Download Medical Aspects of Pregnancy and Abortion

MASTER’S INTERNATIONAL
Evansville, Indiana U.S.A. © Copyrights Reserved
Graduate Program Course Study Guide
MEDICAL ASPECTS OF PREGNANCY AND ABORTION
Professors: William Blanke, M.D. & Margie Clutter, RN, B.S.N.
Three (3) Credits
PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING ITEMS BEFORE YOU BEGIN THIS COURSE.
 Pray for God’s guidance before you begin this course, and each time you work on it.
 Become totally familiar with the Master's Online Digital Library, and make ample use of
its resources throughout this course. The address is: http://odl.mdivs.edu. You will
need your student ID# and password (contact Master's if you have forgotten these).
 Follow the instructions in either your Student Start Pack (offline students) or your
Student Access Page (online students) related to course formatting and submission.
 Your Master's Student Portal is also a place to get information on most subjects related
to completing this course. The address is: http://www.mdivs.edu/mdsiap.html.
 We strongly recommend that you use word processing software and make frequent
use of the spell checker/grammar suggestion aspects, and back up your files!
 If you need to contact the professor for this course (or the academic office), we
recommend that you do so first by email. Unless you already know the address of the
professor, you may either refer to your Student Portal, or request contact by writing to
[email protected].
 The total length of time required to complete this course is different for each person,
with subject background, previous education, and personal situation all having a major
role in personal study habits and ability. However, on average each course credit
usually requires between 35-40 clock hours of study. Therefore, a two credit course
will require about 85-90 hours of work, likewise a three credit course between 130-140
hours. Since you are not restricted by classroom hours, the average student might
expect to complete a three credit course in about nine weeks by devoting four study
hours per day only four days per week (i.e. two hours morning and evening).
 When you have completed your course, send it to Master's for grading (do not send it
directly to your course professor). From the time you submit your course, until it is
returned to you (graded) will vary, but generally courses sent by postal mail will
require as much as two weeks in transit (to and from), and another two weeks to get
through the recording and grading process. Email submission generally requires about
two weeks. These are averages, and your course may take slightly more or less time.
While you are waiting, make good use of your time by beginning your next course, but
if this is your final course, then enjoy the rest…you have earned it!
 May God bless you as you study, as you follow the timeless encouragement given by
the Apostle Paul to Timothy as recorded in II Timothy 2:15.
BEGIN THIS COURSE
Medical Aspects of Pregnancy and Abortion
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Course Purpose
To introduce and expose the student to basic medical knowledge of both pregnancy and abortion,
describing both pregnancy and abortion procedures in a medically accurate fashion so that the
student will better understand and be able to effectively discuss how a normal pregnancy
progresses, and understand the impact pregnancy and abortion has on a woman, her family and
others around her.
Course Objectives
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To introduce basic medical concepts of fetal development, changes to a woman’s body
during pregnancy, and the effects of abortion.
To help the student be better equipped to support a woman in an unplanned pregnancy by
better understanding how a pregnancy affects the woman physically and emotionally.
To enable the student to be informed of pro-life community resources that will enable a
woman with complications in her pregnancy to continue her pregnancy.
To challenge the student to analyze their own thoughts and opinions about abortion
procedures and contraception, and help them to be able to accurately discuss those topics
from a biblically and medically accurate, pro-life perspective, and to expose the student to
the after-effects of pregnancy and abortion and help the student be better equipped to
minister to women and their families who have been touched by post-partum depression,
miscarriage or abortion.
MATERIALS
REQUIRED AUDIO CASSETTES (Provided by Master's Divinity School)
Five audio tapes comprise the lecture component of this course.
REQUIRED PRINTED MATERIALS: (Purchased from Master's by the student)
1. Beginning Life, by Gerald Lux Flanagan, ISBN: 0789406098, DK Publishing, 1996.
2. Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments, ISBN 1756737519, Multnomah Publishing, 2001.
COURSE PROJECTS
This Study Guide contains questions and written assignments that are related to the lecture
materials on the cassettes, and reading and written assignments related to the required textbooks.
