Essay Question
Choose ONE question from the following. Make it clear which one you have chosen.
Three pages tends to be enough. Use another page if you need it. I am looking for a paper that someone brand new will understand and that tends to each of the items in the question.
The due date is anytime on May 7th. Early entries will be accepted. If you are seeing this, then the final essay is open.
1. In Alexandra Robbins book The Nurses, we followed health care professionals through several difficult moments. Pick an example from the book that we read after the mid-term.
Using that example, take the reader through either two out of three of the main ethical theoretical approaches or all four of the main bioethical principles (sometimes called the “Belmont Principles”). How do they apply? What changes in detail would make your judgment about this example change. In other words, if you think this is an example of an ethically good act or practice—what change would make it ethically bad? Or vice-versa?
2. Quite a few ethical judgments about medical practices and biological experimentation depend on the moral status of embryos. Pick one of these issues and take us through how this judgment of moral status would matter. At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
3. We watched a video about the possible impact technology could have on employment and health care? Take us through that argument. What professions in health care could be impacted? Why do some people think parts of health care would be relatively safe? At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
4. Do people have a right to form a family? Do they have a right to use artificial reproductive technology? What issues arise from this? At some point, explain negative rights and positive rights. At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
5. We read about genetic selection. Describe that process. What are some of the ethical issues that surround it? At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
6. You earlier read about cardiovascular death and whole brain death. Define these and “higher-brain death”. Be clear about whether or not this is recognized legally or widely recommended among ethicists. What are the consequences of letting patients or their families decide to only use a cardiovascular criteria of death? At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
7. We read about and discussed the debate surrounding physician-assisted-suicide and euthanasia. At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
8. What is pushing the debate about using medical technology for “human enhancement”? What sort of enhancements are being considered? At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
9. We learned about the distribution of income and assets in the United States. How can this be seen as an ethical issue? How might a philosopher argue that our distribution is just? How might one argue that it is unjust? In what ways could this have an impact on health care? At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
10. We looked at some articles on race, health, and biology. Pick one or two of the issues that arose. At some point, use at least one of the three main ethical approaches or one of the four bioethical principles. Show where there is controversy.
