Utilitarian BioethicsUtilitarian Bioethics

What is it?What is it?

Recommends directing medical resources Recommends directing medical resources where they will do the most long-term where they will do the most long-term effect for goodeffect for good

Decisions are made based upon an Decisions are made based upon an individual’s future productive potential (& individual’s future productive potential (& happiness)happiness)

Productivity must supersede expenditureProductivity must supersede expenditure Value is a zero-sum gameValue is a zero-sum game

• $100 example$100 example

To exemplify:To exemplify:

Nurse or doctor caring for an Alzheimer’s / Nurse or doctor caring for an Alzheimer’s / or terminal patient is “wasting” resourcesor terminal patient is “wasting” resources No chance for productive/happy lifeNo chance for productive/happy life

Better spent caring for a sick baby or 20-Better spent caring for a sick baby or 20-year-old gunshot victimyear-old gunshot victim Again, productivity is the measuring stickAgain, productivity is the measuring stick

BenefitsBenefits

Resources are spent where they can be Resources are spent where they can be most beneficial to society (as a whole)most beneficial to society (as a whole)

Overall increase in productivity and Overall increase in productivity and happinesshappiness

Less taxing on limited resourcesLess taxing on limited resources

Potential downsides:Potential downsides:

What is “happiness”?What is “happiness”? Doctors play GodDoctors play God Bigotry against the “feeble”Bigotry against the “feeble”

Retarded, handicapped, generally sickRetarded, handicapped, generally sick Lack of scientific progressLack of scientific progress

Why explore cures for cancer?Why explore cures for cancer?

Futile medical care:Futile medical care:

Where there is no hope, there should be Where there is no hope, there should be no course of treatmentno course of treatment

Different from euthanasiaDifferent from euthanasia Does not hasten, speed or encourage deathDoes not hasten, speed or encourage death

Laws are currently being explored:Laws are currently being explored:

Futile Care Law (Texas)Futile Care Law (Texas)