Analyze by choosing two of the four ethical viewpoints we have considered – util

Question

Analyze by choosing two of the four ethical viewpoints we have considered – utilitarianism, respect for persons, careor the ethics of virtue – Show how each of your chosen viewpoints highlights slightly different aspects of each situation as being morally significant. Finally, what conclusions do each of your chosen viewpoints lead you to in this situation… and why? For this case, write your analysis 3 to 4 pages. no any source from the wikipedia.

“After the car he is driving collides at high speed with a telephone pole, Mr. D.* is brought in to the hospital emergency room in serious condition. The physicians who examine him recommend surgery to repair a serious internal hemorrhage. But the 66 year old man refuses, saying that he “wants to be left alone to die.” The physicians also learn that three weeks earlier Mr. D. was diagnosed as having carcinoma of the tongue. He has refused surgery for this cancerous lesion and has asked his own physician not to tell his wife that he has a fatal disease.

The hospital physicians believe that Mr. D. will die without surgery for the hemorrhage, and they call in a psychiatric resident to evaluate the patient. Dr. Moore interviews Mr. D. and finds him coherent, rational and alert. Mr. D. describes himself as a man who values his independence. He feels that he has had a satisfactory professional life as an engineer, and a good personal life with his wife and two children (who are now grown). He expresses some sadness at his situation, but says “I have had a good and full life, but now it’s over.”

Dr. Moore suggest, and Mr. D. does not deny, that the automobile accident was I n fact a deliberate attempt at suicide. What should Dr. Moore recommend? That the patient’s refusal of treatment for immediate surgery should be accepted as the act of a rational person? Or that the refusal of treatment should not be honored, and a court order should be sought on the grounds that a presumed suicide attempt is prima facie evidence of mental illness (and impaired decision making)?

*Since this is an actual medical case, the identity of the patient is masked to preserve confidentiality.”

Explanation / Answer

The case can be discussed in two ways---first is the liberal individualism and self-centered status of the person where the person with accident is left alone to decide his fate,destiny, and death and the other perspective discusses the moral ethics code of conduct, understanding moral duty and responsibility towards family and relatives which comes under the Kantian Views of good moral conduct and provision of happiness, respect and trust in family and thinking and performing good welfare for the society with utilitarian view and justice.This further includes the respect of the person suffering from cancer and depression from his children and wife,provision of care and counseling from his children and family, justification of the actions and hardwork performed by him throughout his life, transfer of power and authority by him to his children after earning their respect according to the situation rather than emphasis on the situation of creating such scenarios of inheriting legacy without trust,control,understanding and moral ethics. The patient should not be provided the provision of lack of treatment as he has a family and children and should be provided treatment for cancer with the help of arrangement of funds from children accordingly with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and later on surgery in the end stages if prescribed by the surgery doctor.Further if assets and regular welfare of his children and family has already been planned by this patient then he can be given the authority of undergoing euthanisia or self death from the doctor after signing a self-court law declaration that he is responsible for his death and he will be responsible for the consequences that will be happen to his children and wife after death.

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