The Ethical Aspects of Childbirth

Question: Write an essay onThe Ethical Aspects of Childbirth. Answer: Before discussing the ethical aspects of childbirth, it is necessary to understand what exactly is meant by ethics, or what makes an aspect ethical in nature. Ethics refers to those basic principles which govern the decency of human conduct. It can also be termed as morality. Ethical aspects are topics which are widely discussed matters by the global media. Ethics can be considered as guidelines for any business organization or sector, to maintain a harmonious environment and evade controversies and chaos. For example, nursing ethics is the application of ethical values, and determination of right from wrong in the field of nursing. The International Council of Nurses has developed a standard guideline on the ethical values of nursing known as the Code of Ethics for Nurses, for the nurses to abide by worldwide. Nursing ethics can fall under the category of professional ethics, which is comprised of the laws or standards which govern the corporate, personal and organizational behavior which is expected from the individual ("The Code for nurses and midwives", 2016). The most prevalent ethical values include honesty with clients, patients or customers; maintaining the integrity of clients, customers or patients, that is earning their trust; and loyalty towards the organization and other co-workers. There are a multitude of ethical aspects in the health industry, such as euthanasia, use of embryonic stem cells for the purpose of research and so on. Highlighting the principal ethical concerns in child birth (Nadroo, 2012)- Premature birth or delivery of a child before expected due. Genetic testing of child at birth to determine the health of the expected child and any congenital disease, or genetic defects at birth. Maternal autonomy or the decision making of an expecting woman regarding her childbirth Abortion or the deliberate termination of the foetus. Limitations of child birth that is restricting the number of children in a family to one or two, to prevent over population. Ethical dilemma regarding child birth limits : The increasing population has always been a major concern for the countries of the world, especially the developing countries. Human population planning has been implemented in various developed countries. Family planning is one of the best ways to attain a viable future. An increase in population results in decreased resources, loss of biodiversity and scarcity of water. Despite of using contraceptive measures, it is tough to say that all occurring pregnancies are intended. According to the survey, it is observed that 40% of the pregnancies that occur in developing countries are unintended, and 47% pregnancies are unintended in the developed countries. The Institute of World Resources estimates that there will be an increase in the worlds population by 34% by the year 2050 ("Family planning/Contraception", 2016). Views on child birth limits: Over the past decade people have been supportive towards this initiative. Eminent personalities have condemned and supported for planning of the population. In 2007 the head of the UN Millenium Project, Jeffery Sachs, had stated the effects controlling overpopulation would have on the reduction of poverty. China is the one of the countries which encouraged the birth of only one child (one child policy). One child policy in China became effective in the year, 1979. However, the youngest generation, under the one child policy, by the time they reached the age, it was observed that one child had to take the responsibility of the entire family. Consequently, there was a change in the laws in 2009, allowing couples to have two children provided that each of the parent is a single child. This law was further relaxed since late 2013, to couples allowed to have two children, if any one parent is a single child (Grice, 2012). During 1970s Hong Kong had launched the Two is Enough campaign, by the Family Planning Association. Currently, the total fertility rate per women in Hong Kong is 1.04, which is lowest in the world ("The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong ", 2016). In the UK, the Optimum Population Trust, proposed the plan of two child policy, to regulate overpopulation. However, in 2012, the Conservative Party proposed a similar concept, but modified the policy by providing benefits for children with unemployed parents. Opposition The major opposition has been provided by the Roman Catholic Church, with respect to birthing limits and its measures. According to religion, human life is considered as a gift of God, and termination of such gift is a sin and is a subject to penance. According to Pope Benedict, the termination of millions of lives, for the sake of poverty, has indicated the destruction of all human beings. A coalition encompassing Churches of Scotland and England, Baptist, Methodist and Reform Churches, claim that this is an antifamily proposal and could lead to the breaking up of families and households and increase abortion rates in the UK (Bingham, 2015) Significance of child birth limits Limiting child birth is a way to state that the poor should not breed. It can be said however that limiting child birth has a positive effect in reducing overpopulation, which indirectly limits the use of resources. References Bingham, J. (2015).Tory two-child limit on benefits 'fundamentally anti-family' - faith leaders.Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2016, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11986399/Tory-two-child-limit-on-benefits-fundamentally-anti-family-faith-leaders.html Code of Ethics for Nurses. (2016).Icn.ch. Retrieved 21 June 2016, from https://www.icn.ch/who-we-are/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/ Family planning/Contraception. (2016).World Health Organization. Retrieved 21 June 2016, from https://who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs351/en/ Grice, A. (2012).What is Iain Duncan Smith's two-child policy?.The Independent. Retrieved 21 June 2016, from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/what-is-iain-duncan-smiths-two-child-policy-8227368.html Nadroo, A. (2012). Ethical dilemmas in decision making at limits of neonatal viability.J Islam Med Assoc,43(3). https://dx.doi.org/10.5915/43-3-8972 The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong :::. (2016).Famplan.org.hk. Retrieved 21 June 2016, from https://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/en/template1.asp?style=template1.aspcontent=about/history.asp