Ethical Dilemma

Ethical Dilemma
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Current trends in science and technology continue to elude sharp criticism considering they go against societal ethics. Cases of in vitro fertilization are the recent trends unearthing ethical drama. The moral issue in Robert and Karen Capato’s case was whether children born after Robert’s death are eligible to get benefits as in the Social Security Administration (SSA). Robert Capato died of cancer and eighteen months later, Karen Capato gave birth to twins conceived by in vitro fertilization using her husband’s frozen sperms. She applied for benefits for the twins under the Social Security Act but was denied since the law did not recognize children born posthumously as direct beneficiaries unless stated in the will or another category.
The Supreme Court had ruled that children conceived posthumously are not eligible for Social Security benefits if they do not wholly satisfy the state law conditions. The State Law provides the definition of a child eligible for Social Security benefits. The definition of a child was ‘the biological or legally adopted child of an individual’ (Syllabus:Astrue,Commissioner of Social Security Vs Karen Capato, 2012). Therefore, undisputed biological children qualified for Social Security benefits without any regard to the State Laws. At the time of Karen’s case, a child born posthumously was eligible to inheritance only if conceived during the deceased’s lifetime; this contradicted Karen’s situation. Nonetheless, the twins are Robert’s biological children and are entitled for Social Security benefits under any circumstances though they were posthumously conceived. In order to align scientific innovations regarding conception, a time limit has to be introduced for posthumously conceived children when they can claim their Social Security benefits.
Also, the deceased has to agree to in vitro fertilization in whichever case. In determining whether a child or family member qualifies for the Social Security benefits, intestacy law must first be fulfilled. Several states have updated their State Inheritance law to considering Robert Capato’s case, for example, Florida...