Medical Ethics
7 min90s prep
AdvancedMedical Ethics
The Question
A woman enters the emergency room with stomach pain. She undergoes a CT scan and is diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The physicians inform her that the only way to fix the problem is surgically, and that the chances of survival are about 50/50. They also inform her that time is of the essence, and that should the aneurysm burst, she would be dead in a few short minutes. The woman is an exotic dancer; she worries that the surgery will leave a scar that will negatively affect her work; therefore, she refuses any surgical treatment. Even after much pressuring from the physicians, she adamantly refuses surgery. Feeling that the woman is not in her correct state of mind and knowing that time is of the essence, the surgeons decide to perform the procedure without consent. They anaesthetize her and surgically repair the aneurysm. She survives, and sues the hospital for millions of dollars. Do you believe that the physician's actions can be justified in any way? Is it ever right to take away someone's autonomy?
How to approach this question
This medical ethics question tests your ability to think critically and communicate clearly.
- Consider all perspectives involved
- Structure: Beginning, Middle, End
- Identify the ethical principles at play
- Address ethical implications
- Consider consequences of each option
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Continue your preparation with these related scenarios.
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The practice loop
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- Choose what to practise next
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- Turn broad advice into one concrete adjustment
- Keep attempts, evidence, and progress connected
- Remember to apply the adjustment in a second rep
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What you leave with
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A real first attempt
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An observable second rep
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