My wife just asked my opinion on this issue which from the postings has shifted to an ethical discussion. I cannot tell if all the postings came from women and I am the only guy getting my nose in dangerous turf. But I will assume this forum allows for everyone's opinions.
We have one child and my wife is expecting twins in March. We both work, she is a pediatrician and I am a professor of philosophy and ethics. So, here are my two cents on this topic first as a professional:
1. Kristin and Kelley from a pure ethical perspective you both assume that the "choice" of a mother against the "choice of another human being - the baby" is greater in value. Enmanuel Kant talks about the "right to no harm" as a societal ethical issue. This has nothing to do with religion! It is pure and simple ethical analysis. Let's assume that instead of breast milk this was an issue a mother's refusal to access medical care for her baby in the name of choice, then the child dies as a result of her choice. Was that choice the right one? And YES society has the right to judge. We do it all the time. We judge politicians, religious leaders, conservative and liberals. Judging is not one sided, that is why we have a free society that seeks what is best for its survival. We do not need ethical anarchy, do we?
If scientific evidence shows that nutrients in mother's milk are of higher quality than formula, and the mother has not medical restrictions to provide this source of nutrients to her offspring, but she chooses to bottlefeed instead, are her actions ethical? She may be potentially denying a healthier life to her baby, and the report from MSNBC is just the beginning to the slippery slope...
2. As a father, I could not be more appreciative to my wife's choice of wanting to breastfeed our twins the same way she did our son. She has a busy practice and we will work as a team to ensure the necessary amounts of breast milk are pumped for both babies. As many twins tend to be born prematurely, we will always face the possibility of having to opt for formula if the medical need arises. But we will try our best to give our babies what mother nature designed her body for, the most nurturing process of life. Her choice is hers, but based on what is best for the babies not what is best for her. Pure and simple, selfless decision. We do not judge those women whose circumstances as such that even if they wanted to breastfeed could not possibly do it. But we judge those who having the " natural nutritional source" deny it to their baby. The same way we judge those parents who let kids smoke, use drugs, drink alcohol, or give their kids birth control pills at age 11. My wife can tell you the horrible stories of young kids she sees in her office whose parents act unattached from the consequences of their choices as parents. Yes, my wife can judge, I can judge, WE as a society have the right to judge when we think we have gone too far in many areas of our lives including health. I will judge those parents who:
1. Choose to smoke during pregnancy
2. Use drugs during and after having a baby
3. Feed their children junk food to the point of creating an obesity and diabetes epidemic in our society thus causing the cost of healthcare to sky rocket.
4. Push their kids to multiple sports disregarding the immature physiology of their young bodies to the point of causing long term injuries and multiple surgeries.
My list is long, but I have made my point as a man, father, husband and a professional who is committed to teaching students to know the difference between right and wrong choices....
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My wife just asked my opinion on this issue which from the postings has shifted to an ethical discussion. I cannot tell if all the postings came from women and I am the only guy getting my nose in dangerous turf. But I will assume this forum allows for everyone's opinions.
We have one child and my wife is expecting twins in March. We both work, she is a pediatrician and I am a professor of philosophy and ethics. So, here are my two cents on this topic first as a professional:
1. Kristin and Kelley from a pure ethical perspective you both assume that the "choice" of a mother against the "choice of another human being - the baby" is greater in value. Enmanuel Kant talks about the "right to no harm" as a societal ethical issue. This has nothing to do with religion! It is pure and simple ethical analysis. Let's assume that instead of breast milk this was an issue a mother's refusal to access medical care for her baby in the name of choice, then the child dies as a result of her choice. Was that choice the right one? And YES society has the right to judge. We do it all the time. We judge politicians, religious leaders, conservative and liberals. Judging is not one sided, that is why we have a free society that seeks what is best for its survival. We do not need ethical anarchy, do we?
If scientific evidence shows that nutrients in mother's milk are of higher quality than formula, and the mother has not medical restrictions to provide this source of nutrients to her offspring, but she chooses to bottlefeed instead, are her actions ethical? She may be potentially denying a healthier life to her baby, and the report from MSNBC is just the beginning to the slippery slope...
2. As a father, I could not be more appreciative to my wife's choice of wanting to breastfeed our twins the same way she did our son. She has a busy practice and we will work as a team to ensure the necessary amounts of breast milk are pumped for both babies. As many twins tend to be born prematurely, we will always face the possibility of having to opt for formula if the medical need arises. But we will try our best to give our babies what mother nature designed her body for, the most nurturing process of life. Her choice is hers, but based on what is best for the babies not what is best for her. Pure and simple, selfless decision. We do not judge those women whose circumstances as such that even if they wanted to breastfeed could not possibly do it. But we judge those who having the " natural nutritional source" deny it to their baby. The same way we judge those parents who let kids smoke, use drugs, drink alcohol, or give their kids birth control pills at age 11. My wife can tell you the horrible stories of young kids she sees in her office whose parents act unattached from the consequences of their choices as parents. Yes, my wife can judge, I can judge, WE as a society have the right to judge when we think we have gone too far in many areas of our lives including health. I will judge those parents who:
1. Choose to smoke during pregnancy
January 4, 2009 - 5:45pm2. Use drugs during and after having a baby
3. Feed their children junk food to the point of creating an obesity and diabetes epidemic in our society thus causing the cost of healthcare to sky rocket.
4. Push their kids to multiple sports disregarding the immature physiology of their young bodies to the point of causing long term injuries and multiple surgeries.
My list is long, but I have made my point as a man, father, husband and a professional who is committed to teaching students to know the difference between right and wrong choices....
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