Purchase Solution

Ethical Decision-Making in Life Threatening Situations

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Ethics Case Study: To Rescue Others at What Risk?

ACME Medical Center has been damaged seriously by a recent hurricane. A helicopter that is trying to rescue people stranded by the hurricane has crashed, hitting the wing of the building where the pediatric unit was located. In the midst of the explosion, fire, and confusion, five people make their way to the roof and wait for rescue. They are Mary, a mother who is carrying her ill infant who was a patient on the unit; Joseph, her husband and the baby's father; John, a pediatric resident who had been caring for the baby; Margaret, the RN, who was on duty in the pediatric unit; and Peter, a transport employee who was helping to prepare patients for rescue and evacuation.

Mary says to the group, "I think I hear someone crying. Yes, I can hear cries for help. We've got to go back down the stairs and help those people!" Dr. John says, "You women stay here. Joseph and I will go back down and see what we can do." Joseph looks first at his own ill infant and then down the smoke-filled stairs and replies, "I'm not going back down. It's too risky. The smoke is too thick. We'd never make it through and survive." Margaret the RN says, "We've got to do something; we can't just let people die. I'd never be able to live with myself. Those are my patients and I need to help them." Margaret runs down the stairs and disappears. Peter says, "You're all crazy! In a situation like this it's every man for himself!"

1. What is the ethical dilemma?
2. What is your value and ethical position related to the case? Include discussion of theory and principles on which your position is based.
3. What are some other alternatives for resolving the problem?
4. What are the possible consequences for those acceptable alternatives?
5. How would you prioritize the acceptable alternatives?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

This solution discusses the ethical dilemma in the case in 515 words.

Solution Preview

The ethical dilemma in this case, is whether or not it is the ethical responsibility of the individuals that have escaped to the roof, to risk their lives and to go back into the burning building in order to attempt to save the lives of other individuals that they hear screaming for help. Ethically, this situation calls for a decision by the individuals that have made it to the rooftop, as to what would be fair and just in a life-threatening situation of this nature, in respect to whether or not it would be an ultimate justice to preserve the lives that they know that they can save, which are their lives, including an ill infant, or whether it would indeed be more just to risk losing a few more lives in an attempt to rescue ...

Solution provided by:
Marcel Parker, MPA
Education
  • Criminal Justice, Elizabeth City State University
  • Master of Public Administration, North Carolina Central University
Recent Feedback
  • "Excellent work, from the time of my post to the time I received a response was days ahead of my requirements. "
  • "Great, Thank You for our Help!!"
  • "Excellent, thank you "
  • "Thank you"
  • "Thank you!"
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Stress Continuum

All humans experience stress and a certain level is motivating for learning. However, a high level of stress for prolonged periods of time may have a negative impact. This information focuses on the four stages of stress. Understanding stress assists in maintaining a healthy level.

CPR (Red Cross Standards)

Are you up to date on your CPR skills? Find out if you know what to do in an emergency with this quiz.

Managed Care Organizations

This quiz will test the basics of managed care organizations. It is important to know how our health care delivery system operates through managed care.

Test your health planning and program evaluation knowledge

Health planning and program evaluation is an important aspect of the Health Sciences' field. Organizations and communities must understand the needs of their audiences, and a way to obtain this datum is through proper design and assessment. This quiz will test your ability to understand the importance of planning and evaluation in the health sector.

Crohn's Disease

How much do you know about this condition?

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Life Threatening Diagnosis Legal or Ethical Considerations

    A woman facing a life threatening condition during pregnancy may be faced with a difficult decision. There are many considerations in making the decision about whose life should be saved. The mother may have other children who rely on her.

  • Ethical Decision Making Solution

    613258 Ethical Decision Making Solution Write a 350- to 700-word summary. Include the following in your summary: Discuss an event in which you had to make an ethical decision. Identify at least two ethical theories that support your decision.

  • Confidentiality and Communicable Diseases

    In addition, relative to this case, the ACA specifically addresses life-threatening diseases under its standard, "Contagious, Life-Threatening diseases" [B.2.b.].

  • Ethical Frame work

    610470 Ethical Frame work Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice View Rubric Details: Using the steps outlined in the decision-making models in your readings, select one ethical decision-making model and use the model to analyze the case provided

  • Using AMA Guidelines on an Ethics Case Study: Ethical Decision Making in Life Threatening Situations

    505621 Ethical Decision Making in Life Threatening Situations Read the following case study and answer the questions below. ACME Medical Center has been damaged seriously by a recent hurricane.

  • A comparison of prescriptive and psychological ethics

    Prescriptive model of ethical decision making The prescriptive model focuses primarily on situations and how to react in them.

  • Paternalism vs. Patient Autonomy in Emergency Situations

    He wants the patient to be coherent and able to assist in the decision-making necessary for his care rather than be comfortable and unable to participate in the decision-making process. What are the ethical concerns raising by this practice?

  • Business Ethics Learning Objectives

    Employee participation involves employees actively taking part in the decision-making within an organization. Health and safety standards ensures that employees are not in health threatening or life-threatening situations while working.

  • Health, Policy, Law and Ethics

    Valentine and Hollingsworth (2012) discuss the idea of "moral intensity and the perceived importance of an ethical issue can influence individual ethical decision making." 2. What is the issue of moral distress in the healthcare workforce?

View More Related Solutions