Heart Transplant Memo
Decision Memo for a Heart Transplant
This memorandum serves three purposes: (1) declares the chosen person for the heart transplantation; (2) outlines the decision process; (3) evaluates possible outcomes of the made decision.
Among the three qualifying candidates who were in need of the transplant, the person that was chosen to go through the process of heart transplant is Lisa; a 12-year-old female who has suffered from health issues all throughout her life. Lisa has suffered from various viral infections and a lupus-like immune deficiency which cost her entire childhood. In addition, her heart was damaged due to pneumonia which made her heart stop for a brief period of time. Even though her chances of surviving in her 20s are not …show more content…
In applying a Utilitarian ends-based ethics theory, the decision to choose Lisa was based on John Stuart Mill’s concept of the Greatest Happiness Principle which seeks happiness as the only desired outcome; neglecting all the rules and principles (Ruggiero, 2011). Lisa should receive the new heart because she is the only person who suffered most throughout her life. Jerry, one of the candidates, had at least lived 50 years which enabled him to build his own family; while Ozzy had at least lived for 30 years. Although both candidates mentioned also deserve the heart, Lisa deserves the new heart most because she will help inspire other children her age that there is hope if you just believe in the goodness of the world and people. Another ethics-based theory that contributed to the decision of choosing Lisa is St. Ausgustine’s theory about the ‘power of evil and sin.’ In his greatest spiritual autobiography, he detailed his sufferings and struggles with his own human nature (Ruggiero, 2011). However, he used his compelling personal experiences of sin to impact everybody through teaching the lesson of struggle and virtue through religious faith. In analyzing the situation, Lisa is somewhat like St. Augustine in a way that they have both struggled in life. If Lisa would be given the chance to live, she would
This memorandum serves three purposes: (1) declares the chosen person for the heart transplantation; (2) outlines the decision process; (3) evaluates possible outcomes of the made decision.
Among the three qualifying candidates who were in need of the transplant, the person that was chosen to go through the process of heart transplant is Lisa; a 12-year-old female who has suffered from health issues all throughout her life. Lisa has suffered from various viral infections and a lupus-like immune deficiency which cost her entire childhood. In addition, her heart was damaged due to pneumonia which made her heart stop for a brief period of time. Even though her chances of surviving in her 20s are not …show more content…
In applying a Utilitarian ends-based ethics theory, the decision to choose Lisa was based on John Stuart Mill’s concept of the Greatest Happiness Principle which seeks happiness as the only desired outcome; neglecting all the rules and principles (Ruggiero, 2011). Lisa should receive the new heart because she is the only person who suffered most throughout her life. Jerry, one of the candidates, had at least lived 50 years which enabled him to build his own family; while Ozzy had at least lived for 30 years. Although both candidates mentioned also deserve the heart, Lisa deserves the new heart most because she will help inspire other children her age that there is hope if you just believe in the goodness of the world and people. Another ethics-based theory that contributed to the decision of choosing Lisa is St. Ausgustine’s theory about the ‘power of evil and sin.’ In his greatest spiritual autobiography, he detailed his sufferings and struggles with his own human nature (Ruggiero, 2011). However, he used his compelling personal experiences of sin to impact everybody through teaching the lesson of struggle and virtue through religious faith. In analyzing the situation, Lisa is somewhat like St. Augustine in a way that they have both struggled in life. If Lisa would be given the chance to live, she would