This I believe...

at the end of the semester

1. Patient autonomy should stop when the patient is no longer capable of making logical

decisions themselves. This includes when they are making decisions on behalf of their

children and disregard the doctor's advice and the welfare of their child because of their

own beliefs. While I support their decision if they choose to go against medical advice

on their own account they should never put a childs welfare in danger.

2. Medical research should be conducted. The principle of utility supports this idea for

even though sacrifices are made the greater net benefit exceeds the exploitation of

animals. I do wish research could be conducted in a more ethical way but until

technology is available we are stuck with this method.

3. Genetic testing for the future should not be used as a form of discrimination. It should

never be required for that is a violation of autonomy but if people wish to undergo

genetic testing they should not be discriminated. We are all going to die one way or

another and genetic testing may reveal what our demise will be but that doesnt mean it

will be either.

4. Egg and sperm donation should be given voluntarily and only compensated on an

appropriate amount. When we put a price tag on egg or sperm donors it may lead to the

dishonesty of a donor's medical history so they can receive a paycheck. I believe

donors should do it because they believe it is the right thing to do, not selling

themselves so they can make a living.

5. Abortion should be legal. There are many different complications surrounding a

pregnancy and it would be inhumane of us to subject women to give birth if their

circumstances are extraordinary. I do believe women should have a choice in the matter

and while adoption is preferred we can not close the option because it does save lives

(therapeutic abortion).

6. Treating or terminating impaired infants should be decided by the parents but

approved by two physicians. Some infants are have a fatal medical conditions where

their live expectancy is no longer than a few days or months. It would be more humane

to the child and parents if we let them die and end their suffering.

7. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should be legal. If it is a persons wish to

die and their autonomy is intact it is ethically legitimate. Subjecting them to die natural

deaths is an inhumane sentence for we are just elongating their suffering.

8. Payment to organ donors or their families should be illegal. While the compensation

may increase the supply for organ donors it brings along with it dishonesty and lack of

integrity. Compensation blurs the line of patient autonomy and may view as money as

an incentive to donate an organ even though it goes against their personal beliefs.

9. Allocation of healthcare should be considered based on a person's age/quality of

life/ability to pay. The principle of utility is at play here and while it is hard determine it is

necessary. Especially when natural disasters come do we give the medication to the

terminally ill elder or the new born baby.

10. Medical research for women should be monitored but allowed. They need to make

sure the women do not get pregnant under any circumstance during the study. It should

also be explained to the participants about the potential permanent damages it may

have to the uterus and future children.

11. Health care for minorities should be given out for prevention is less expensive than

treatment. While it may not follow the principle of Justice especially if they are illegal

immigrants it would violate so many other principles if we did not treat them. Treating

them also helps the community as a whole for it keeps herd immunity up.

12. Those with AIDS/HIV should be treated equally like everyone else. Discrimination

for having HIV should not be tolerated. While I do believe that people should disclose

their HIV status to all sexual partners that would be morally illegitimate for it violates

their autonomy. If their partner does not ask and they dont wish to tell then that would

be their fault for their negligence.

13. My opinion has changed on patient autonomy, those affected with HIV and egg

donations. Throughout the course my knowledge on the subjects grew and new ideas

were brought to surface that I never thought of before. My opinions that stayed the

same however I have strengthened my arguments. It did show me that there is no right

or wrong answer for every circumstance is unique and youre damned if you do and

youre damned if you dont.