Question 24– Answer
Question 24: As a Catholic hospital, is it permissible to perform a therapeutic treatment on a fetus in utero?

You Chose:
The BEST response to Question 24 is C.

Why is C the best response?
C is the best response because it accurately reflects the ethical basis justifying invasive interventions for genetic disorders on fetuses, namely therapeutic benefit to the fetus. Justifying interventions involving fetuses requires intending direct benefit to the fetus, or minimizing risk of harm to the mother.

A is not accurate because it states that fetal intervention is justified only in cases of preserving life or avoiding death. The ethical justification for interventions involving fetuses turns on benefiting the fetus or minimizing harm to the mother, or both, but does not require life or death severity.

B is not accurate because it erroneously states that therapeutic interventions on fetuses are not morally appropriate according to the Catholic tradition. While there is some risk involved, what is morally relevant is whether the intended benefits of the procedure outweigh the potential harms.

Background
Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Fourth Edition. Directive 51.