Question

Various clinical situations will leave you in an ethical dilemma. Identify what ethical principles are in conflict with regards to the following ethical dilemmas (in 30-40 words each),

1)abortion

2)Euthanasia and assisted suicide

3)Conscientious objection:

4) Artificially prolonging life:

5)Refusal and withdrawal of treatment

6)stem cell research, e.g. embryonic stem cell research:

7)'Not for resuscitation' orders:

8)Cultural and religious matters:

Answer 1

In our society there are many ethical dilemmas and issue that cannot be solved at any extent.

1)There are many strong arguments in case of abortion which are complicated as one cannot suggest or support in such case as it may be life threatening to both the mother and the baby and mostly killing a baby is not supported any where.The debates are still going on whether to make abortion legal or not.But there are many devastating effects of illegalisation of abprtion.Sometime adolescent ages or teenagers knowingly or unknowingly make a mistake and would take a chance in aborting which is actually a right decision so that their future will not get affected but at the same way there is no right for a person to kill the foetus which is yet to make a life.So there are many issues regarding it and highly impossible to take a decision.

2)Euthanasia is legal in few places like Netherlands and belgium.There are serious discussion going on in other countries and still not legalised and the government is developing the guidelines for prosecution of those who assist in such suicides.Intentionally ending the life of a person by the administration of drugs can only make fair justice if the person is under coma etc for many years and there is no hope for any betterment in health,but even this can only be accepted by the family members or the patient themselves.

3)Conscientious objection has been a public issue for decades.It is a notion that a healthcare provider cam abstain from offering certain types of medical care for which the patient does not agree.

4)Artificially prolonging life is defined as any treatment that is given to the patient to prolong life without reversing underlying medical conditions.This will be dependent on the family members or the life partners .BUt still the medical profession takes the law as an authority on what procedures should be provided and not provided.