Option 3: Ethical Dilemma in Allocating a Kidney Transplant

QUESTION

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapters 7, 8 (he Elements of Moral Philosophy Authors: James Rachels, Stuart Rachels

Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill Education)

• Minimum of 2 scholarly sources (in addition to the textbook)
• Narrated PowerPoint TutorialLinks to an external site. (Make sure to review this tutorial before you begin recording.)

Instructions

For this week’s assignment respond to one of the following options, and include Option 1, 2, or 3 as part of your heading.

Option 1: The first option is to name and describe in detail a key specific and recent healthcare technology. What are at least two key moral problems this technology creates? What are the proper moral guidelines for dealing with it in your view? Compare your approach to what a utilitarian and ethical egoist would say (each independently). Consider whether differing ethical beliefs globally might or not agree with what you say.

Option 2: In the second option, name and describe in detail a key specific and recent social technology. What are at least two key moral problems this technology creates? What are the proper moral guidelines for dealing with it in your view? Compare your moral approach to what a utilitarian and social contract ethicist would say (each independently). Consider whether differing ethical beliefs globally might or not agree with what you say.

Option 3: John Doe, Patient One, is in late stage of kidney disease. If he does not receive a new kidney, then he is predicted to die within a week. Doe is 45, single, and has no children. Doctors theorize that Doe damaged his kidney by not following a low-salt diet. Doe inherited one million dollars and is known for giving money to charity. Without a transplant, he will probably be forced to spend all his money searching for a kidney outside of the usual legal channels. Patient Two is Jane Doe (no relation to John). Patient Two is a mother of two children (ages 21 and 24). She is divorced and 55 years old. She developed kidney problems due to eating a high-fat and high-sugar diet. If she does not receive a kidney within one month, doctors believe she will die. Patient Three is an orphan. This orphan lives in a state facility. She was born with a genetic condition that constantly damages her kidney. The only known approach to her condition is to provide her with a kidney transplant every so often. She is 11 and has already undergone two kidney transplants. She will perish in two months if she does not receive another transplant.

All three patients are at the same hospital. The hospital only has one kidney to give out. The orphan’s birth parents were known to be of a religion that is opposed to organ donation. The other patients come from religions that do not oppose organ donation. Who should get the kidney? Why should that candidate receive it over the others? Devise a course of social action and a solution for this case by using the ethics of egoism and then utilitarianism to a key moral conflict involving health care in this case. Appraise the interests of diverse populations (in terms of ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.) and how they relate to the case. Consider whether differing ethical beliefs globally might or not agree with what you say.

For all the options:

Cite the textbook and incorporate outside sources, including citations.

You should not be using any text you used in a discussion board or assignment for this class or any previous class.

Consider whether differing ethical beliefs globally might or not agree with what you say.

You will submit the following:

• An audiovisual presentation that presents one of the options above. Be sure to give equal time to each element. Doing a PowerPoint presentation with audio recorded on the slides is preferred. Please refer to the Narrated PowerPoint Tutorial located in the Required Resources in this assignment.
• Please provide a transcript of anything said in the recording aloud that does not appear as text on a slide. This transcript can be provided as a Word document or placed in the Notes section on the PowerPoint slides.
• The link or a scan of the article mentioning any health technology, social technology, or case you are reporting on. If you made up the case, please indicate that in your report. If you choose to do option #3 (the case about a shortage of transplant kidneys), your article would likely be an article about the shortage of transplant organs, or a shortage of people signing up to be transplant donors, or the status of educating people about being donors, etc.

Requirements

• Length: 4-6 minutes narrated presentation
• Slide length: 4-6 slides (not including title slide, conclusion slide, or references slide)
• Title slide
• Conclusion slide
• References slide (minimum of 2 scholarly sources cited in APA format; not narrated)

ANSWER

Option 3: Ethical Dilemma in Allocating a Kidney Transplant

Introduction

This presentation will discuss the ethical dilemma faced by healthcare professionals in allocating a kidney transplant to one of three patients – John Doe, Patient One, Jane Doe, Patient Two, and an orphan with a genetic condition, Patient Three. The hospital only has one kidney to give out, and all three patients urgently need a transplant. We will explore the ethical considerations involved in making this decision and propose a course of social action based on the principles of egoism and utilitarianism.

Slide 1: The Ethical Dilemma

The hospital has one kidney to allocate among three patients in dire need of a transplant:
John Doe (45, single, no children) with late-stage kidney disease due to not following a low-salt diet.
Jane Doe (55, divorced, mother of two) with kidney problems from a high-fat, high-sugar diet.
An orphan (11) with a genetic condition requiring periodic kidney transplants to survive.

Slide 2: The Ethics of Egoism

Egoism is a moral theory that advocates self-interest as the basis for ethical decision-making. Applying egoism to the case, each patient’s interests are considered, and the candidate with the most significant self-interest in receiving the transplant should get it.
John Doe has one million dollars, which he may exhaust seeking an alternative transplant. Egoism suggests he should receive the kidney to preserve his wealth and ability to support charity.
Jane Doe, being a mother of two, may have a greater self-interest in receiving the transplant to be there for her children and preserve her family unit.
The orphan’s parents’ religious beliefs oppose organ donation, and she relies on periodic transplants to live. Her survival is paramount in this case, aligning with egoism principles.

Slide 3: The Ethics of Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism considers the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In this scenario, the outcome that maximizes overall well-being should be prioritized.
Considering the urgency of the orphan’s situation and her dependence on transplants, a kidney for her would create the most significant positive impact on the overall well-being.
Jane Doe’s prognosis indicates she has a month left without a transplant, making her a close second in terms of maximizing well-being.
John Doe, although facing an urgent situation, has some time to search for alternative transplants. Utilitarianism may prioritize the other two patients for the immediate kidney.

Slide 4: Proposed Social Action and Solution

Considering the principles of egoism and utilitarianism, the best course of action is to allocate the kidney to the orphan. Her situation requires immediate attention and aligns with both moral frameworks. This decision may be difficult for the other patients and their families, but it ensures the best overall outcome in terms of maximizing well-being.

Appraisal of Diverse Populations

The case highlights the importance of considering diverse populations’ interests and beliefs. Cultural, religious, and socio-economic factors can influence people’s attitudes towards organ donation and transplantation. Global differences in ethical beliefs may impact how societies approach organ allocation, making it crucial to tailor solutions based on cultural and social norms.

Conclusion

In the allocation of a kidney transplant, healthcare professionals must navigate complex ethical dilemmas. By applying the principles of egoism and utilitarianism, the best course of action is to prioritize the orphan’s immediate need for a transplant. However, ethical considerations must extend beyond individual cases and address the broader implications of organ allocation, considering diverse populations’ interests and beliefs to promote equitable and just healthcare practices.