The Trolley Problem

Trolley problems can be a useful tool in the discussion of bioethics in order to make people look into their own morality and what drives that underlying decision chosen in the classic trolley problem. While some people are certain of their decision initially, others are unsure of what the most ethical option is. Let us consider a problem discussed in class about human embryos and stem cell research in the framework of a trolley problem.
In this scenario, five men arrive at a reputable hospital for severe injuries that will be fatal if they do not get the treatment they need. To make things simple, the specifics of the injuries are not important, however, doctors at this hospital have all come to the consensus that these men will not live unless
By killing the embryo and using its stem cells, one could save the lives of five people, but the potential life of a baby is sacrificed. However, by doing nothing, the embryo can survive to make a healthy baby, but the five injured men will die. In theory, you can analyze the problem regarding whether killing is the more ethical solution, or if letting die is the more ethical option. However, in practice there are limitations to using a trolley problem-like approach with stem cells and embryos in the real world. One reason is that some people may or may not consider the embryo as human due to religious or personal reasons. Another limitation is that embryos do not always become babies, and life-saving surgeries are not always successful. Circumstances surrounding a situation can influence our morality. For example, what if you saved the embryo and let the men die, but for some reason the embryo did not take once implanted and a baby was never developed? In that case, nobody lives. Or, what if the embryo is destroyed, preventing a baby from forming, but the stem cells used in the life-saving surgery were not effective and the men died anyway? Does it matter if these men were criminals or law-abiding citizens with families at home? And would it matter if this embryo resulted in an unhealthy baby instead of a healthy baby? Life is not so black and white, but rather, various
While it might be helpful to look at the basic ethics behind this scenario as an introduction to the problem, it should not be used to guide policymaking due to the fact that there may be no one ultimate ethical decision. By simplifying an issue down to a trolley-problem framework, other considerations are ignored that could be important to the scenario. Sometimes it is best to take a more flexible approach that can allow for wiggle-room if there are other factors that might change the approach that should be taken. Factors including personal experience, cultural beliefs, or even social status can have a direct or even indirect effect on how any one individual makes ethical decisions in their life. As satisfying as it is to be able to come to a definitive conclusion, sometimes this is not possible as can be seen in many other ethical debates. If life were as “simple” as the trolley problem, perhaps we would already have policies that are in the best interests of society, but there are endless circumstances to consider when dealing with real situations and real