Module 2 / Week 2
Chapter 1 Case Studies
Case Study: Anencephalic fetus
My advice in this kind of situation would be to seek God first. In the word of God, it states in Matthew 6:33 to,
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. I
believe God does not make mistakes and He is the giver and taker of life. So, if God allowed life to enter the
womb that means there is a plan, purpose, and reason for that life. Whether it’s to draw the mother closer to God
in her prayer life or to learn to trust His voice vs man whatever the reason I feel she would need to seek him
first. I would go on to advise the mother that after seeking God if she is able to find peace with terminating the
pregnancy then she would have to do what she felt would be best for her. I understand where the mother is torn
because after doing further research on these two conditions in regard to Anencephaly a baby that is born with
this condition is usually blind, deaf, unable to feel pain, and will never gain consciousness so their quality of life
is minimal.1,2 In regard to Spina Bifida people are known to live long and productive lives and even though the
average person with Spina Bifida lives to about 30-40 years old because of the Anencephalic it reduces the baby
life span tremendously.1,2 However even in understanding the effects of each condition, choosing to carry the
baby to full term and being able to feel life grow inside of her could be the blessing that God wants her to
experience. I would encourage the mother to look at the positive of the pregnancy and birth and not so much of
the negative aspect of things. Sure, there are some other issues that the mother would need to consider such as
the emotional and physical toll this pregnancy could have on her to carry the baby full term and it could also
increase the health risk of the mother, if the baby is carried full term and then passes away there is the grieving
process of losing a baby even though you already knew the fate of the baby. With knowing all the risk that
comes with these 2 conditions I would encourage the mother to trust God’s plan and remember Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a
prophet to the nations.”3 This scripture confirms that God has a plan for every child he gives life to. God does
not say the timeframe of how long a child will live on this earth but each one of us has a purpose. So, I believe
the mother should carry their child full term and seek God for the purpose of her pregnancy.
I did find a awesome article on a husband and wife that were having their first baby and within 12 weeks of
their pregnancy they found out their baby was diagnosed with anencephaly and after a very tough decision they
decided to carry the baby full term. In the article the couple talks about how they embraced the pregnancy
knowing the potential loss that was destined to meet them on the other side of the birth canal. With know the
possible fate of their baby they focused on the positive of pregnancy instead of feeding their spirits with the
negative thoughts behind it. There newborn baby only lived for 10.5 hours but they found so much joy in those
hours with their baby. For full article click the link: https://www.today.com/parents/parents-baby-anencephaly-
carry-pregnancy-term-t121619
References:
1.Clark, D. K., & Rakestraw, R. V. (1994). Readings in Christian ethics. Baker.
2.Dickman, H., Fletke, K., & Redfern, R. E. (2016). Prolonged unassisted survival in an infant with
anencephaly. BMJ case reports, 2016, bcr2016215986. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2016-215986
3.Hengeveld, N. (1993) Bible Gateway. New Gospel Communication Network. Retrieved from:
https://www.biblegateway.com/
Case Study: Malnourished Mother
The decision of a mother having to choose between her life and her unborn baby is unthinkable. Especially in
this situation where the mother does not have access to western medicine and she is malnourished and still
having the responsibility of 6 other children.1 The fact that she would have a 30% chance of death and even if
she survives she will become more susceptible to disease I believe the mother should carry her baby to term
simply because she has a higher probability of surviving vs dying.1 Regarding the mother’s weakened body
after birth and lack of treatment available for possible contraction of diseases I feel this is where her faith in
God would play a major role. If we truly believe that God is a healer, then we can’t move through life trying to
fix things because of what doctors say is going to happen based off their data. I’m not saying the medical data is
not accurate however, I do believe that probability of the mother’s survival rate should give her hope in
allowing God’s healing to be the compass in her decision. In James 5:14-15 it states, “Is anyone among you
sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.3
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned,
they will be forgiven.” My advice to the mother would be to carry her baby full term and trust her Heavenly
Father to bring about the healing that she needs and restore her health. If God can raise Lazarus from the dead,
heal the mother of Peter’s wife, heal the deaf mute of Decapolis, heal the blind at birth, heal the paralytic at
Bethesda, healing an infirm woman, and cleanse the leper then surely, he can restore a mother’s health and
strength after bringing life into the world. I still believe in the case that God is the giver and taker of life so if he
allows life into the mother’s womb then he surely has a plan, purpose, and reason for it. God reminds us in
Proverbs 3:5-6 to Trust in the Lord with all they heart and lean not to our own understanding and in all our way
acknowledge him and he shall direct our path.3 I understand the risk at stake of the possibility of leaving 6
children plus a newborn without a mother as well as the state of the baby being born underweight with their
own health problems however, this is where I believe faith has to intervene and we have to decide if we are
going to put our trust in our circumstance or trust God that he will provide what is needed for survival. In
Philippians 4:19 we are reminded of the scripture that says, “But my god shall supply all your needs according
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”3 If God says he will do then all we have to do is trust, have faith and not
doubt. I’m a firm believe that faith and doubt cannot coexist.
