The Transplant Case
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Galen College of Nursing *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
2205
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
2
Uploaded by DeanKnowledge1836
Information:
5 patients in need of 5 different organs and will die without them
1 healthy traveler comes in for a routine check up and dr notices he is compatible for all 5 sick patients
Utilitarian Case Study Questions:
Applying utilitarian ethics, would you be concerned with the consequences of the doctor’s action
in this scenario?
YES
–Utilitarians are consequentialists so that means they hold the view that whether an act is morally right depends only on the consequences of the doctor’s actions.
Which of the following aspects would be important to a utilitarian in this scenario?
-The suffering caused by the young patient dying
-The suffering caused by the five ill patients’ deaths
-The possible benefit(s) of the young patient living
-The possible benefit(s) of the five ill patients living
Considering these aspects, what decision might you as a utilitarian make in this scenario?
Killing the young patient and distribute the organs to the five ill patients.
–Utilitarians are only concerned with the overall net sum of utility (i.e., happiness) versus the overall net sum of disutility (i.e., suffering) caused by every act available to perform. Since distributing the organs would lead to the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number, it would be the only moral act in this case. Kantian Case Study Questions:
Applying Kantian ethics, would you be concerned with the consequences of the doctor’s action in this scenario?
NO
–As a non-consequentialist, Kant would not be concerned with the consequences of the doctor’s
actions. However, sacrificing the man for the sake of saving others violates the first formulation of the categorical imperative to not intentionally kill others because doing so would create a contradiction in will. No one would want to live in a world where it would be ok for you, yourself to be sacrificed so we should not perform any act that would bring about such a world. It also violates the second formulation of the categorical imperative since to sacrifice the man would be
to use him as a tool or instrument (i.e., as a mere means) to end/goal of saving five lives. This would violate the man’s intrinsic worth as a rational, autonomous being. Would Kantian ethics support the killing and harvesting of the traveler's organs to save multiple lives?
No, Kantian ethics would never permit the sacrifice of the traveler and would disregard the potential consequence of saving multiple lives.
–Kantian ethics would never permit the sacrifice of the traveler and would disregard the potential consequence of saving multiple lives.
Applying Kantian ethics, what would be true of how a deontologist would reason through this case?
We would not want transplant doctors always acting on the intention to sacrifice patients if it would save numerous lives since we ourselves do not wish to be sacrificed, so the patient must not be killed.
–A deontologist would not want transplant doctors always acting on the intention to sacrifice patients if it would save numerous lives since we ourselves do not wish to be sacrificed, so the patient must not be killed.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help