[poll] Ethics Essay and Pop Quiz

[Hiphop-popatomus]

So, I am going to do an essay about Ethics and in truth I would like to get all of yours guys opinion on this problem. Let me type is out for you.

As a 70-year old man, I weigh 270 pounds, little of which is muscle. I don't exercise, I do smoke, I enjoy fried eggs for breakfast and a thick steak for dinner: And let me tell you, I love my life! Except for this--I'm on the waiting list for a heart transplant. Some doctors at the hospital don't want to give it to me. They say it would be a grotesque squandering of medical and financial resources, that the money and skills would save a lot more lives if applied to, say, a neonatal clinic. I say they've got the heart and the talent; my insurance company will pay for it: Let's do it. Why should they play God?

Thoughts?

This was taken from Randy Cohen book which I'm doing my essay on this particular letter. I'm asking for help at all but I would like to get others opinion and start a mature argument. So, any takers?

 

[CausalSpark]

Eh, we don't argue on this forum. Request this to be locked.

 

[Hiphop-popatomus]

Oh, I'm sorry I understand if this will be locked then. I was just trying to start up a conversation and get some help with my essay. Sorry.

 

[Hiphop-popatomus]

Ugh, again my apologies.

 

[Magnum X]

all i saw was "thick steak for dinner"...
now im hungry

 

[M3dley]

well i have known people have been on the waiting list and i am in many classes at school now that deal with ethics and international politics like just war and its super interesting.

i said no. i chose this because there are many people in his situation. the thing is he does not take care of his body as some others might and i think that the people who need it (over him; therefore higher on the list) should receive it because they need it more; assuming they take care of their body better.

it all comes up to personal opinion and how YOU see things.

man has bad heart because he treated his body bad.
man needs new heart because he treated it badly.
man gets new heart and does it again because he treats his body badly.

person has heart problem.
person gets a new heart; they treat their body well.
no need for another heart transplant in the future (unlike the other man)


thats how i looked at it.

 

[flavoracid]

im not gunna touch this 1 with a 70 foot pole. but consider this for your essay - how long has he been on the waiting list for? if he has been waiting a long time, and now he is up, maybe ethical judgment should be spared, and rational logic should say he gets the heart cuz he was in line first. but... i don't nec. agree with that, just a point.

 

[Hiphop-popatomus]

Well, thats the thing. The information that I provided you is all that I have. In truth we don't really know if he will or not change his eating habits and excersise after his heart transplant. Also, there is the who thing of value of human life and how sadly the value of a person life seems to be decided by his choices and his age.

 

[SHUT_EM_DOWN_[JONES]]

He is 70 years old and I am sure he has lived a good full life. Even if he did change his habits and try to get into shape he would probably only live a few more years after the transplant. At 70 years old and 270 pounds he is lucky to have lived this long. I say he stops being greedy and give it to someone younger and more deserving.

 

[[J]ackofSpades]

But he is a person and therefore he does deserve to live but to each his own i suppose.

 

[=(eG)= Pvt.Ryan -TR-]

It's unethical for doctors to decide who lives and who dies; they are bound by the law to provide this for him. Not only is it unethical in my opinion, it's illegal.