Ethical Dilemmas: Sharing Perspectives by Leah

Ethical Dilemma 1

laustindesilva — 2025-05-20 03:17:48 UTC

A patient with severe depression requests an experimental brain implant that may improve mood but has unknown long-term effects.

Ethical Dilemma 2

laustindesilva — 2025-05-20 03:18:13 UTC

A young woman requests access to an expensive medication to manage a serious reproductive health condition. The drug is very effective, but the patient cannot afford it. She asks the doctor to help her access the medication through unofficial means, such as reclassifying her case as life-threatening to get it approved.

Ethical Dilemma 3

laustindesilva — 2025-05-20 03:18:30 UTC

A young athlete wants an AI-assisted procedure to enhance physical performance for competition.

Instructions

laustindesilva — 2025-05-20 03:30:25 UTC

For each ethical dilemma, you will act as a doctor making an ethical decision about each situation.
In each dilemmas respective section, post your answer and indicate whether you would choose YES or NO.
In 1-3 sentences, explain your reasoning. Refer to thinkers and concepts from the presentation.

Terms

laustindesilva — 2025-05-20 03:32:54 UTC

Autonomy - The right of patients to make their own informed decisions about their healthcare.

Beneficence - The ethical duty to act in ways that promote the well-being and best interests of the patient.

Maleficence - The obligation to avoid causing harm to patients, whether through action or inaction.

Inequality - Unfair differences in access to healthcare, treatment quality, or health outcomes based on factors like income, race, gender, or location.

Thinkers

laustindesilva — 2025-05-20 03:36:37 UTC

Descartes - the mind and body are separate and should be medically treated separately.

Hildegard of Bingen - the mind and body are intertwined and should be treated together.

Plato - medicine and healthcare are part of a just society and fuel a good society.

Aristotle - diseases should be treated preventatively in order to maintain balance.

Elizabeth Blackwell - ethics, compassion and morality are the most important things in healthcare, particularly for women.

Hippocrates - health and disease are purely biological.

Canguilhem - health and disease are shaped by societal norms.