Ethical_Analysis_of_Movie
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Nov 24, 2024
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Ethical Analysis of Movie
The film Extreme Measures examines the ethics of medical experimentation on humans
without permission. The film asks if sacrificing a few lives to advance science and save many
more is moral. Deontology and utilitarianism will be used to evaluate the film in this article. I
will also argue why deontology is superior than utilitarianism for this situation. Deontology
moralizes activities based on their conformity to moral responsibilities. Immanuel Kant, who
presented the categorical imperative as the highest moral principle, was the most prominent
deontologist. First, one should act only according to that maxim by which one can
simultaneously will that it become a universal law. Second, one should treat humanity, whether
in oneself or in another, always as an end and never as a means.
The movie's main character, emergency department doctor Guy Luthan, examines a
homeless patient's inexplicable death using deontological ethics. He learns that the patient was
part of Dr. Lawrence Myrick's unlawful attempt to heal paralysis by injecting homeless people
with a spinal cord-regenerating medication. Luthan is outraged by Myrick's experiments and
attempts to stop him. He feels Myrick is abusing his subjects' human rights and dignity and is
unethical regardless of the result. Luthan protects the weak and upholds professional ethics out
of obligation. He obeys the categorical imperative by honoring himself and others' humanity and
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not letting Myrick's maxim of utilizing people as tools to an aim become law. The appropriate
action, according to utilitarianism, maximizes happiness for the most individuals. John Stuart
Mill, the most important utilitarian, developed utility by separating greater and lesser pleasures
and considering happiness quality and quantity. Dr. Lawrence Myrick, who secretly experiments
on homeless people, applies utilitarian ethics throughout the film. He feels his study might cure
paralysis and improve millions of lives, justifying his acts. He claims that his activities are
justified because they do more good than damage and that he would sacrifice himself and others
for mankind. Utility guides him to maximize enjoyment, minimize misery, and value intellectual
and social advancement.
The movie's biggest ethical issues are using people as means to an end without their
consent or knowledge, the conflict between individual autonomy and social responsibility in
medical research, and the trade-off between short-term harm and long-term benefit in scientific
goals. First, the film raises problems regarding the morality of experimenting on vulnerable
people without their informed permission, using them as instruments to attain a scientific aim.
Second, a major ethical concern is the conflict between patient autonomy, which allows them to
make choices about their bodies, and medical research's ability to benefit society. The video
concludes by discussing the ethical dilemma of harming a few people to cure paralysis. These
ethical challenges in medical ethics require readers to analyze the complicated relationship
between individual rights, society interests, and scientific advancement.
Deontologists would consider these concerns immoral since they see humans as tools
rather than goals. Deontologists also claim that consequences are indeterminate and contingent
and do not justify breaching universal moral principles, hence they cannot address these
concerns. Deontologists believe medical research should respect human subjects' autonomy,
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dignity, and rights and follow logical ethical criteria. Because these concerns promote the most
pleasure for the most individuals, utilitarians would consider them ethically acceptable or even
required. A utilitarian would likewise argue that these concerns may be handled by considering
the costs and benefits of alternative actions and picking the best likely conclusion. Utilitarians
believe medical research should maximize societal welfare and human well-being using
empirical data and practical concerns.
I prefer deontology over utilitarianism for this sort of predicament because it gives a
more consistent and dependable framework for moral decision-making. Deontology prohibits
sacrificing or exploiting humans because of their intrinsic worth and dignity. Deontology also
maintains reason-based moral standards that are independent of preferences, emotions, and
circumstances. Deontology defines good and evil by whether an activity may be willed as a
universal rule. A fair and peaceful society requires individual rights and justice, which
deontology safeguards.
As a moral theory, utilitarianism has several flaws. Utilitarianism confines morality to
pleasure and suffering and overlooks other human values. Utilitarianism also permits abusing or
dismissing minority rights and interests as long as the majority is better off. With unknown and
unexpected outcomes, utilitarianism does not give a clear or objective criteria for assessing and
comparing happiness. The moral importance of intents, reasons, and character for moral
responsibility and virtue is likewise ignored by utilitarianism. Thus, deontology is a superior
moral theory than utilitarianism and solves moral issues better.
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Work Cited
Wilburn, Heather. “A Brief Overview of Kant’s Moral Theory.” Open.library.okstate.edu, Tulsa
Community College, 30 May 2020, open.library.okstate.edu/introphilosophy/chapter/a-
brief-overview-of-kants-moral-theory/.