Ethics Memo

Hospital memorandum

to: | Hospital |

from: | Kaottis Gates |

subject: | Heart Transplant |

date: | January 17, 2013 |

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To all whom it may concern, there has just become an available healthy heart ready for transplant and we have three viable candidates for it. Along with my team of professional doctors and nurses we have reviewed the potential candidates and have come up with our determination of who will receive the heart transplant. It was a hard decision as they almost always are but we had to weigh all options and take a utilitarian ethical approach to our decision, something that is going to be the “greatest happiness for the greatest number”. I was able to look at the consequences and benefits of all those involved from all parties and have come up with this.

Lisa has gone through many health problems throughout her young life and has luckily survived a near death experience before. She has two loving parents and her dad is a doctor here at the hospital. Her parents have offered $2 million dollars to the hospital for construction of specialized facilities which would benefit many people in getting future services and potentially save more lives. With 12 year old Lisa however, even if she does receive the heart she likely won’t last another 10 years into her 20’s. Based on the writings of Immanuel Kant and his deontological ethical approach, based on the law and hospital rules I cannot take into the account the possible $2 million dollar donation offer when comparing these candidates. I can’t allow one candidate to essentially buy the heart when I have other factors involved in making this decision. If you cancel that out I simple don’t see a scenario to where I would be able to choose Lisa for this transplant based on the fact that she will not live into her 20’s even with a new heart.

Ozzie’s situation is even more of a concern because he potentially won’t live past this month. He however is a drug abuser who has no family, is 38...