Case Study:
This is a case study. After reading the case, use two medical ethic theories being utilitarianism, Kant, Ross, feminist or Aristotle, and show what the physician should do in this case justifying your answer with two theories. Give a small introduction to the case. Either use two theories collectively to justify the answer or use two different opposing theories and show how the theory supporting your answer is superior to the other opposing theory. Choose the two theories that seem most relevant to the case.
Ms. A a 35 year old secretary is found after a routine pap test to have a cancer of the cervix. The cancer is at its earliest stage, confined to the cervix with minor invasions of the cervical tissue. The tumor is still easily treatable by means of a simple hysterectomy. Even though the physician informs Ms. A that there is a 90% chance of full cure, she is very distraught and apprehensive. When the physician raises the issue of scheduling the surgery Ms. A is evasive and says she wants to think things over. The physician makes another appointment with her for a week later. Ms. A is still very reluctant to discuss the matter of surgery but agrees that “most likely it is something I have to face.” She than asks what risks would be involved in a hysterectomy. The doctor is concerned that if he describes all of the risks in full detail (for example, injury to the bladder, to the ureter (the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder), injury to the bowel and/or intestinal obstruction, and urinary incontinence, not to mention the possibility of death due to anesthesia), Ms. A will postpone the surgery even further. He wonders whether he should instead inform Ms. A’s husband of the usual risks and indicate to Ms. A more globally that things will probably go well and that people are able to return home from the hospital after only a few days. What should Ms. A’s physician do?
If u think he should hide the risks from her and tell her husband than u can use Utilitarianism and one other same theory. U can say that u think he should not tell her and proceed with the surgery. I think he should speak with her husband who should convince her that everything will be ok and she should go ahead with the surgery. There will be no harm in lying to her or postponing the answers to her questions to a later time to so she eventually forgets her questions.
However:
If u think it is wrong to hide these risks from her than u can use kants theory and say lying is wrong in all cases and a competent patient should know all the risks and all the info and make their own choice. And also u can use a same theory as kant’s theory and say that the patient should know all the truth and make their own choice.
Also: u may use a theory like utilitarianism and say that it is ok to lie, but also say that according to an opposing theory like kant (this states no lying) u should do this. However, regardless it is better to follow theory X and do this because it is for the patients betterment. Conclude it.
Just make a decision and justify it with a theory.
Your answer must be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font (size 12), one-inch margins on all sides, APA format.