A man awakens one morning and laying next to him in bed is an unconscious woman, apparently comatose. There is also standing above him another woman who explains that his bed companion is a famous, Nobel-prize winning author. Unfortunately, she is deathly ill.
The standing, conscious woman points out that during the night, the man and the author were joined by several tubes, and that at this moment, his body is keeping her alive via these tubes. She needs him to remain connected to these tubes for a total of 9 months, at which point the author will again be able to live on her own.
However, if he disconnects the tubes before the 9-month period ends, she will immediately perish.
IS HE ETHICALLY BOUND TO LEAVE THE TUBES ATTACHED FOR 9 MONTHS?
OR CAN HE ETHICALLY JUSTIFY CHOOSING NOT TO DONATE HIS BODY FOR THIS TASK, DISCONNECT THE TUBES, AND ALLOW HER TO DIE?
Please detail your ethical reasoning. (Please focus on his decision in the situation in which he finds himself.)
2006-12-01
05:03:27
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9 answers
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asked by
NHBaritone
7