Reference no: EM133987452

Question

Teratogens can take many forms, including exposure to radiation, infectious disease, and prescription drug use, and their effects can often be devastating. Differentiate between intentional and unintentional exposure to teratogens and to provide at least one example of each. For instance, a pregnant woman who unknowingly is exposed to high doses of radiation from an unregulated factory in her neighborhood may suffer the effects of unintentional exposure to a teratogen, whereas a pregnant woman who smokes during her pregnancy is intentionally ingesting substances that can harm her developing child.

Do you think laws should apply to the intentional exposure category?

Given the weight of medical evidence, should a pregnant woman who willfully smokes tobacco, drinks alcohol, or consumes illegal drugs be prosecuted in some way?

Penalties for illegal drugs already fall under many existing statutes, but tobacco and alcohol use are generally legal for people beyond a minimum age. If there should be penalties, what would those be, how would they be enforced, and how would they be policed?

Is this an issue of individual rights or a matter of public health and economic concern (because of the likely cost of caring for a teratogen-exposed infant)?