Contraception Case

Teen pregnancy rates in the United States have fallen in recent years, but the country still has a higher rate than any other developed country, according to data released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Roan, 2012). One might say that battles over how to best prevent teen pregnancy may be to blame for the continued high rate in the United States. Abstinence-only programs are preferred in some areas while education and improved access to contraception are supported in others. The method of making contraception available to adolescents presents ethical issues. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, parents, doctors, and pharmacists must understand that the government protects adolescent’s right to privacy and freedom.

There are different types of contraception that anyone can practice in order to prevent pregnancy. “Contraception is any action taken to prevent pregnancy from occurring. Birth control drugs, condoms, a tubal ligation of the female, and a vasectomy of the male are all forms of contraceptive techniques” (Fremgen, 2012, p. 299). Abstinence from sexual intercourse is also means of avoiding pregnancy (Fremgen, 2012). Birth control drugs and condoms are more of an ethical issue relating to adolescents.

In 1965, there was a law that banned contraceptives in Connecticut in the case that was known as the Griswold v. Connecticut. Before this case in 1965, there was a criminal punishment on any doctor that prescribed contraceptives for a married woman who the doctor believed would be hurt by a pregnancy. However, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down the Connecticut law, saying it was a woman’s right to privacy to use any form of contraceptives that she wanted. Then, eight years later, this certain ruling had an enormous effect on the Roe v. Wade decision,

ETHICAL ISSUES RELATING TO LIFE

which determined a woman had the right to abortion if she decided that was the correct route she needed to take (Fremgen, 2012).

There is most likely not a parent out there who wants their child to be sexually active while still a teenager. Parents struggle daily with this issue. They have goals and expectations for their child’s future and pregnancy is not one of them. Even though they may have a respectable relationship with the teenager where the subject of sex can be discussed, the concern may not always escape their mind. Parents have ethical issues and may believe abstinence is the most beneficial method to prevent pregnancy and diseases. They can discuss with their teen that by delaying sex, they are avoiding pregnancy as well as diseases that may occur from sexual activities.

Schools offer health classes and programs that hopefully will instill into their minds the consequences of premarital sex. Some programs require the parent’s consent for the student to be allowed to attend the program. Parents have

...