Question 1
The two theories that best illustrates how moral decision should be made in an ethical dilemma in medicine include the Ethics of Care by Gilligan and Mill’s Utilitarianism. According to the Utilitarianism theory, a moral act is one that results in the greatest happiness for the majority of people at hand. In medical dilemmas, the healthcare practitioners must take into account the happiness of the patients as well as their family members while making critical decisions such as surgeries. According to the Ethics of Care, moral acts are defined based on the specific needs of the patient as well as their family members. The special relationship between the patient and the family members must be taken into account as well as the feelings and attitude of the patients’ relatives.
The ethics of care can be effective in a medical dilemma in which a physician diagnoses a patient with a terminal disease such as cancer or HIV/AIDs. The ethics of care will prompt the physician to consider the closeness of the family members with the victims before revealing the news to them. The medical dilemma entails taking into account how the patient’s relatives will feel when they get to hear the bad news. In some cases, some close family members may be shocked or even develop heart attack as a result of their patient’s illness. On the other hand, if the doctor chooses to conceal the sickness, the patient’s condition might directly affect them. If the patient is diagnosed with HIV, the doctor should inform the victim’s partner irrespective of the immediate shock. The revelation of the patient’s infection will help in preventing further infection. The Physician may also ask the patient’s partner to get screened of the infection so as to commence early medication.
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Question 2
The most important biomedical principle of ethics that is essential for decision making is beneficence. According to the principle of beneficence, one should help others to further their legitimate interests. As such, the healthcare practitioners should do whatever they can to prevent harming others. For instance, if a medical practitioner is in a position to prevent pain, then the ethical action would be to first eliminate the pain using painkillers. The principle of beneficence also obligates the healthcare givers to eliminate evil or harm from the patients. As such, if a given organ is causing pain in the body of a patient, then an ethical act would entail removing the infected organ. The physicians should also promote good by undertaking measures that foster the mental and psychological well-being of the patients. Beneficence principle is important as it prevents harm, helps people with disability, rescue individuals in danger, eliminate the potential causes of danger, and defend the rights of others.
The least important principle in medical decision making is the autonomy principle. The principal fosters telling the truth, respecting the privacy of others as well as protecting confidential information. The principle also requires the patient’s consent before interventions as well as giving help only when asked. In cases where the confidential information of the patient affects the public, the disclosure will be essential. Therefore, the autonomy principle becomes unpopular is such cases.
Question 3
Maria should take the hormone treatment so that they can get a child. According to the Mill’s Utilitarian theory, Both Maria and Mark want to get a child. Therefore, using the hormone will create happiness for the greatest majority of the people concerned. Based on the Beneficence principle the physician has the responsibility of helping people with disabilities. Giving Maria the hormone will aid her in conceiving the pregnancy.
Question 4
Mill would support the CPR as it caused happiness to the greatest majority of the patient’s family members. Her daughter Sarah is happy as Ms. Pine did not die. Additionally, the family members of Ms. Pine consented to the CPR. Kant would oppose the CPR as violates the physical health of Ms. Pine. The patient’s ribs get broken as a result of CPR. The Kant’s Deontological Theory states that an immoral act violates one or both standards. Since CPR violates the physical health of the patient, then it is immoral. Gillian would support the CPR as his theory of Ethics states that the specific needs of the patient’s family members must be taken into account. Sarah along with the other children of Ms. Pine consented to CPR and it thus meets the applicable moral standards.
Question 5
The general practitioner should not report the mother to Child Protective services due to the detrimental consequences of the action. Through reporting, the child may be taken away from the mother and cause their separation. The mother may also be punished for her act of bruising her son. Therefore, reporting will result in a painful experience for the greatest majority of the people concerned. Therefore, reporting the case will be unethical based on the Mill’s Utilitarian theory. Based on Gilligan’s theory, reporting the matter would be immoral as it violates the family values and aspirations of the victim’s family member. The mother did not intend to harm her son by performing the coining operation. As such, the matter should not be prosecuted.
Question 6
Mills theory defines moral acts based on consequences that the actions have to the majority of the people. As such, people should strive and do things that are palatable to the others. Mills theory is identical to the Kant’s Deontological theory that asserts that a moral act is the one that is universalizable. Acts which results to happiness to the greatest majority of the people will obviously be universalizable. Mills theory differs from Kant’s theory in the sense that Utilitarianism is based on consequences while Deontology is based on the reasons for doing an action.
Kant theory is also identical to Aristotle’s virtue of ethics. Aristotle’s theory states that virtuous people will do the right thing. As such, any action should be based on a given virtue. Desirable virtues are universalized hence making the two theories identical.
