Mother or Child

[sysyphus]

Stemming from a recent conversation with my financee, we were discussing ethics in medicine, and this one proved interesting.

On occasion during childbirth, complications result that threaten the lives of the mother and/or the child and doctors often face the dilemma where they can only save one.

In the Province of Ontario, the rule for doctors to follow is that they must choose to save the child, unless instructed otherwise by the mother or her family. I can't speak for other jurisdictions.

My fiancee's family are Jewish, and she points out that the Jewish ethic is to save the life of the mother, believing that since the child has not yet lived that the mother is the only living person involved.

What do you think (or what is the practise in your jurisdiction/religion/culture)?

 

[Yoda Power]

On occasion during childbirth, complications result that threaten the lives of the mother and/or the child and doctors often face the dilemma where they can only save one.

I think using the term "often" is a bit overdoing it. With modern technology both can be saved in most cases. However...

I would want to save the mother, because her death would be the most devastating to the rest of the family.

 

[AceChilla]

I don't know.

I lean toward saving the mother because being it will be difficult for the child also to be raised without a mother. And maybe the child would even feel a little guilty that he was saved and thus his mother died.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I seem to recall that Catholic dogma demands that the doctor choses the child. That might be related to the Ontarian law.

I basically agree with Yoda.

 

[Yoda Power]

I don't know.

I lean toward saving the mother because being it will be difficult for the child also to be raised without a mother. And maybe the child would even feel a little guilty that he was saved and thus his mother died.

Also the mother can often get a new child.

 

[AceChilla]

Also the mother can often get a new child.

Yep, and if she already has a few children than I would choose for the mother for sure. Like TLC said.

 

[sysyphus]

I seem to recall that Catholic dogma demands that the doctor choses the child. That might be related to the Ontarian law.

Probably not, Ontario has never been a primarily Catholic place. We're supposed to be secular though our early law comes more from Church of England if it is influenced by religion at all.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Thing is, the Anglican Church originated as a splinter church from the RCC, and I've never heard that any Protestant movement cared to break with Catholicism on that particular point.

 

[Tassadar]

On occasion during childbirth, complications result that threaten the lives of the mother and/or the child and doctors often face the dilemma where they can only save one.

Are you sure that still happen in our modern time? i doubt,because as soon as a little problem may show, they just do a caesarean and thats it, both are safe.

The time where butcher were cuting everywhere with dirty equipement is done, our Canadian free health care is not that backward

 

[The Last Conformist]

It probably still happens, but very rarely. Things have to go very wrong for the mother's life to be at risk these days.

 

[sysyphus]

Well, my sister is a nurse, so I get my understanding of the current state of affairs in health from her.

It's a rare occasion indeed, but it does happen from time to time in a doctor's career.

Anyway, this is more of a discussion about the ethic involved.

 

[Shadylookin]

I would save the mother. The baby hasn't experienced life yet(well technically it has but not really in the sense I'm thinking about), I for one would have trouble dealing with a child all by myself and as much as I like to think it wouldn't happen the chance of one resenting the child for it are increased at least, I wouldn't want to child to have to deal with that all their lives, and then there is the fact that me and it's mother could have other children

 

[Syterion]

Definitely the mom. She's still got a chance for a baby. The baby will be growing up without a motehr otherwise, which I'm sure isn't fun.

 

[stormbind]

Stemming from a recent conversation with my financee, we were discussing ethics in medicine, and this one proved interesting.

On occasion during childbirth, complications result that threaten the lives of the mother and/or the child and doctors often face the dilemma where they can only save one.

In the Province of Ontario, the rule for doctors to follow is that they must choose to save the child, unless instructed otherwise by the mother or her family. I can't speak for other jurisdictions.

My fiancee's family are Jewish, and she points out that the Jewish ethic is to save the life of the mother, believing that since the child has not yet lived that the mother is the only living person involved.

What do you think (or what is the practise in your jurisdiction/religion/culture)?

I think it should be the father's choice, which basically means the mother lives; assuming the hypothetical parents don't absolutely loath each other.

That may be incredibly selfish of me, but you gotta put it into perspective... If I were that father, and in this hypothetical scenario... I would be going home with some new born who I don't know... or the woman of my dreams... and I'm gonna want the latter dammit!

The last thing I would want is a noisy squishy (to which I mean no disrespect) permanent reminder of the dreams that were lost.

Fathers don't get many choices under current laws anyway, so actually having a decision to make would carry some novelty value

I hope that doesn't make me sound evil, because I think I would be a pretty good parent, but some things are just irreplaceable. Btw, I lost my sister at a really young age so I don't think I'm completely unqualified to have an opinion -- really wish I had not lost her, but you know, having a mom is important.

 

[sysyphus]

That may be incredibly selfish of me, but you gotta put it into perspective... If I were that father, and in this hypothetical scenario... I would be going home with some new born who I don't know... or the woman of my dreams... and I'm gonna want the latter dammit!

I understand your viewpoint, and my fiancee have agreed ourselves to make the very same decision should it arise, but what if the mother decided that she wanted to sacrifice herself for the baby?

 

[PantheraTigris2]

I have the right answer... let the mother choose.

 

[Immortal]

womans body is a womans right. Love of her life or not, no woman's life should be determined by her husband, even if he has medical training.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

Btw - Man I'm glad I don't have to give birth. I've already made it through the only birthing process I'll ever be (directly physically) a part of. Thank God. Seems like the most traumatic thing a human can (naturally) experience. And there's all this risk invlolved, of course. And so much pain. Look at other animals throughout nature... a lot of them give birth like it's no big deal - it's mainly up to the newborns to try to survive (survival of the fitest). But of course, God mandated in the Garden of Eden, that woman shall suffer terribly during childbirth - as punishment - and so it has remained. Hey! Take that to the 'Prove God exists' thread!

 

[stormbind]

womans body is a womans right. Love of her life or not, no woman's life should be determined by her husband, even if he has medical training.

Medical training has nothing to do with it. The doctor is in charge of that department - thankfully.

 

[stormbind]

I understand your viewpoint, and my fiancee have agreed ourselves to make the very same decision should it arise, but what if the mother decided that she wanted to sacrifice herself for the baby?

Well, sounds like the beginnings of a row

As pointed out, some sects (i.e. Catholics) may have entrenched rules - can someone confirm this? I am christian, but pretty awful at it, and I don't know all the little details.

Such rules may factor into the equation, but you know... if I lost my sweetheart at such a crucial time, I don't think I would want to continue on this planet. And then, the child has no parents... plus some serious psychological pain when the child asks "why?"