Ethical solution of using a web blog
The situation at hand involves a patient who has been admitted for six months in the hospital and his condition has been worsening despite the medication done on him. The dilemma, however, involves his inability to pay or the ever-increasing bill, which his family has been unable to pay as they are extremely poor. He is not registered to any insurance policy that can compensate for the cost he has accumulated while at the hospital. The doctor finds out that the patient requires an expensive operation for his life to be saved. Since he was admitted, his bill has amounted to 15,000 US dollars while the operation he needs for survival is 40,000 US dollars. The management of the hospital has warned the doctor against continuing to treat the patient, explaining that the patient may lead the hospital to huge losses if more attention is paid to him. However, the doctor has a lot of empathy towards the patient and would wish to see the patient’s life saved. The ethical problem faced by the doctor involves finding a way of helping him out.
One of the solutions that the doctor thinks of using to help the patient and his family involves helping to open a web blog to connect the hospital, his family, as well as individuals and organizations that would be willing to help him in overcoming the financial problem that is preventing the patient from being treated. Through the blog, important information about the patient can be shared with his care team and other people with a view finding useful help. Through the blog, the patient may not only get well-wishers who can contribute towards his bill but can also benefit from health organizations that may be willing to treat the patient freely or people can share ideas on the best ways to assist him. This method is quite practicable because the doctor is willing to use his resources and knowledge to open the blog and advertise it. The strength of this solution is the fact that once it becomes popular, it is likely to convince more financially capable individuals and organizations that are willing to help as the care team accesses it. The solution, however, is a bit flawed due to the fact that it might take longer for the web blog to be accessed by enough viewers. Since the blog requires a lot of resources and time to become popular, the efficiency and persuasiveness of the technology is wanting.
The second ethical solution that the doctor contemplates in his attempt to help the patient involves the use of crowdfunding to settle the patient’s pending bill and pay for his much needed operation. Through crowdfunding, the funds required would be raised by several people in various internet platforms, where the amount contributed by each user is relatively small, so that they more not find the contribution as a burden to them. The use of crowdfunding is a more persuasive solution because it will take place in form of charity, where the contributors are promised that some of them will win attractive rewards in return. Also, the solution is quite practical because internet users will only be required to contribute a small amount of money. Also it will be easier to have many contributors quickly because many platforms such as social media will be used. However, it has the weakness of failing to attract the few rich sponsors.
The ethical solution of using a web blog is viable if the utilitarianism theory is applied. Utilitarianism calls for all individuals to act by valuing the interests of others instead of trying to meet our own ends. By using his own resources to open a blog and advertise it for the sake of the patient’s health, the doctor is placing the locus of doing right on the consequences of the action he takes. Although the doctor expects to persuade other members of society to help the patient through possible donations, sponsorship, or free treatment by health organizations, he is not sure of the result of his action. Therefore, it can be argued that the doctor satisfies Kantian deontology because he selflessly chooses to take the correct action of attempting to assist the patient despite not knowing what the consequence will be, thus he uses the supreme law of morality.
The use of crowdfunding can be said to be ethically right if social contract ethics are to be observed. This is because the contributions by many internet users for the benefit of the patient shows that each contributor will be carrying out their social responsibility required of them by society to play their part. Also, through crowdfunding, ethical egoism will be being applied because funds will be collected with a promise that some of the contributors will win some rewards for their contribution. Since the solution will be faster than the use of web bog, it is satisfying the utilitarianism more. The use of lottery to attract more contributors shows that the consequences are valued more than the means, which shows it is more utilitarian. The hospital should thus make use of crowdfunding as a better means than other technologies.
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