Introduction to ethics | Introduction to ethics | Berkeley College of New York

 

Texas has a law that prohibits the removal of mechanical life-support such as a ventilator from a pregnant patient.

In November 2013, when Marlise Munoz was 14 weeks pregnant she was found unconscious in her Texas home.  With her husband and family in deep distress, they rushed her to a hospital where she was placed on a machine to keep her alive.  Soon thereafter, doctors at the hospital pronounced her brain dead.  Her husband and family eventually asked that she be removed from life support but Texas law prohibits removing a pregnant woman from life support if it threatens the life of the fetus.  A Texas Judge has now ordered that the 22 week pregnant woman removed from life support, as requested by the family.  For background, click here: LINK (Links to an external site.). https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/24/health/pregnant-brain-dead-woman-texas/

For our week 4 discussion, answer the two following questions:

[1] From a utilitarian moral perspective of the greatest good of the greatest number and also the utilitarian evaluative criteria of happiness versus suffering, explain the rightness or wrongness of a law that prohibits the removal of a pregnant woman from life support.  Also discuss the sad case of Marlise Munoz with someone else for how that person feels about it and what moral concerns s/he has about this particular case.  Do you think that the husband of Marlise Munoz should only be granted his request to remove his wife because he has concerns about indications of severe abnormalities in the developing fetus but not if the fetus were perfectly normal?  Explain.

[2] In terms utilitarian ethics, discuss the moral issues at stake in the famous so-called Trolley Problem as related in the eText and also Michael Sandel’s Harvard lecture (LINK (Links to an external 

site.)),  https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/24/health/pregnant-brain-dead-woman-texas/

where “you are beside a train track with a train headed down the track. However, on the track ahead are five people who will all be killed if the train continues. But you also have access to a switch, and if you pull it the train will be diverted onto another track where there is only one person” (eText p.36).  Do you think that this type of moral choice between the lesser of evils as in this Trolley Problem is realistic to what we might face in our everyday lives or places of employment?  Do you think there is such a thing as a moral duty to choose between the lesser of evils?  Why or why not?  Can you give an example to support your point?

Calculate Your Essay Price
(550 words)

Approximate price: $22

Calculate the price of your order

550 words
We'll send you the first draft for approval by September 11, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Total price:
$26
The price is based on these factors:
Academic level
Number of pages
Urgency
Basic features
  • Free title page and bibliography
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Plagiarism-free guarantee
  • Money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 support
On-demand options
  • Writer’s samples
  • Part-by-part delivery
  • Overnight delivery
  • Copies of used sources
  • Expert Proofreading
Paper format
  • 275 words per page
  • 12 pt Arial/Times New Roman
  • Double line spacing
  • Any citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard)

Our guarantees

Delivering a high-quality product at a reasonable price is not enough anymore.
That’s why we have developed 5 beneficial guarantees that will make your experience with our service enjoyable, easy, and safe.

Money-back guarantee

You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.

Read more

Zero-plagiarism guarantee

Each paper is composed from scratch, according to your instructions. It is then checked by our plagiarism-detection software. There is no gap where plagiarism could squeeze in.

Read more

Free-revision policy

Thanks to our free revisions, there is no way for you to be unsatisfied. We will work on your paper until you are completely happy with the result.

Read more

Privacy policy

Your email is safe, as we store it according to international data protection rules. Your bank details are secure, as we use only reliable payment systems.

Read more

Fair-cooperation guarantee

By sending us your money, you buy the service we provide. Check out our terms and conditions if you prefer business talks to be laid out in official language.

Read more