Ethics You Decide

Memorandum

To: Board Of Directors

CC: Records and Processing Dept.

From: Dr. Charles Cantu

Date: [ 1/10/2012 ]

Re: Mr. Jerry Doe Heart Transplant

Confidential

Today January 10 2012 at a time of 4:32pm a heart became available for one of our three patients Jerry Doe. I am making the decision to proceed with the heart transplant this evening at a time of 6:30pm. Mr. Jerry Doe is an exact match for the new heart and in my opinion will benefit the most from this procedure. Jerry has a heart that was damaged in his younger years from the use of steroids due to the lack of information of the drug at the time. He also has not suffered any other organ damage and is in great heath other than the damaged heart in his chest. I feel in my opinion he will live another fifteen to twenty years with this procedure (Treasure, 2003, "The Prognosis after heart transplants") if he takes the proper steps to maintain good health.

Ozzy Doe a applicant and perfect match for this heart transplant is denied by my recommendation until further notice based on his health history and past drug abuse. I feel in this situation that a former crack cocaine abuser will most likely relapse once he feels he is in good health. and taking into consideration that this problem with his heart, is self inflicted and he knowing the dangers of this type of drug, he continued the abuse until he was brought here to the hospital under cardiac arrest. Studies show that not only does crack cocaine damage the heart it also causes a great deal of damage to the lungs, liver, brain, kidneys, and bowels (Multim, 2011, "Cocaine Abuse"). Seizures, a stroke, or movements that you cannot control. These may include head jerking, constant chewing, and frequent eye blinking.

The final applicant for this procedure is Lisa Doe daughter of Oncologist Dr. Doe. There are two reasons that will not allow me to grant her the gift of a new heart. Lisa has had numerous health problems in the past and still to this...