Question

Legal & Ethical Considerations

Part One

Propose a solution to the following scenario using each of the five ethical theories presented in this module. Explain how your solution aligns with the major ideas within each theory.

Scenario: There is a pandemic of a contagious disease. In the United States, there is only enough of the vaccine to cover 70% of the population. How do you determine who gets the vaccine?

Theory	Solution
Utilitarianism
Rights-based ethics
Duty-based ethics
Justice-based ethics
Virtue-based ethics

Part Two

Consider the same scenario, but explain what process you would need to add to your solution to protect the bioethics principles.

Principle	Solution
Autonomy
Beneficence
Nonmalfeasance
Justice

Answer 1

PART-1)

a) Utilitarianism: The Utilitarian theory would suggest for giving the vaccine to be given to population that are at greatest risk for contracting disease, and filter out people with terminal illness and/or a limited amount of time to live. It will cause greater good for the largest population

b) Rights-based ethics: This theory suggests for individual rights. It allow the patient to make a decision whether they want to or refuse vaccine. It involve the vaccination access to patients access on a first come, first serve basis until the vaccine was no longer available

c) Duty-based ethics: The Duty-based ethics renders the practitioners to allow for access to vaccine. The duty would be to care for children, the elderly population, and pregnant women which is at a high risk for contracting the disease. Practitioners would work as according to the standards of practice

d) Justice-based ethics: All populations should have an access to the vaccine, thus there would be nothing to differentiate one patient to another i.e. any bias or an agenda

e) Virtue-based ethics: It is opposite of the Utilitarian theory. This suggests for duty based ethics which states the responsibility to assist the neediest, then healthy people come in to play

PART-2)

a) Autonomy: All individuals to make an informed decision of their own, however first providing them with facts regarding the vaccine and side effects of the vaccine i.e. risks/benefits of vaccine.

b) Beneficence: The positive outcome or gains with an informed decision most outweigh the negative side effects.

c) Nonmalfeasance: As the health care worker, doing what is best for the patient and not directly or indirectly harms them

d) Justice: All patients are equal and not to be discriminated on of religion / culture / ethnicity/ creed, etc. No group is given more benefit over another