Accounting

Ethical Debate Outline- Team 1

I. Introduction

Our learning team discovered an article about a woman who was involved in a court battle in the quest to keep her placenta following the birth of her daughter. Her intention was to participate in the act of placentophagy, the practice of consuming a placenta. The reason for wanting to do this was to counter the effects of, or totally eliminate episodes of postpartum depression. This subject was chosen because it is not commonly discussed, is controversial, and contains an ethical issue.

II. Purpose

The purpose of our paper and debate is to identify the ethical issue within the article, research statistics of occurrence of this among women, give facts that support and dismiss theories of placentophagy benefits, and understand the hospital’s policy and its reluctancy to honor the patient’s wishes. We will divide and represent both parties, presenting their views in the form of a mock debate.

III. Issue

The ethical issue at hand is the patient’s right to keep her placenta for personal use that is parallel with her beliefs, versus the hospital’s policy on destroying what is considered to be biohazardous waste.

IV. Pros and Cons of Placentophagy

a. Evidence that support benefit claims.

b. Evidence that dismiss benefit claims.

V. Details of Hospital’s Policy

a. Pros and cons of defending and adhering to policy

b. Pros and cons of hospital obliging to the patient’s wishes

VI. Conclusion

Upon conclusion of this assignment, we hope to have made our audience aware that such a ritual exist, explore the ethical issues that can derive from the patient’s request, and objectively present the opinion of both sides.