References
1.Clark, D. K., & Rakestraw, R. V. (1994). Readings in Christian ethics. Baker.
2.Hengeveld, N. (1993) Bible Gateway. New Gospel Communication Network. Retrieved from:
https://www.biblegateway.com/
Case Study: Low Sperm Count
In the case of Matt and Kelly, I would advise them to seek God first to determine what His plan is and try to
gain understanding as to why this has been the path God has chosen for them. I think a lot of time we don’t
realize how God is waiting on the sidelines for us to reach out to him and pull him into the equation. That way
we can insight to His plan versus us trying to enforce our own agenda. It can be very discouraging trying to get
pregnant especially after each time of trying you find failure meets you on the other side. Some people could
take that as a sign that God is instructing you that it’s not your season to get pregnant. Others could feel that’s a
sign to use other measure of getting pregnant such as artificial insemination.1 In order to move forward I believe
the couple would have to examine their morals and values and what aspects of non-traditional measure align
with their belief system and which aspects of their decision would cause them to go against the grain of their
moral compass. My advice to this couple would be to be carefully with attempting to take matters into their own
hands and if they are able to find peace in moving forward in making another attempt with conception through
AID such as In vitro fertilization1 then that is the direction that should go. However, I would also caution them
that there is always a reason behind God’s no, yes, and not yet. Since they have already tried artificial
insemination and that didn’t work, they have tried adoption and God did not open that door that is an indication
to me that God may be wanting them to be still and wait. In the word of God, we are reminded in Isaiah 40:31
that those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength they will mount up with wings like an eagle they
will run and not grow weary that will walk and not faint.2 This scripture is a constant reminder that if we place
our focus on God and solely trust him and learn to wait on his timing, he will not allow us to be weary and
inpatient when waiting on a response on how he plans to answer our prayer. In these moment I feel its why God
gave us Sarah in the bible according to the world she was too old to bare a child yet God breathe life into her
womb when she was 90 years old (Genesis 17).2 So when it’s in God’s timing He will allow it to happen
according to his will and no one else’s. I would encourage the couple to put their trust in God who breathes life
into the body of man.
1.Clark, D. K., & Rakestraw, R. V. (1994). Readings in Christian ethics. Baker.
2.Hengeveld, N. (1993) Bible Gateway. New Gospel Communication Network. Retrieved from:
https://www.biblegateway.com/
Case Study: Sperm Bank Donation
In the case of the Friesen and being face with a tough road ahead with cancer treatment and the possibility of
the husband being sterile I don’t think there is anything wrong with freezing the husband sperm.1 My advise to
the couple would be to make sure they consider all the risk factors involved in this matter but most of all they
must seek God first in everything they do. I would advise them that God has given healthcare professionals the
ability and knowledge to harvest and freeze sperm to ensure that people that may be in a situation like them
would still have the ability to start a family. A lot of times we allow our surroundings to dictate our decision in
what we should do when the reality is we should only be concerned about God’s plan and whether or not He
approves. I would go on to advise the Friesen’s to remember that nothing that we go through catches God by
surprise he know what is expected to meet us at every crossroad we come to. Once we arrive at that crossroad
that when our faith is tested, are we going to do things how the world tells us we should or follow God’s
apparatus when it comes to the plans He has for us.2
1.Clark, D. K., & Rakestraw, R. V. (1994). Readings in Christian ethics. Baker.
1.Clark, D. K., & Rakestraw, R. V. (1994). Readings in Christian ethics. Baker.
2.Hengeveld, N. (1993) Bible Gateway. New Gospel Communication Network. Retrieved from:
https://www.biblegateway.com/
Bioethics
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Unethical
Case Study – Chapter 1
1.According to the text human life is defined by Thomas A Shannon, Pope John Paul II and Bishop Joseph
A Fiorenza as soon as fertilization take place.1 Each of there arguments outline the immorality of
Case Study: Physically Tenacious Grandfather
In this case I don’t necessarily feel what the family did was illegal, I find this a form of VSED (Voluntarily
Stopping Eating and Drinking).2 Initially after the heart attack the grandfather was starting to get better
physically but was refusing to eat and drink so to some degree he had already taken the VSED stance on his
own. The staff took matters into their own hands when they decided mechanically to administer his food and
drink.1 I understand the family member feeling some kind of way with the family deciding to invoke a DNR and
remove the food and drink I don’t believe that was an illegal choice done but more of an intentional option to
induce a natural and peaceful way of the grandfather passing.
1.Clark, D. K., & Rakestraw, R. V. (1994). Readings in Christian ethics. Baker.
2.Wax JW, An AW, Kosier N, Quill TE. Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018
Mar;66(3):441-445. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15200. PMID: 29532465.
2.Hengeveld, N. (1993) Bible Gateway. New Gospel Communication Network. Retrieved from:
https://www.biblegateway.com/
Case Study: Elderly cancer patient
In the case of the daughter fighting for her mother to be place on dialysis to extend her life until the new drug
become available is understandable. The fact that his new drug could possibly give her mother a fighting chance
I would caution the daughter that even though this new drug may help her mother extend her quality of life, the
cancer has spread to other parts of her body including her brain1 so who’s to say that her body will continue to
fight off the cancer during the months of waiting for the new drug to hit the market. Also, with her mother being
permanently unconscious there is no guarantee that is new drug will allow her to regain consciousness.1 Even
with the daughter’s strong faith I would give the perspective to consider what is God’s will. At lot of time, we
like to implement our own plans without considering what God has to say about it. If the daughter could see
things from a different perspective and not go the route of dialysis, she will be able to pass peacefully with no
pain.1 Where there is peace, and no pain makes me think of the presence of God. In the presence of God is
where we can hear from God and gain the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6).2
destroying human life, even when cells are extracted from already destroyed human embryos they
collectively feel it’s a research technique that is unacceptable.1 In regards to the stem cell research it’s
believed that extracting embryo’s is ethical because what is known as the blastocyte is not yet an
individual according to the text. However, the opposing argument sees things differently that the
blastocyte is a living organism possessing the human genetic code. The side of the argument that feels a
blastocyst is not an individual concludes that killing the human blastocyte is not murder simply because
the blastocyte at that stage cannot experience any wrong. The church has rejected this stance on
embryonic research because their belief is that when fertilization takes root in which a new genotype is
formed then that is the genesis of a new human life.1
Personally, I believe that since in the word of God in the book of Genesis it reminds us that God created
all living things2 so if the cells that makes up the embryo are living cells then there is life happening
within that embryo. To be more specific when there is a heartbeat, that’s when I believe human life
begins.
2.Regarding whom should make the decision on research that affects the entire society I believe should
not be the government. The reason for this is because the ethical value of the governments stance on
certain matters can be tainted and bias simply because the government usually determines their
movement on certain matters based off the financial gain instead of their moral compass. I think there
should be a Research organization simpler to like the CDC or FDA that is specific to making research
decision that could affect the entire society. That Research organization should be made up of medical
professionals, research professional, and citizens of our communities that way there’s diversity amongst
the board and committee members that can make moral and ethical decision regarding scientific research
going forward. In the word of God, we are instructed to seek Godly counsel and in Proverbs 19:20 it
states, “Listen to advice and accept discipline so that you may be wise the rest of your life.” So, when it
comes to making decisions, I feel by having a Research organization similar to the CDC or FDA this
will create the avenue needed to ensure the governments bias viewpoints are not considered when
making these kinds of decisions for our society.
References
1.Wagner, V. (2008). Biomedical ethics. Greenhaven Press.
2.Hengeveld, N. (1993) Bible Gateway. New Gospel Communication Network. God’s Word Translation.
Retrieved from: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=GW
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