AskPhilosophers Questions

An inventor creates a life-saving drug for disease X, which has no other cure.

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 14:12:53 +0000

Read another response about Ethics, Medicine

Read another response by Allen Stairs

An inventor creates a life-saving drug for disease X, which has no other cure. Worldwide, death by disease X among white people has been eliminated because of his drug; however, the death rate remains at pre-drug levels among non-whites because he has contractually restricted its sale and use to white people. For non-whites who die from disease X, is this inventor a causal factor in their death? My friend and I have debated this. I argue YES. The actions the inventor has taken to restrict the sale of his drug demonstrate intent with full knowledge of the consequences of the actions he has taken. I think his actions are not only causal, but in a world where this medicine is readily available everywhere, he becomes the primary cause of death. My friend argues NO. The inventor has done nothing with respect to non-whites. There is no causal relationship. Pulling a man from a burning building saves a life, but not doing so doesn't cause a death. Where I see actions that cause harm, my friend sees something passive, akin to passing a beggar on the street while talking with a friend on the way to lunch. He agrees that if the inventor ended this sales policy that lives would be saved, but insists he isn't causing anything.

I am an undergraduate student who is interested in attending medical school. My

Anonymous — Tue, 23 May 2017 04:33:50 +0000

Ethics

Medicine

Education

Read another response about Ethics, Medicine, Education

Read another response by Andrew Pessin, Allen Stairs

I am an undergraduate student who is interested in attending medical school. My primary reason for wanting to work in the medical field is to improve access to medical care in underserved further along my career path. However, attending medical school costs quite a bit. While I am fortunate enough to likely be able to pay for med school without crippling debt, I can't help but think that the money going towards my education could go towards better causes, such as improving infrastructure in rural, underserved communities and improving vaccination rates. Would the most moral option here be to donate money going towards my education to these causes or to go to medical school and use my education to improve access to healthcare in underserved populations?

After my mother's sister was diagnosed with cancer, all of the siblings were

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 23:17:26 +0000

Medicine

Ethics

Read another response about Medicine, Ethics

Read another response by Michael Cholbi

After my mother's sister was diagnosed with cancer, all of the siblings were urged to be genetically tested for the cancer-causing gene. Sadly, my mother possesses that gene. She urged my siblings and me to be tested as well; however, due to personal convictions and leanings towards absurdism and fatalism, I don't think I want to be tested. My sisters' reply to this range from acceptance to curiosity to anger. Should I be tested and make them happy or accept that whatever is going to happen will happen?

Are mandatory school vaccinations ethical from a deontological perspective

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 13:29:34 +0000

Ethics

Children

Medicine

Read another response about Ethics, Children, Medicine

Read another response by Allen Stairs

Are mandatory school vaccinations ethical from a deontological perspective assuming parents could still chose to homeschool their children?

This is a time when overpopulation is a growing problem. It seems that there is

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:24:51 +0000

Ethics

Medicine

Read another response about Ethics, Medicine

Read another response by Thomas Pogge

This is a time when overpopulation is a growing problem. It seems that there is no slowing down of procreation even though people are aware of the problem. At the rate it is going I see that it will result in Authorities having to take drastic action to sustain the human race. Any decision they make will be unfair in some way. I wonder whether it would be right to stop trying to cure terminal illnesses such as Cancer and AIDS (as they seem an unbias/fair population control system). On the one hand it would be better for the future of mankind and yet it seems unjust to let people die when we can help them. Where does this issue stand with ethics? as it seems both moral and immoral.

Is it ethical for psychologists and psychometricians to lie to their clients

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:28:09 +0000

Ethics

Medicine

Read another response about Ethics, Medicine

Read another response by Miriam Solomon

Is it ethical for psychologists and psychometricians to lie to their clients about their IQ if it protects them from harm to their self-esteem? I ask because I highly suspect that such a practice is both very common and something that has been practiced on me. I am told I have an IQ of a 138 which to me seems highly improbable given my academic record and my SAT scores, but I always wanted to join Mensa and I think i told my tester that. However when I applied for Mensa I had to have my records sent three times to their headquarters but each time they somehow got "lost" and so I never became an official member. It also seems improbable that so many people I have known have IQs higher than 150, it's like it's just very common for practitioners to give their clients high feel good numbers.

Is there any validity in the following argument?

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:33:37 +0000

Children

Medicine

Read another response about Children, Medicine

Read another response by Miriam Solomon

Is there any validity in the following argument? By medical science we keep people with severe chronical diseases alive and these people are free to reproduce. Already there has been an increase in people with chronical diseases, maybe because of our progression in medical science. So, in the future, it is possibly that we will all struggle with many chronical diseases, unless we accelerate in stem-cell research or genetic manipultaion. With this I see only two opportunities: either deny the chronically diseased to reproduce (Which I think is quite unethical) or "play God" and rid our selves with these plagues with either genetic manipulation or stem-cell research (which is also unethical, for some). But not matter what ethical principles one leans on, these two options are the only sensible ones, of course to the exception of not doing anything (which is also unethical). So we have here, three unethical options, depending on one´s ethical affiliation: 1. Everyone will be chronically diseased. 2. Chronically diseased will be refused to reproduce, and 3. We excel in stem-cell research and genetic manipulation. If you ask me, I would say that everyone would agree that being in a state where everyone is diseased is the least ethical one, we should intervene if we can. The second most unethical option is refusing people to reproduce, as this is a fundamental aspect of human life, without it it could cause mass depression. The third option, although for some is unethical, is the least, because the stem cells that are extracted can not feel pain, and it does not hinder anyone in fulfilling a good life, it only makes some people angry.

If you have a loved one in the hospital with a terminal illness and this person

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:49:30 +0000

Ethics

Medicine

Read another response about Ethics, Medicine

Read another response by Nicholas D. Smith

If you have a loved one in the hospital with a terminal illness and this person no longer has a capacity to communicate, sustain thought, or make critical decisions, can it be considered ethical to pull the plug on them without their consent given their circumstances?

How justified is a doctor's decision to practise cosmetics when he had sworn

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:41:58 +0000

Medicine

Read another response about Medicine

Read another response by Miriam Solomon

How justified is a doctor's decision to practise cosmetics when he had sworn upon the Hippocratic Oath?

Could ADHD drugs like Adderall be accurately described as strengthening a person

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:32:11 +0000

Freedom

Medicine

Read another response about Freedom, Medicine

Read another response by Jonathan Westphal

Could ADHD drugs like Adderall be accurately described as strengthening a person's will?