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Course: Wireless Philosophy > Unit 6
Lesson 2: Healthcare relationships: How to start thinking like an ethical doctorEvaluating the argument
How to Start Thinking Like an Ethical Doctor?
Evaluate and discuss the argument presented in this video.
This video discusses a rogue group of doctors who are so committed to finding a malaria vaccine in the hopes of saving millions of lives that they decide to subject hundreds of their patients to painful, dangerous, and sometimes even fatal experiments without their consent.
What should we think about this radical approach to addressing one of the worst public health threats facing humanity today?
Consider the following range of opinions on this question:
- Despite the regrettable harm and suffering caused to patients along the way, the doctors would nevertheless count as ethically justified in running these experiments so long as their primary guiding intention (evident in their methodological choices and actions) is to serve the greater good of humanity.
- Although it’s awful for patients to be subjected to such harmful treatment, as long as these experiments actually result in the development of a vaccine that saves millions of lives, this exceptional end would ethically justify the doctors’ horrific means.
- These appalling actions would be ethically acceptable only under three conditions: (a) the experiments must actually result in the development of vaccine that saves millions of lives, (b) the experimental subjects (or their families) must be very well compensated for what they’ve been forced to endure, and (c) the doctors (or their loved ones) must also serve as participants in these experiments.
- Even if these experiments do end up greatly benefiting humanity, this valuable end can never justify the doctors’ horrific means. It’s unethical for doctors to so egregiously exploit their trusting patients, no matter what good might come from it.
Now, take some time - by yourself or with others - to reflect openly, yet critically, on the ethical considerations raised by the various perspectives, and determine where you stand on this issue. What do YOU think, and why?
Want to join the conversation?
Personally I think that the experiments were wrong, even if they were preformed for the better good, because dismissing and ignoring someone's feelings and emotions etc, even for a morally good cause is still morally wrong.(2 votes)
Why is 4 the only one that says that's it's completely unethical?(2 votes)