Scenario: Please read and answer the following questions using critical thinking:
The consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman can cause a complex of birth defects called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). These symptoms include head and facial irregularities, heart defects, mental retardation, and behavioral problems, such as hyperactivity. The U.S. Surgeon General's Office recommends that pregnant women abstain from drinking alcohol, and the government has mandated that a warning label be placed on liquor bottles: "Women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects."
Imagine the following dilemma for a server in a restaurant. An obviously pregnant woman orders a strawberry daiquiri. The server shows a warning label to the customer and asks her: "Ma'am, are you sure you want this drink?" The customer becomes angry, demands her drink, and goes to the restaurant manager, who then fires the server.
- What would you do if you were in the server's place?
- Does the server have an obligation to protect the customer, even against her wishes?
- Is the customer aware of danger? Is she responsible for disregarding warnings about alcohol intake during pregnancy?
- Does the employer have the right to dismiss an employee? Is a restaurant responsible for monitoring the health habits of its customers?