Must we have a reliable procedure that determines an individual’s competency to become a parent? In “Licensing Parents” Hugh LaFollette argues that government must mandate all individuals to go through a licensing program prior to having and raising children. He also argues that such licensure would not violate anyone’s rights. LaFollette says that any potential harm to children must be regulated.
Licenses are mandated before one can perform a surgery, practice law or legally drive. Why? It is because such activities have a potential to harm others and the “best way we have of limiting this harm without sacrificing the benefits…is to require… [that one must] demonstrate at least minimal competence” (LaFollette, 183). Accordingly, “any activity
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LaFollette assumes, on behalf of everyone else, that such regulations are beneficial to society. The author also goes on to assume that “Even if these maltreated children never harm anyone, they will probably never be well-adjusted, happy adults” (LaFollette, 185). In such cases, apparently, parental harm is established due to the child’s lack of ability to overcome challenges in order to be happy. Based on a study perform of individuals with high risk of maltreatment resulted in children of maltreated parents suffer breakdown end up becoming abusers themselves. However, it can also be taken into account that few of those individuals joined forces, non-profits, police, etc. to help bring others out who have suffered …show more content…
The first would be to disagree with the judgement of having a reliable procedure for determining whether someone is competent to be a parent. Finally, the second is to object with the assumption that we could implement a parent licensing program without violating anyone’s rights. My objection stems from the judgment of having an absolutely reliable method that could serve as predetermining the competency of becoming a parent.
I begin by advocating the more strict form of licensing since that is the standard method of regulating hazardous activities. The author advocates for it as he feels that this is the sole measure that could prevent abuse and negligence for children. Parental licensing may sound frightening, but bad parenting can have detrimental consequences for children and society. However, unlike medicinal or law practice, reproduction is a private affair and thus does should not be subject to any governmental regulation or
In Hugh Lafollette’s paper, “Licensing Parents” he talks about the need for government licensing of parents. His argument states that for any activity that is harmful to others, requires competence, and has a reliable procedure for determining competence, should require licensing by the government. This argument relates to parenting because it can be harmful to children, requires competence to raise those children, and we can assume that a reliable procedure can be formulated. Therefore, parenting should require licensing by the government. I agree with Lafollette and shall focus on supporting him by addressing the most practical objections: There is no reliable procedure for identifying competent parents and it is impossible to reasonably enforce parent regulations. I shall address these objections and their reasoning, followed by responses that Lafollette and myself would most likely have, thereby refuting the objections.
Finally, Lafollette’s argument is not even addressed properly. He uses term such as “theoretically desirable” which makes his argument seem unpersuasive and uncertain. He states, “I shall argue that the state should require all parents to be licensed. My Main goal is to demonstrate that the licensing of parents is theoretically desirable. I argue a general licensing program should be established. Finally, I shall briefly suggest that the reason many people object to licensing is that they think parents, particularly biological parents, own or have a natural sovereignty over their children.”
Is it wrong to make a child deaf by design? How much leeway should parents have in selecting the characteristics of their child (when it comes to aspects of identity)? Should they have any? These are just a couple of difficult questions posed by Sandel. Presenting a similar case, Sandel discusses the case of an infertile couple seeking an egg donor. They sought a very specific type of donor, going as far as requesting an achieved SAT score. In both of these cases, the outcomes are still susceptible to a certain degree natural variation and uncertainty. Does this element of unpredictability add to the moral correctness of these cases?
There are means to select the gender of one’s child and everyone should be allowed the option of using these means to select the gender of their child if that is what they want. People should always be allowed the choice. Gender selection should always permissible because restricting it would be limiting the ri...
