Is Dr. Sussex: Ethically Right Or Wrong?

Notably, we cannot discuss ethics without including the concept of morals and rules. The creation of morals and rules that govern our everyday decisions shape our ethics. However these three principles often come into conflict with each other due to specific case studies where the line of right or wrong is often blurred. There is often no right or wrong answer when it comes to certain situations; in other cases there may be a definite right and wrong. Sometimes it is difficult to come to an ethical resolution; at times we may feel as if we acted ethically while others seem to suggest otherwise. When we are asked to defend our actions we employ morals, ethics, and rules to structure our reasoning behind a choice. In the following case involving a doctor and his patient, we will evaluate the situation, determining if the doctor was ethically right in his decision or if he crossed a line.
In the case of Sam Almar, Dr.
Sussex is given a difficult situation that may cause him to cross the boundaries of medical ethics in order to respect the patient’s religious beliefs. Mr. Almar is part of a Native American tribe that believes death should not be discussed with a patient. This creates a conflict ethically, informed consent requires Dr. Sussex to inform the patient of his condition and the possible outcomes. There is a slim possibility that Mr. Almar may survive, but telling him this may give him a false sense of hope. Dr. Sussex is faced with the option of either telling his patient that he may die or notifying him that there is a twenty percent chance that he may survive. The doctor opted to brief Mr. Almar’s family on his condition; they want Dr. Sussex to inform Mr. Almar that there is a cure for his illness. Though this is not the whole truth, Dr. Sussex makes the decision that it is best to tell his patient this
anyway.