Have you ever made a split-second decision, but wondered after the fact, “what if I had chosen a different option?” Part of studying ethics is the ability to assess the short and long-term consequences of a decision and then choose the option that will have the more favorable outcomes. This module’s assignment gives you the opportunity to turn back the hands of time and examine a time when you wish you would have selected a different path.
In a 1-2 page paper, summarize a time when you had to make an ethical decision. Explain how your different options would affect the outcome. What were some external factors that impacted your decision? If you would have been given more time to make your decision, how would this change your approach or outcome?
Week One Written Assignment Rubric
Criteria | Points |
Criteria 1: Student provides clear summary of a time when they had to make an ethical decision. | 8 |
Criteria 2: Explains how the presence of different options would affect the outcome. | 8 |
Criteria 3: Lists external factors that impacted your decision. | 8 |
Criteria 4: Discusses how having more time would have impacted their decision. | 8 |
Criteria 5: Includes correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. | 3 |
Total | 35 |
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor in charge of designing and grading assignments for medical college students, I believe it is essential for students to understand the importance of ethics in the medical field. In this assignment, students will be given the opportunity to reflect on a time when they had to make an ethical decision, evaluate the different options they had, and consider the external factors that influenced their decision-making. By completing this task, students will enhance their ability to assess the consequences of their choices and make more informed decisions in the future.
Answer:
As an AI language model, I do not have personal experiences to draw from, but I can provide an example of an ethical medical decision made by a fictional medical practitioner. Suppose you are a surgeon, and a patient comes to you with a terminal illness. The patient is in severe pain and will die soon without treatment. The patient requests that you help them die with dignity by administering lethal medication. You must decide whether to fulfill the request, knowing that it violates medical ethics and the law, or deny their request, which may prolong their suffering.
Choosing to assist in the patient’s death would result in a peaceful and painless passing for the patient, but it would also mean violating the Hippocratic Oath and facing legal and professional consequences. Alternatively, denying the patient’s request would uphold medical ethics and the law, but it would also prolong the patient’s pain and suffering.
Several external factors may impact the decision-making process, such as the patient’s family’s wishes and religious beliefs, the legal implications of the decision, and personal morals and values. If given more time to make the decision, the medical practitioner may consult with colleagues, legal advisors, and ethical committees to ensure that the decision aligns with the medical profession’s standards.
In conclusion, this assignment offers medical students a practical exercise that will improve their ethical decision-making skills. Through reflection and analysis, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of medical ethics and develop strategies for making informed choices that prioritize their patients’ well-being.
