Philosophy and Human Good Ethical Dilemma

As a child coming in a well to do family of nine were religion has always been a factor in our home. In the beginning my mom and dad both were taught under the Baptist beliefs. My mother later began studying with Jehovah Witnesses later becoming a member herself. Regardless to what religion my parents have chosen they have always thought me and my siblings,moral responsibility. My dad is what most people called a “Jack of all trades” Along with his religious belief he also believe in taking care of his family. His ethical concept which include right and wrong, good and bad, just and unjust, fair and unfair, responsible and irresponsible.(Chaffee, page 379) lead him to provide for his family, by working in the Army/National Guard, Corps of Engineer, a licensed Carpenter,an also Fire chief of our town. Due to his work demands he was nearly always away from home all these jobs my dad did an excellent job in providing for seven children. Although, my mother was stuck with the toughest job, of stay at home mom, she worked hard to teach us the positive way of life.

Facts are that, the both of them they taught us the most important moral and that is respect for us as well as othersand especially those who are less fortunate than others.To always give people the benefit of the doubt, which is an understatement now a days. That regardless of skin color, gender orreligion everyone deserve to be treat as equal and given the same opportunities as the next person.Never bully others or to be ridicule of them in attempt to be accepted by others, or for personal gain. Never change who you are for anyone, to stand for something or fall for anything. Although, they were of different religious backgrounds at the time their book of moral an ethics and guidance was all of one accord all remain the same.

The dilemma took place in the early year of 1990’s were I had to face the fact of my grandmother on my mother side, who was also a baptized Jehovah witnesses, being diagnosed with diabetes. I can’t recall fully, but something happen were she became ill and needed to go into the hospital for surgery. We were told that it would be a simple surgery and that she would be home in a few days. So she went through the needed preparations. The next day I went to work as usual only to return home to find out by my out that my grandmother had taken a turn for the worst. I was also told that she had a great day in the beginning surgery went well, but shortly after the doctor under estimated her condition and ordered that she get up to walk around for a speedy recovery. Once again my grandmother became very weak and ill, she was instantly assisted back to bed. When the doctor came to check on her, he found that her blood count was very low and that she was having internal bleeding. He then stated that she was going to need a blood transfusion. Instantly, my granny was against the ideal of receiving blood. She agreed to go with the method of blood substitute, the doctor and nurses all felt that it was absorb because of my grandmother’s decision not to have the transfusion and told her if she did not have it that she could die. People would come in to visit with her and there were those who really spoke badly of my grandmother’s decision and of the family members who supported her. I at this point did not understand why she was being what I thought at the time very stubborn because I did not want my grandmother to die, due to the fact that she didn’t have the blood transfusion. That was until I spoke with my mother about it and she told me that my grandmother was only obeying God law and either way she would be okay. The divine compound theory comes to mind stating: “doing what god tells us to do is morally right”. I further questioned why and my mother then asked me to open my bible to Acts 15:29 where it tells us “to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you.”(New world Translation of the Holy Scriptures,) I then became more understanding of why she made the choice she made. Holding strong to her faith, and support of other who tried to get the blood substitute in which the doctor claim to know so little about. My grandmother later died from her condition. As Socrates emphasize, your values constitute the core of who you are. If you are to live a life of purpose, it is essential that you develop an enlightened code of ethics to guide you. (Chaffee, page 378)

Another experience challenging my faith and moral was in 2005 I had was also placed in a situation where I needed to receive a blood transfusion. My mind fell instantly on my grandmother and her decision about receiving blood and the scripture my mother showed me. Even though I am not a Jehovah witnesses I felt strong in what I read in the Bible and it help me to make the decision not to take the blood transfusion. Once I told my doctor that I didn’t want a transfusion, he then asked if he could speak to me in private. During our conference he asked if my reason was that of a religious belief and if I was Jehovah witness, I then explained that I was not. But that my mother and other family members were, he then stated that I need to really consider this because this could become life threating and that if I was not of this religion it should not apply to me. I thentold him this is true, but that I was a good fearing person and it meant a lot to me to honor god’s wishes on this beside I have found other information and my concerns on things that I discovered could go wrong during this procedure. I then told him that I would love to take any blood substitute in the form of a pill he then stated he would have to refer me to another doctor. Meanwhile, a RN nurse overheard that I refused the blood transfusion and asked me not to expose her, but that she was the daughter of Parents who are Jehovah Witness and she understood how I felt she then told me my situation was not as bad as the doctor expressed and that I could indeed eat food rich in iron and that there are meds. Out there for those who prefer an alternate. Needless to say I did receive a blood substitute in medication form and is now health and better than ever. My decision and outcome compares to that when M. Scott Peak stated: In many cases people attempt to navigate their passage through the turbulent and treacherous waters of contemporary life without an accurate moral compass, relying instead on a tangled mélange of childhood teachings, popular wisdom, and unreliable intuitions. These homegrown and unreflective ethical systems are simply not up to the task of sorting out the moral complexities in our bewildering and fast-paced world, contributing to the moral crisis. (Chaffee, page 380).

Reference

John Chaffee. Philosopher's Way, The: Thinking Critically About Profound Ideas, 3rd Edition. 2010. South University

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures