Matt Domin
MWF 9:00
Ms. Smith,
We of the Ethics Committee have reviewed your
case for an extended period of time. We
took into consideration, for our decision, the yearn of any female to
experience childbearing, child birth, and the joy of raising young. Being a mother is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity, and once you become a mother you are a mother for life. There is a tremendous amount of
responsibility and work that goes along with having children. We understand your desire to continue the
pregnancy, and to keep the child, but due to your legal status, mental health,
and the baby's well being, the decision to terminate the pregnancy has been
reached and voted for unanimously.
Your mother has proper legal custody, and as
you know, wants the abortion to take place.
We agree with her concern for your well-being. Child birth is an extremely stressful
situation. The trauma of the pregnancy
could intensify your paranoid schizophrenia, or cause some other mental
disorder. Mrs. Smith has informed us
that she herself is not capable of caring for the child. We feel that you will suffer further if you
are forced to give up the child. Your
psychiatrist has come to the conclusion that you are not capable of being a
responsible parent, but you are, at times, capable of making rational moral
decisions. However, because you are not
able to make important, rational, moral decisions most of the time your mother
can claim that you are not mentally capable of raising a child. Also. We took
in to account that the father of this unborn child is unknown. There is no one to help you make this
decision, but more importantly, there is not another parental figure to aid in
the raising and caring for this child.
From testimonies from your mother and your psychiatrist, it is our
understanding that you can do neither on your own.
Ms. Smith, you have been diagnosed with
paranoid schizophrenia. As you know, the
treatment for paranoid schizophrenia is a variety of different drugs. This
gives you a slightly higher chance of having fetal defects such as cystic
fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema, abruptioplacentae, miscarriage, or placenta
previa to name a few. We also feel that
there is an increased chance that the child will develop a mental
disorder. It is not fair for the child
or its' care takers to suffer from deformities that were caused from drug
reactions. You must understand our
position in caring for the physical health and safety of this child.
You will not be able to provide for the child,
because you have no annual income. We
feel that the child will not have equal opportunities to have positive growth
and development because of this. Living
in Community Hospital's long term care unit does not provide a heathy
environment for the baby to live in. The
baby will have little opportunity to go outside, be with peers, and have
friends. A baby needs a healthy environment to grow and be nurtured in. This is a basic right that should be granted
to any new born. We feel that because of
your living situation your baby will not get the essentials.
Adoption is another issue to be dealt
with. As we stated earlier, you might
suffer more if you are you are forced to give the baby up for adoption. You could possibly develop serious
depression, and worsen your paranoid schizophrenia. You may think you give the
child up for adoption to benefit their well being, but once you actually give
birth to this child, your feelings may change. The could cause serious
emotional trauma on you, your mother, and in the long run will hurt your child.
Orphanages aren't the best environment for a child to grow up in. If you did put your child up for adoption,
the likelihood that someone will want to adopt a mental patient's child is low,
and if the child is deformed in some way the chance is even smaller. You took
the responsibility to have sex, now you must take the responsibility to do what
is right for your child, no matter how much pain will be placed on you. Every child deserves to have loving,
providing parents and we feel you can't give your child that, and an adoption
may not be successful. We, as an Ethics Committee are not willing to take that
chance with an unborn child's life.
Children's development is influenced by several
different mediums like environment, parents, friends, and personal
characteristics. We feel that if this
child were born under these circumstances, the influences presented would be
negative, and the baby's well being, health, and security are top priority in
this case. Being an ethics committee, we
cannot permit you to give birth to this fetus. You are not mentally capable to
bear, or properly raise the child. Your lifestyle is not suitable for properly
raising a child. Living in a mental
hospital does not provide an acceptable environment for a baby to grow in, and the
negatives of this case out way the positives.
We are truly sorry about this decision, but it
is the best for you and the child. We will do our best to help you in any way.
We are here to offer mental and physical support. Please understand that this is the best
solution for everyone involved. If you have any problems or questions feel free
to contact us any time. We did not
impose this decision to hurt you in any way. We want you to get healthy and
care for yourself. Until you can care
for, and have responsibility for yourself, you can't care for and take
responsibility for another. This decision is final and you must cooperate with
us to make this painful situation as easy as possible. We have sent a copy of
this letter to your mother and to your doctors and we would like to talk with you
further. Thank You for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
The Ethics Committee
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