There are four specific projects. These are: 1. Your Cassette Course Project. 2. Your Textbook
Course Project. 3. Your Case Studies Project 4. Your Final Writing Project.
I. YOUR CASSETTE PROJECT IS:
1. Listen to each tape at least twice, making notes as you listen.
2. Write a summary of the contents the tapes. Use not less than 400 words for each of the
tapes.
Medical Aspects of Pregnancy and Abortion
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3. Answer the Questions for each of the lecture tapes (questions are at the end of the Study
Guide.
Lay out your answer page for each of the questions as follows:
Tape #_______
Question #1: (Print question here.)
Answer here. Be very thorough.
Question #2: (Print question here.)
Answer here. Be very thorough.
And so forth.
II. YOUR TEXTBOOK PROJECT IS:
Part One: Read the textbooks and write a one-paragraph affirmation that you have read each of
the required textbooks. Put your signature on this document.
Part Two: Assume that you are asked to write a Book Review of each of the required textbooks
for a magazine. Write your review, as both a synopsis and a critique of the content. Use not less
than 600 words.
III. YOUR CASE STUDIES PROJECT IS:
Create a case study using either an actual event, a composite of actual events, or a theoretical
case study that employs true-to-life components. Select one from the following four general areas:
1. A 16 year-old female who is in her first trimester, unwed, and unsure of who the father of the
child is. 2. A 32 year-old mother of four who in her second trimester has been informed that her
child has a 50/50 chance of being born with a major birth defect. 3. A 41 year-old mother of two
teenagers, married to her first husband for 22 years, but is just now trying to come to terms with a
second trimester abortion she had at age 17 (her husband and children do not know about the
abortion). 4. A 44 year-old man who is married with grown children and has just discovered that
his married 27 year-old secretary is pregnant and claims he is the father
Your Case Study Project must present the problem in the order suggested below (General
Guidelines for Developing A Solid Case Study Response). Use not less than 800 words.
General Guidelines for Developing A Solid Case Study Response
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Analyze then develop each case study.
Gather the facts.
Determine the ethical/moral issues.
What principles have a bearing on the case?
List alternatives.
Compare the alternatives with the principles.
Consider the consequences.
Make a decision.
Give a thorough analysis from a biblically-based world view.
Identify the ethical problems and suggest resolution(s).
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IV. YOUR FINAL WRITING PROJECT IS:
This is the final project, and must be completed only after you have finished the cassette and
textbook projects. Write a summary of the entire course. Include in this summary how this course
has impacted your understanding of the subject; has helped you in your ministry to others; and
how this understanding has changed the way you think and react in matters related to the subject
of the course. Use not less than 900 words.
QUESTIONS FOR THE AUDIO TAPE PROJECT
Tape 1
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Using scripture, explain why life begins at conception, and why each life is sacred.
Using only secular, scientific and medical facts, explain why life begins at conception and
why each life is of value.
Tape 2
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What would you say to a pregnant woman who has been told her baby has a genetic
defect and has been advised to have an abortion by her doctor?
What local resources are available in your community that may assist with neonatal
hospice concepts (Example would be a pro-life doctors etc.) Research and identify these
local resources and how they would help this woman.
Tape 3
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Explain both scripturally and medically how contraceptives should be used. Based on what
you have learned, how should you counsel couples, married and unmarried, in regards to
their sexual lives?
Chemical abortions (RU486) are becoming more prevalent in our society. Compare and
contrast the impact on a woman between a chemical abortion Vs the surgical abortion she
would have during the same time in her pregnancy. (Suction Aspiration).
Tape 4
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Describe your reaction to the description of various abortion procedures, including any
changes in your perspective related to what you have learned.
Based on what you have already learned, what is the proper view of women who have had
an abortion, or their partners, family or friends who have advocated for abortion? How can
you minister to those people with the love of Christ?
Tape 5
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What are some of the factors that motivate medical professionals to perform abortions?
What is the Christian response to abortion providers?
Medical Aspects of Pregnancy and Abortion
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This completes the Projects for this course.
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