With the increased rate of integrating In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), there has been a steep inclination within the associated needs of specifications. Observably, the development of babies using scientific measures was initially formulated and specified for developing the diverse range of development associated with the same (Turriziani, 2014). However, these developments are noted to be creating an adverse impact on the natural course of events and subsequently, resulting with an adverse impact on the natural process of the development of babies. The initial integrations within the system of IVF for developing babies have further been initiated with the effective use of science to develop a healthy baby. Hence, the use of such progressions can be argued as not hampering the ethical needs associated with the same. Conversely, the initial progression within the same and the changes in the use of such practices are identified as unethical, as it has been acting as a threat in the natural course of development of embryos and altering the natural course of events, suspected to be imposing significant influence on infant mortality (Turriziani,
Sue Axon, from Manchester, is a mother of five children who filed an amendment over the Department of Health’s updated guidelines in the High Court in 2006. The focus of her action is to honor the rights of the parents over their children in terms of having an abortion and taking contraceptives. She stated that the guidelines given by the Department of Health undermines the roles of parents (BMJ Publishing Group, 2005). Mr. Axon’s attempt failed. Mr. Philip Sales said that implementing the “right to know” of parents will result to discouragement of young women to seek medical advice regarding their sexual
judges generally do not have and are not given relevant psychological insights that would aid decision. The "rules of thumb" of parental fitness and best interests of the child constitute the black letter law of custody. Two highly publicized cases that are both seen as "wrongly decided" and that were reversed by subsequent events or legislation are examined: Painter Bannister in Iowa and the "Baby Lenore" case, in which a Florida court refused to give full faith and credit to a prior New York decision and a later New York decision overruled the earlier decision. In the Painter case, the father was denied custody of ins child in favor of the maternal grandparents, who were able to provide a more affluent home. In the "Baby Lenore" case the natural mother, after having given the child up for adoption, was first awarded custody and later denied custody in favor of the adoptive parents who had cared for the child since it had been 1 -month-old. In the Iowa case there was no £ct or event that had the effect of terminating parental rights. In the New York case there was such an event Baby Lenore's surrender for adoption through an agency. To better safeguard the interests of the child
While this is a valid statement, it can be refuted by everyone agreeing that there should at least be basic standards for raising a child. A parenting license would just enforce the standards every child should be brought up with. That being said, these licenses are not meant to dictate every move a parent makes with their child or children, the license is there to set a minimum standard for care of a child. The absolute minimum standard should be the basic human necessities to live; food, shelter, and health. However, the bar should be set where the children are happy, educated, and nurtured. This standard should not be hard to meet if the potential parents consider themselves fit to raise a child. The standard is there to keep parents who neglect or harm their children at bay. The license is a sort of test to show potential parents meet all of the criteria. If they fail the license test, then they do not get to reap the benefits of
Since the case of Mary Ellen Wilson in 1874, child abuse has seen it’s share of light in published news. It is disheartening to read countless stories of future generations being harmed to the extent of psychological damage or even death. Child abuse as a whole has been addressed multiple times in various news blogs, however, nothing has been done to work towards abolishing it at a larger level. The future of America is in jeopardy based on the level of abuse that children endure. Childhelp states that approximately 5 children die every day at the hands of child abuse. America struggles to find equality, and by bystanding the stripping of its youth, continual prolonging is inevitable. Raising this nation’s children in means of nurturing and care is the first step to uplifting America as a whole. In 2012 alone, 1593 of America’s children died at the hands of child abuse, 70.3% of which were younger than the age of three (Safe Horizon). In order to prevent further child abuse, the American government should address stricter child protection laws, psychological stability, and an increase the recognition of those that have released their stories.
Psychological maltreatment, like many other forms of abuse can also be passed down through intergenerational transmission. It is not unlikely for parents to psychologically mistreat their children due to their own past or childhood experiences with psychologically abuse. For example, it is not uncommon during the course of an investigation of physiological maltreatment that it is discovered that the perpetrator had their own form of abuse history in the past. Often time’s people look at psychological maltreatment as a consequence resulting from some other form of abuse, mainly physical and sexual, but tend to overlook the fact that it may also occur as an individual form. Psychological maltreatment can take more than one form. During the course of researching for this paper I learned that there are three typical forms of behavior in which people follow when displaying this type of abuse against children. The three types are acting in an aggressive, rejecting, and lessening
Little views the intimacy of gestation as the most important factor to be considered when examining the issues of a woman’s right to determine a pregnancy. There are no other instances where the state mandates the existence of an intimate relationship agains the will of one of the participants and pregnancy should be no different.
Regulation is an important tool used by our government entities that strongly impacts public health. It can be used to enforce new policies and initiatives in order to control risks or dangers to the public and can encourage improved behaviors within the population. There are legal foundations supporting and permitting the use of regulations in our government, and there are recognized times regulation can be justified.
"Reproductive Technologies." Bioethics for Students: How Do We Know What’s Right?, edited by Steven G. Post, vol. 1, Macmillan Reference USA, 1999. Opposing Viewpoints in
“Domestic violence is a violent confrontation between family or household members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm” (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). In most places, domestic violence is looked at as one of the higher priorities when trying to stop crime. Domestic violence cases are thought to be influenced by the use of alcohol, drugs, stress or anger, but in reality, they are just learned behaviors by the batterer. These habits can be stopped as long as one seeks help (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). For instance, a child is brought up in a household that is constantly involved in criminal acts.
Child abuse is a social problem in America that has many contributed factors. Factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect includes poverty, divorce, substance use, lack of education, stress due to unemployment, mental health issues, teenage parent, and a history of child abuse in the family. It took decades for physicians to conclude that parents have been violently assaulting their children. Child abuse, child labor, juvenile delinquency, and similar social questions historically were ethical and moral problems, not strictly medical ones. (Helfer, Kempe, & Krugman, 1997). In 1962, the Journal of American Medical Association published “The Battered-Child Syndrome.” The article transformed society’s views and dates the rediscovery of child abuse as a social problem. Following this article, the U.S. Children’s Bureau adopted the first laws mandating physicians to report any suspicions of abuse and neglect to the police or child welfare. By 1974, some 60,000 cases were reported. In 1980, the number exceeded one million (Myers J. E., 2004).