Ethical Dilemma Resolution
Ethical Dilemma Resolution: A Utilitarian Approach
(Ethical Dilemma Resolution)
Utilitarianism, as proposed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, suggests that the morally right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In resolving ethical dilemmas, a utilitarian approach would involve weighing the consequences of various actions and selecting the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being.
For instance, consider a scenario where a doctor has to decide between using a limited supply of a life-saving drug on either a young child or an elderly patient. A utilitarian analysis would involve assessing factors such as the chances of survival, quality of life, and potential contributions to society. In this case, if the young child has a higher probability of long-term survival and greater potential for future contributions, the utilitarian approach would prioritize administering the drug to the child, as it would produce the greatest overall benefit.
However, critics argue that utilitarianism may overlook individual rights and justice concerns in its pursuit of maximizing utility. Nonetheless, in many situations, a utilitarian approach offers a systematic method for ethical decision-making by considering the broader consequences of actions.
(Ethical Dilemma Resolution)
The “You Decide” assignment presents a difficult and painful dilemma, with you in an imagined professional role. Go through the You Decide presentation, make the decision it calls for, meet you’re your team or partner to discuss, and compose a paper and presentation that explains your decision and your reasoning and justification for it.
You are called upon to make a painful medical decision and to explain it both orally and in writing. Who benefits from what you decided, who gets denied a needed benefit, and why? You will compose an official memorandum that will be kept for the record and could potentially be read not only by your Peer Review Committee, but also by those involved in charitable fundraising, which supports hospital development, as well as by others with financial interests in the decision.
You will see notice that there is time pressure in the simulated situation, so remember that you would not have the luxury to dawdle in the decision-making process, and as the decision-maker, you would not have the luxury of consulting a broad spectrum of advisors. It falls on you and your team or partner to decide!
Include in the document and presentation the utilitarian ethical philosophy of John Stuart Mill (from the lecture and audio for this week) and one other ethical philosopher of your choosing that we have studied to date, and use both of those philosophies to bolster your decision. This paper will be at least 2 pages and no more than 3 pages with a 2-3 minute oral presentation on which you and your team or partner may (ideally and preferably) collaborate. Remember, both professional written form and potential audience, as well as tone when writing this sensitive memorandum.
