Boy in bubble
In the form of an interpretive essay of about 750 words, state your position regarding the ethical implications of the following cases. In doing so, provide alternative ethical perspectives and then argue for the one you think best. Avoid emotional statements and state reasons for the position you take.
“”THE BOY IN THE BUBBLE” DILEMMA
In 1971, David Vetter was born with a medical condition known as SCID, an immune deficiency that is life threatening if the individual is exposed to even the most common germs. His story is one that raises a wide array of ethical questions.
Having watched the story of this boy, some will question what they call “medical hubris.” Hubris is generally understood as a form of extreme arrogance/pride. Was the medical community at the time motivated by some sort of self-interest, “overstepping the bounds of our knowledge” as one person puts it? Was the medical community genuinely out to find a cure for this problem? Was there an exorbitant interest in seeing “how far we can go” in treating medical problems with little or no regard for the “human factor?” Was there a genuine concern for a human life; a commitment to protect, save and provide as high a quality of life for one single individual as was humanly possible? Were the doctors and researchers motivated by a kind of detached medical and professional impulse to “solve a problem” or by a fundamental concern for a person and his family?
In the course of his treatment, was “too much hope” given to David Vetter and his family?” Were they misled in any way? David’s family faced the choice of removing him from his “bubble” isolator [certain death] or allowing him to remain within. One doctor spoke of taking him out to “get this over with.” Was David a patient or simply a research subject, a guinea pig? Did these roles become confused?
An ethical question arises if and when David, as he ages, says: “I’ve had enough…I’m going out, stand aside!” Some spoke of this treatment as a “failed experiment.” Was this a medical success story? Was it a failed experiment? Did this boy experience a human life? How would Kant regard the treatment of David Vetter? Once the decision was made and the child was placed in the isolator, there was a commitment to “stay with it.” We are told that the main medical professionals who were taking care of David eventually left the hospital.
ANALYZE THIS CASE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ETHICAL MODELS WE DISCUSSED IN CLASS…THE UTILITARIAN PERSPECTIVE AND THE POINT OF VIEW OF A KANTIAN DEONTOLOGIST. IN ADDITION TO THESE, INTRODUCE ANY OTHER ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO THE CASE.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS MUST BE DONE IN AN ETHICAL SENSE. UTILIATARIAN PERSPECTIVE AND POINT OF VIEW OF KANTIAN DEONTOLOGIST. ALSO, NSWER IF YOU BELIEVE THE PARENTS WERE ETHICAL, AS WELL AS IF THE DOCTORS WERE ETHICAL. THIS IS A RATIONAL ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY, NOT OPINION.
