Utilitarianism And Deontological Dichotomy

When considering allocation of scarce resources for patients with alcoholic cirrhosis I will analyze the ethical theories of Utilitarianism and Deontology and the principles of justice, nonmalificence and autonomy. The question persists, should the fact that someone has essentially caused their own disease eliminate them from the chance of having a transplant (Williamson, 1997)? According to the utilitarian school of thought, the right action is that which has the greatest utility or usefulness (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014). Utilitarianism is also described as a consequence-based theory which looks towards the good and bad consequences of an act to determine if it is right or wrong and are concerned about the greatest good for the greatest
Two of the three principles, justice and autonomy are present and debated throughout many studies regarding how organs should be and are allocated to those in need. Nonmalificence, while not overtly present in literature demands attention. Nonmaleficence requires us to avoid causing harm. This includes deliberate harm, risk of harm and harm that occurs during the performance of beneficial acts (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014). There are two arguments when analyzing this principle when deciding whether patients with alcoholic liver disease should be considered for transplant. One could argue that by forcing patients to show sobriety for six months we are causing further harm by keeping them from the transplant list as they progress to a more terminal stage. However, one could also argue that by helping alcoholic patients with their disease the harm is outweighed by the potential benefit of procuring a liver transplant in the future and increasing their chances of survival. Either way, nurses must take into account their own values and beliefs and make sure that they are not letting their ideals get in the way of treating patients, and uphold the principle of nonmaleficence. The American Journal of Ethics maintains that given organ shortages and social and cultural concerns about alcohol use, transplantation for patients with alcoholic liver disease remains controversial. Ethical concerns pertain to justice and autonomy in the allocation of scarce resources and social stigmatization of patients with a disease that is thought to be self-inflicted (Ajay Singhvi, 2016). Justice is the ethical principle that relates to fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment in light of what is due or owed to persons, recognizing that giving things to some may deny receipt to others who might otherwise have received those things (Burkhardt & Nathaniel,