5.

A doctor in the armed services in an outlying district of the tropics comes across a native with
spinal meningitis. He has no instruments or means of sterilization. He feels that if he treats the
native, he will contract the disease. He also feels responsible for 150 soldiers who need his
medical help and may die without him.

Gather Relevant Information

A doctor in the armed services has no instruments to cure the sick native and 150 soldiers.

Identify the Type of Ethical Problem

There are two right courses of action but to do one necessarily will compromise the other.
Because both decisions to help the native or the 150 soldiers but there is an option to only
choose one.

Explore the Practical Alternatives

A. Treat the native first and go to the soldiers after you have treated the natives.
B. Just leave the native and proceed directly to the military base and help the 150 soldiers.

Evaluate the Outcome or Consequences

A. If the doctor treats the native first, he will have a hard time finding solution to treat
their ailments since he does not have any instruments with him and the soldiers might
die because he is the only one their whom can help cure their ailments and revive their
lives.
B. If he just leave the native and proceed directly to the soldiers, his conscience will
disturb him because it is his duty to help and cure the sick as a doctor but he did not do.
In that case, there is a probability that the natives will die.

Use Ethics Theories or Principles to Analyze the Problem

APPLIED
Kants Ethics:
Based on this ethical theory, decision will be based on motive and will, also duty that is why it is
sometimes called deontologism. It is the doctors duty to help and cure the sick or needy.
Utilitarianism:
Based on this ethical theory, decision will be based on the rightness and wrongness of actions,
also the actions that promote happiness to many and unhappiness to few. It is the doctors
choice whom to help, in this case, he should choose the 150 soldiers.
VIOLATED

Rawls Principles of Justice:

Based on this ethical theory, everyone has an equal access to the basic human rights
and liberties. As the sick native and 150 soldiers, they have the freedom to live their
lives. And in this ethical theory, one of the natural duties has something to do with
helping others in need or jeopardy. In this case, there is a risk on the doctors part. He
may not perform his duty of helping others in need or jeopardy well.
Experimentalism:
Based on this ethical theory, experimentalism holds that the true and valid form of knowledge is
one which is practical, workable, beneficial and useful where it produces practical results, it
works, benefits people and one that can be used to attain good results. If the doctor tends to
cure the native, the life of the native is at risk and it will not benefit the both of them.

Choose the best Option: Complete the Action

The best option is to cure and help the 150 soldiers and the native. It is his duty to save them
from their sickness.