Question

21. Consider the following situations. Describe your personal feelings about each and discuss how you could apply the philosophy of individual worth to each scenario. i. A young woman breast-feeds her 2-year-old child while sitting in the waiting room of a clinic. ii. A hospitalized patient tells you that a group from his church is coming to do a "laying on of hands" for him. iii. A patient tells you, "I know why I got this cancer. It's my karma." iv. A 30-year-old man comes to the emergency room complaining of severe abdominal pain. Most of his body is covered with tattoos and he has several body piercings. He informs the staff that he does not have health insurance.

Answer 1

Applying the philosophy of individual worth to various scenarios in medical ethics involves respecting each person's intrinsic value, their autonomy, and the unique context of their situation, promoting decisions grounded in empathy and compassion.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering situations from a philosophical perspective, particularly in a medical context, it's important to consider different ethical theories and how they might influence our thinking. For example, a philosophy of individual worth, which might stem from ethical theories such as care ethics or virtue ethics, emphasizes the intrinsic value of every person, regardless of their circumstances or choices. This perspective encourages us to treat each individual with respect and compassion.

For instance, in the scenario of a young woman breastfeeding in public, an application of individual worth does not judge her based on societal norms but respects her autonomy and the natural act of caring for her child. In the case of a patient who believes in spiritual healing through a "laying on of hands," individual worth respects their spiritual beliefs and the potential psychological comfort such a practice may provide. When a patient attributes their cancer to karma, recognizing the individual worth involves respecting their interpretation of their life's events and the meaning they derive from them. Finally, a man with no health insurance should be treated with the same dignity and medical attention as any other patient, acknowledging the importance of his well-being irrespective of his financial situation or his appearance.

Adopting the philosophy of individual worth could help us approach each situation from a place of empathy and compassion, recognizing the humanity and intrinsic value in others, and thus potentially arriving at more ethically sound decisions that honor the dignity of all involved.

Answer 2

I. My personal feelings in this respect is that mothers should be able to breastfeed in public anytime this was necessary. This is because the nutritional requirements of the baby should take precedence over any other concern. Moreover, this would respect the worth of the baby and the mother.

II. My personal feelings are that, even if I am not religious, I have no right to deny a man access to his faith. Moreover, the laying of hands would not affect him negatively in any way. If I respect his individual worth, I also need to respect his personal beliefs.

III. In this case, while the person has individual worth and his faith should be respected, this belief can jeopardize his health. The patient should be informed of his medical condition, and therefore, the healthcare provider is responsible for ensuring that he understands the reality of the situation.

IV. In this case, the individual worth of the man does not change because he has tattoos or body piercings. Moreover, even if he has no health insurance, he should not be denied emergency care, as this could put his life at risk.