Question #2: Ross’s Prima Facie Duties (5 points)
Matthew is a terminally ill patient who no longer has the capacity to make decisions. As such, his family is making decisions for him and they are insisting that the doctor, Dr. Quinn, “does everything” to keep Matthew alive. Dr. Quinn, however, would like the family to issue a DNR (do not resuscitate) order because she feels resuscitation would cause much more harm to the patient than good. It is very unlikely that Matthew would survive resuscitation and even if he does, he will very likely not regain consciousness. In the extremely unlikely case that he does regain consciousness, he will be in severe pain from the impact of the procedure on his body, which is already very weak from his terminal illness. After explaining this to the family, they still refuse to issue the DNR. Dr. Quinn isn’t sure what she should do since she doesn’t want her patient to suffer unnecessarily.
(a) Using Ross’s Prima Facie Duties, what is Dr. Quinns’s ethical dilemma? In other words, which two prima facie duties conflict in this case?
Note that your answer must include an explanation of where these two duties come from.
(b) According to Ross’s theory, which prima facie duty takes priority and why?
(c) According to Ross’s theory, what can we do if someone disagrees with your answer from (b)?
Question 3: Fundamental Concepts (5 points)
Miranda is diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection. Left untreated, the infection will quickly become deadly. Luckily, a dose of antibiotics will easily cure the patient and save her life. However, it must be given to her intravenously (through an IV). After carefully explaining all the risks and benefits of the antibiotic, Miranda says she doesn’t want to take the medication. When Dr. Dorian inquires as to why she is refusing care, Miranda says: “I want to live and I know this medication can save my life, but there is no way you are putting that needle in me. Just the thought of an IV makes my skin crawl! Just keep it away from me–it’s freaking me out!”
(a) Identify whether or not Miranda is autonomous and explain why. If she is not autonomous, be sure to identify and explain which condition(s) of autonomy is missing.
(b) Which liberty limiting principle might justify overriding the patient’s refusal of care?
Be sure to explain which principle might be used and what type of justification it would require.
