Week 2 – Discussion: Utilitarianism and Kantian Ethics
Discussion Prompt
Consider this scenario and answer the questions below: After doing a complete work up on a patient, a doctor learns that the patient has several sexually transmittable infections and diseases (STIDs). After the doctor informs the patient of this news, the patient says: "Doc, I don't want my wife to know that I have these problems. Please do not tell her." The question is:
Should the doctor honor the patient's request, or should the doctor tell the wife?
I believe the doctor should tell the wife about the husband’s diagnosis
Please do not consider the legality of this situation, only the morality behind it.
How would a Kantian ethicist answer the above question?
A Kantian would say, no, do not tell the wife.
How would a utilitarian answer the above question?
A utilitarian would say, yes, tell the wife.
Considering all of the moral values emphasized in Kant's ethical theory and utilitarian
theory, what moral values do you think a healthcare worker in this scenario should emphasize before making their decision?
Kantian ethics emphasize duty (
Dimmock, M., & Fisher, A., (2017). It is the healthcare worker’s duty to comply with the patient’s request. Utilitarian ethics promotes the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people (
Dimmock, M., & Fisher, A., (2017). In telling the wife about her husband’s diagnosis, it will be fulfilling that greater good by allowing the wife to also go to the doctor for testing and treatment and stay safe in the future if she chooses to remain with her husband. REFERENCES: Dimmock, M., & Fisher, A. (2017).
Ethics for A-level
. Open Book Publishers.
