Medical Terminology for Health Professions 7th Edition by Carol Schroeder,Ann Ehrlich

Exercise 71

The following story and questions are designed to stimulate critical thinking through class discussion or as a brief essay response. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.
"But Sam, you promised!" Jamie Chu began.
"Please do not get so upset," her husband interrupted. "I know I agreed to a vasectomy, but Grandmother may have a point. I do not have a son. Our family name has to be considered. I just feel that we should think about this."
"But Sam, we already discussed it. You're scheduled for the procedure." It seemed to Jamie that they had already spent plenty of time considering the number of children they wanted and talking about various contraceptive methods. Jamie had problems taking the pill, and Sam didn't like using a condom. A tubal ligation could have been the answer, but Jamie had a fear of not waking up from the anesthesia. Besides, she had been the one to go through two pregnancies and childbirths. Sam had reluctantly agreed that it was his turn to take responsibility for family planning.
Their two daughters, 2-year-old Nanyn and her big sister, Nadya, made the perfect size family, Jamie thought. She had grown up in a large family. A lot of her childhood was spent taking care of her brothers and sisters, and she rarely had her mother's undivided attention. She didn't want that for her children.
Sam's story was different. Before his parents immigrated to America, they had had four daughters. His father was so proud when Sam was born, a son to carry on the family tradition.
It had taken quite a long time to convince Sam that a family of only daughters could be considered complete. And now Grandmother was questioning that decision.
If a couple cannot agree about family size or birth control methods, what options are available to them?