Emmarlone Salva Ravago Guidance and Counseling

December 13, 2010 Rev. Fr. Franklin Beltran, OP

Case 1: A mother and her baby are in danger during childbirth. To save the mother, the doctor has to take the life of the baby. Is this the right thing to do? Every human being has the right to life. This is the fundamental and first right of every human being.1 Furthermore, the government protects this right, as stated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution: No person shall be deprived of life In the abovementioned case, the doctor, if possible, must do his best to save both mother and child, for human life ought to be defended from the moment of conception to natural death.2 Or, in the case of a really serious threat to the life of the mother, and when an operation or treatment cannot be postponed until the unborn child is capable of living, then the mother has to be saved. An abortion (Therapeutic Abortion) may be done. However, this must be done with certain conditions: (1) it should never be done by terminating the fetus directly since this is immoral; (2) rather it should be done indirectly, that is, when the safeguarding of the life of the mother immediately implies simultaneously/consequently the unintentional, accidental, and regretted death of the unborn child.3 It is but practical that the mother has to be saved, since, together with her husband, they can make another child (or more). Case 2: A corrupt politician has built a school in order to get the favor (votes) of the people for a friend who is a candidate in the coming elections. This candidate is your friend. What advice can you give to him? Is it right to build a school from stolen money? Should it push through? Human beings as social beings are committed to contribute his/her part in the construction of a just, free, and fraternal society.4 If building a school would entail the use of stolen money from the people, then Id advice my friend not to do so. Since, primarily, though they are building a school for the good of society, it still is unjust to steal and use the money of the people for ones own interest to get the favor (votes) of the people. As Fr. Gomez puts it, we only have the power of stewardship, not ownership over our/others properties.5 Secondarily, if they were to build a school not for its own sake or for the sake of society but rather only for their own interest, school would then only end up treated with mediocrity and contempt (i.e. the quality of education will be very low, unprofessional and incompetent teachers will be hired, its facilities would be badly built and poorly maintained). Id advice my friend to run for government fair and square!
Gomez, Fausto B., OP, A Pilgrims Notes, Ethics, Social Ethics, and Bioethics (Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2005), 195. 2 Ibid., 255. 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid., 215. 5 Ibid., 217.
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Case 3: A pregnant and severely ill woman is advised by the doctor to take medicine. Her family and relatives know very well that the medicine prescribed by the doctor would endanger the life of the unborn baby. If the woman doesnt take the medicine, she would die of her illness. What advice can you give them? First of all, I would advice the doctor of the woman to tell her truth of her condition. Doctors are generally obliged to tell the truth to their patients.6 Furthermore, again, similar to that of case number 1, the doctor, if possible, must do his best to save both mother and child. If not, then I would advice the woman and her family to continue her medication in order for her to live. After all, if she lives and goes back to normal, she and her husband can make another child (or more).

Ibid.

Bibliography
A. Books Gomez, Fausto B., OP. A Pilgrims Notes, Ethics, Social Ethics, and Bioethics (Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2005).