PHIL 210 Week 1 Discussion: Introductions and Forced Medical Treatment

Introduction to PHIL 210 Week One Discussion

The PHIL 210 Week 1 Discussion: Introductions and Forced Medical Treatment explores the interplay between personal values and ethical decision-making in health care. It includes a self-introduction, a moral analysis of a medical case, and a reflection on how personal values shape ethical codes. This Owlisdom How-To Guide aims to deepen your understanding of ethics in health care and enhance your ability to make ethically sound decisions in your future professional practice.

Please share a little about yourself, including two things people don’t usually know about you that you are comfortable sharing. Please also post a picture of yourself and state who would play you in a movie about yourself and why.

Self-Introduction

To start the PHIL 210 Week 1 Discussion: Introductions and Forced Medical Treatment, we will briefly introduce ourselves, reflect on which actor we believe would best portray you in a movie, and explain why.

• Provide a brief background about yourself. This could include your educational background, interests, career aspirations, and anything else that paints a picture of you.
• Think about two exciting or unique facts that people typically don’t know about you but are comfortable sharing. This could be a hobby, an exceptional talent, a significant life experience, or an unusual interest.
• Select a recent and professional picture of yourself to share. Ensure it is appropriate and aligns with the context of an academic or professional setting.
• Reflect on which actor you believe would best portray you in a movie and explain why. Consider aspects such as personality, appearance, and acting style in your reasoning.

Example

Hello, everyone. My name is Alex. My interests span from exploring ethical dilemmas in healthcare to engaging in community service initiatives. I aspire to work in healthcare administration, where I can contribute to ethical policymaking and improve patient care systems.

People usually don’t know that I am an avid rock climber, having scaled some of the most challenging routes in my state and having a passion for painting, with a particular interest in surrealist art. These hobbies provide a balanced life, merging physical activity with creative expression.

For a professional setting, I have chosen a recent picture of me attending a healthcare conference, which highlights my commitment to my field.

If my life were portrayed in a movie, I believe Natalie Portman would be the ideal actor. Her ability to portray strong, intelligent characters resonates with my personality and career aspirations. Additionally, her versatility as an actress reflects the multifaceted nature of my interests and experiences.

In this story, a teenage girl is forced to undergo chemotherapy. Read the article and use the reading in chapter one to decide if it was ethical for the medical team to do this against the patient’s will. Elaborate on how you came to your conclusion.

Ethical Analysis of a Medical Case

Next, in PHIL 210 Week 1 Discussion: Introductions and Forced Medical Treatment. We will discuss our learnings and conclusions from the article given.

• Please carefully read the article provided about the teenage girl undergoing chemotherapy. Pay attention to the details of the case and the ethical dilemma presented.
• Review the relevant section in Chapter One that discusses ethical theories and principles. Focus on concepts like autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
• Based on your understanding, determine whether the medical team’s decision to administer chemotherapy against the patient’s will was ethical. Consider the moral principles and theories discussed in Chapter One.
• Explain how you arrived at your conclusion. Discuss the reasoning and ethical principles that guided your decision. Be clear and concise in your explanation, providing evidence from the readings to support your position.

Example

The NPR article “Can Connecticut Force a Teenage Girl to Undergo Chemotherapy?” presents a complex ethical dilemma. The Connecticut Supreme Court forced a 17-year-old girl named Cassandra to undergo chemotherapy against her will. This case focuses on several ethical principles, such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

Autonomy, the right of patients to make their own decisions, is a cornerstone of medical ethics. However, in this case, the court deemed Cassandra’s refusal as not fully informed due to her age and the potential influence of her mother. Beneficence, the principle of acting in the best interest of the patient, supports the medical team’s decision, as chemotherapy is crucial for her survival. Non-maleficence, the obligation to not harm, aligns with administering life-saving treatment despite the patient’s refusal. Lastly, justice, which emphasizes fairness and equality, was served by ensuring Cassandra received the necessary medical care.

After reviewing the relevant ethical theories and principles, I conclude that the medical team’s decision was ethical. The principle of beneficence justified overriding Cassandra’s autonomy, as her life was at significant risk without treatment. Furthermore, from a legal perspective, minors are often not granted complete independence in medical decisions, especially in life-threatening situations. This ethical stance is supported by the necessity to prevent harm and act in the patient’s best interest, aligning with legal standards and moral principles.

Peer Responses

According to PHIL 210 Week 1 Discussion: Introductions and Forced Medical Treatment, we are supposed to write two peer responses. I have addressed the given instructions in one response. Following these instructions, you can write your peer responses to Module 1 Discussion without a hassle.

• Begin by acknowledging the main points your peer has made. Please provide a summary demonstrating that you have read and understood their discussion post.
• Offer constructive feedback on their arguments and insights. Highlight areas where they have made strong points and suggest areas where they could further expand or clarify their ideas.
• Pose thoughtful questions that encourage deeper reflection or further discussion. This can help stimulate ongoing dialogue and enhance the learning experience for you and your peer.
• Share your own experiences or additional resources that relate to the topic. This can provide new perspectives and enrich the conversation, showing how different viewpoints and sources can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Response 01

Hi Alex, great post! Your analysis of Cassandra’s case clearly illustrates the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. One area you could expand on is the potential long-term implications of such decisions on patient trust. As a fellow healthcare enthusiast, I find these dilemmas fascinating and complex.

Response 02

Responding to peers is vital to the PHIL 210 Week 1 Discussion: Introductions and Forced Medical Treatment. We need to provide at least two peer responses. I will provide one example post. You can write your peer responses keeping the above points in mind.

Closing

The PHIL 210 Week 1 Discussion: Introductions and Forced Medical Treatment emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s values and their influence on ethical decision-making in healthcare. By reflecting on your identity and analyzing a real-world ethical dilemma, you can better appreciate the complexities of ethics in health care. The key takeaway is the recognition that moral decision-making is profoundly personal and rooted in one’s value system, which requires continuous reflection and learning. The PHIL 210 upcoming module Week 1 Reflection Paper 1  revolves around the Who are you?