Response to, "A Doctor's Dilemma".

    When I first read this narrative what first struck me was the familiarity. I realized that I had indeed heard it before. It was thrown out the first time in a general conversation on ethics. What is the wrong and right thing to do, if there is such a thing, when thrown into a specific situation. In the case of legalities, there are many situations that the seemingly ethical decision is frowned upon. People are so obsessed with money, that even if someone had saved their life, they would find a way to milk it for what it’s worth, even if it causes your savior’s career and even their life in general. The fact that the doctors have to take an oath stating that they will care for injured people, yet taking said action could result in losing their job is contradictory. As I was reading, I had set up a sort of mock trial in which the patient had become paralyzed, and indeed had pressed charges. I saw both sides, and it was really interesting seeing how one who was alive would sue the person who allowed them to be such. I also thought that perhaps the oath that the doctors have to recite could be used in a rebuttal, claiming that if indeed there is someone needing medical help, then they are required to help. The risk though, of helping someone in need is too high in this case. Perhaps it is just best to leave the life saving to the paramedics, even if they get there too late, at least one wouldn’t have to risk their life, to save another.