUGH OUR FORMAL INTRODUCTION AND TO EXPLAIN WHO I WAS AND MY REASON FOR BEING THEIR, AFTER THE INTRODUCTION, AND MY DISCLOSURE OF TAKING A GERONTOLOGY CLASS AT REYNOLDS UNDER THE TUTILEDGE OF MS. PAMELA RATLIFF, MSSW. MS. ROLLINS TOLD ME SHE HAS BEEN IN YOUR COMPANY AND KNOWS YOU PERSONALLY. We will write a custom essay sample on Elder Interview or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I GAVE MS. ROLLINS A COPY OF THE QUESTIONS I WAS GOING TO ASK TO GIVE HER A HEADS UP. MS. ROLLINS WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL AND MADE ME FEEL QUITE AT EASE IN THE INTERVIEW, HER ANSWERS WAS VERY UNDERSTANDABLE AND TO THE POINT. I FELT HER EMPATHY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HER SINCERITY AND HONESTY WAS TRANSFERRABLE FROM HER SPEECH AND BODY LANGUAGE AND EMOTIONS, CAME FROM HER GLOWINGLY. I FELT THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS I WANT TO BE A HELPER IN THE HUMAN SERVICES FIELD TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THE WAY I FEEL FROM THE WAY I TALK AND GESTURE. SHE BEGAN TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AS SHE FELT THE NEED IN NO SPECIFIC ORDER. HER FIRST QUESTION WAS. 1. WHAT IS THE AGENCY’S MISSION AND PURPOSE? RESPONSE: OUR MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING A STRUCTURED SUPPORTIVE AND ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT. ANOTHER TIDBIT IS THAT 35 YEARS AGO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT STARTED THE FIRST MULTI PURPOSE CENTER FOR HELPING THE ELDERS AND MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. HERE AT 15TH AND HULL STREET AT THE SITE OF THIS ORGANIZATION FOR ADULTS DAY CARE CENTER HISTORY WAS MADE HERE. 2. HOW IS IT FUNDED? IT WAS FUNDED BY DONATIONS, SENIOR CONNECTIONS, ALSO HAS FEDERAL FUNDING 501 C, ALSO BY WRITING GRANTS TO LARGE CORPORATIONS. 3. WHAT OTHER AGENCIES DO YOU HAVE FORMAL LINKAGE WITH? SENIOR CONNECTIONS, RBHA AND WELLNESS GROUP, SACRED HEART CENTER, VA. ADULT DAY SERVICES ASSOCIATION, EPHESUS JUNIOR ACADEMY, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SOUTH RCHMOND, AND ST. STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND PHILANTHROPY BY DESIGN, SOCIAL SERVICES, DMAS, HEALTH DEPT. AND FIRE DEPT. 4. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE AGENCY’S SERVICES ON THE TARGET POPULATION? I FEEL THE IMPACT IS FELT BY THOSE WHO NEED AND UTILIZE OUR SERVICES, AND CAREGIVERS AND CARETAKERS ARE IMPACTED THE MOST, FOR THEY SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE IMPACT AS WELL AS OUR ELDERLY WHO BENEFIT THE MOST. 5. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL PROBLEMS FACING OLDER ADULTS TODAY? THE MOST CRITICAL PROBLEM IS AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION ALSO EYEGLASSES, DENTURES, AND HEARING AIDS FOR THESE ITEMS ARE NOT COVERED BY MEDICAID OR MEDICARE. 6. HOW WELL ARE THESE PROBLEMS BEING ADDRESSED BY CURRENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES? THEY ARE NOT REALLY BEING ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUNDING. THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. . WHAT NEW SERVICES OR ADDICTIONAL RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE UNMET NEEDS OF OLDER PEOPLE? TO MY KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE THE SERVICES BUT THEY ARE UNDER FUNDED AND THE ADDICTIONAL RESOURCES WILL BE NEEDED TO HELP WITH AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION, AND THE VERY MUCH NEEDED MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR EYEGLASSES AND DENTURES AND HEARING AIDS, THESE HAVE BEEN UNMET NEEDS F OR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WE DEFINITELY NEED LEGISTRATION TO HELP OVERCOME THESE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES. IN CLOSING I THANK MS. SANDRA ROLLINS, MSSW, FOR HER TIME AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS VERY DIRE MATTER. I REMAIN ESTEEMLY, RODNEY COBBS