ethics. case analysis2

8/2/2019 Ethics. Case Analysis2

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BERNADETTE V. ENDAYA GEN. MARLENEPADUA

BIOMEDICAL ETHICS

CASE ANALYSIS

As medical officer, you admit Patient A, a drowning victim who you feel needs a

respirator if he is to survive. There are only 4 respirators in the hospital all in use. What

guidelines should you consider in deciding which respirator to use?

Patient B using the 1st respirator is a trauma victim with severe brain damage. Only a

few brainstem function remain and needs the respirator to maintain life. He is unlikely to

recover.

Patient C using the second respirator had an infection of the nervous system which

rendered her paralyzed from the trunk down. Because of involvement of the respiratory

muscles she needs a respirator. She is however progressively improving and is expected to

soon recover.

Patient D using respirator 3 is dead. He committed suicide by shooting himself kin the

head. He is however an excellent organ donor (eyes, kidney) donor and is being maintained

on the respirator while the transplant teams are preparing their recipients.

Patient E using respirator 4 has a complete and irreversible spinal injury that has left

her paralyzed from the neck down. Her intelligence is not affected and she is able to talk but

she is totally dependent on the respirator for breathing. She is depressed and often

expresses her desire to die.



ANALYSIS OF THE CASE

There are four guidelines that can be used in this case. (1 being the highest and 5being the lowest)

1) Principle of medical success. Rank the patient according to which patient gains

the most and which gains the least by using the respirator.

Patient A - 3B - 5C - 1D - 4E - 2

The patient that gains the most from the usage of the respirator is patient Cbecause this patient is already progressively improving and is expected to recover

soon. The patient who will gain the least is patient B because he only uses the

respirator to maintain life but is said to unlikely to recover.

2) Principle of medical neediness. Rank the patients according to which would

lose most and which would lose least by removing the respirator.

Patient A - 3

B - 2

C - 5

D - 4E - 1

The patient that will lose the most when the respirator is removed is patient E

because she is totally dependent on the respirator for her breathing. The patient

that will lose the least is patient C because as stated in the case earlier, he is soon

to recover.

3) Principle of social value. Rank the patient according to which patient is of most

use to society? Who gives the most happiness or satisfaction to himself as well as

to those he is associated with.

Patient A - 3B - 5

C - 2

D - 1

E - 4



Patient D will be the most use to society because other lives will benefit from the

organs that will be donated by this patient.

4) Principle of first come, first served. Rank the patients according to which

asked first and which asked last for a respirator.

Patient A - 5

B - 1

C - 2

D - 3

E – 4

In general, I will be using principle of medical neediness in this case. I believe that

patients A, C, D and E should be given respirator to be used. Patient A is likely to survive

with a respirator. Patient C is progressively improving and soon to recover. Patient D is an

excellent donor which will benefit others. Patient E may be totally dependent on the

respirator for breathing but her intelligence is still intact. I think that patient B should be

prioritized last because he is already unlikely to recover.

ethics. case analysis2

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