Controversial Topic - Abortion

In studying ethical theories we applied the Deontological Theory, specifically Natural Law theory, and Utilitarian theory to the debate on abortion. Using these two theories to support the pro-life and the pro-choice argument, we looked at the situation of Mrs. Matthews. Mrs. Matthews is a 22 year old graduate student who works and is contemplating having an abortion. She is married to Mr. Matthews who is 23 years of age and has a B.S. degree and is a construction worker. Their combined income is 80K a year (SITE). The couple lives in North Carolina. Taking the Deontological and Utilitarian theories we looked at the seven different scenarios that Miss Matthews could face and argued both the pro-choice and the pro-life stances. The following are seven different scenarios that Mrs. Matthews may encounter: 1. Suppose her husband/boyfriend does not want her to have an abortion at this time and offers to help raise the child. 2. Suppose the husband/boyfriend wants her to have an abortion but Miss M has second thoughts about it. 3. Suppose she finds that the pregnancy is eight weeks along. 12 weeks? 16 weeks? 20 weeks? 25 weeks? 30 weeks? 34 weeks? 4. Suppose that Miss M learns, from prenatal diagnosis, that the baby would probably have Down Syndrome. 5. Suppose the baby would have Trisomy-13, which is lethal within the first year. 6. What are the reasons that Miss M should or should not consider adoption instead? 7. Would it be morally acceptable for her to contract with a couple willing to compensate her if she gave the child to them after it was born? Would this be belated surrogate pregnancy, pre-adoption, baby marketing, or something else?

For the purposes of argument, we decided that Mrs. Matthews and her husband were using some form of birth control while engaging in sexual activity and her pregnancy was due to failure in birth control, not due to irresponsibility on her and her