Week 4_ Discussion
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
San Diego State University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
377
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
1
Uploaded by DrRam360
Hello class, The scenario presented in Option 1 certainly puts healthcare providers in a difficult position, and it's likely that many have grappled with similar situations. Personally, I believe the morally right thing to do would be to refuse the patient's request to end their lives. This stance aligns with a universal principle that we should not harm or intentionally end another person's life. Instead, I would explore every alternative to alleviate the patient's pain and suffering while providing empathetic support. As a nurse, my duty is to care for my patients, and I couldn't morally justify being responsible for ending their lives. Utilitarianism, an ethical theory that prioritizes actions that lead to the greatest good or best outcomes, would likely advocate for injecting the patients to
relieve their suffering and free up hospital beds for others in need. Utilitarians focus on the overall consequences of actions, and in this case, they would argue that ending the patients' lives results in the most favorable outcome. However, this utilitarian approach may conflict with that of an ethical egoist, who bases moral decisions on self-interest. If euthanasia doesn't benefit the ethical egoist personally, they may reject the patient's request. Conversely, if they see a benefit in
euthanasia for themselves, they might grant the patient's wishes, aligning with the utilitarian perspective of pursuing the best possible outcome. The key distinction between utilitarianism and ethical egoism lies in their consideration of interests. Utilitarians weigh the best possible outcome for all involved parties, while ethical egoists prioritize their own self-interests.
References:
Rachels, J. (2018). The Elements of Moral Philosophy (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education
(US). https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/books/9781260213003
MacDonald, C., & Marcoux, A. (2022, August 8). Ethical theory: Utilitarianism. The Concise
Encyclopedia of Business Ethics. https://conciseencyclopedia.org/entries/ethical-theory-
utilitarianism/
Discover more documents: Sign up today!
Unlock a world of knowledge! Explore tailored content for a richer learning experience. Here's what you'll get:
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help