Medical Ethics Essay

5. Death Row Organ Donation In 2013, Ronald Phillips, a death row inmate, had requested a pre-execution donation of his organs. In particular, he wished his heart to go to his sister and his kidneys to go to his mother. Phillips is convicted of the rape and murder of his girlfriend’s daughter. As his request is being assessed, the state of Oregon has granted him a stay of execution by lethal injection. Do you think it is morally justified for the state to accept organ donations from death row inmates? Why or why not?

6. Under 12 Rule In 2013, 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan needed a lung transplant. She was seriously ill as a result of having cystic fibrosis and without the transplant she had a high risk of dying. UNOS had a policy known as the “Under 12 Rule” that keeps children from being prioritized for adult lung transplants. The Under 12 Rule gives children like Sarah priority for pediatric lungs but not for adult lungs. When adult lungs become available, they are first offered to adult matches in a given region before they can be offered to a child under 12. Should UNOS maintain the “Under 12 Rule”? Why or why not?

7. Immigration and Transplants In 2012, Jesus Navarro needed a kidney transplant and his wife who is a compatible match was willing to donate her kidney to him. The problem is that Navarro is an undocumented immigrant and may lose his insurance coverage to pay for the kidney transplant. UCSF’s policy requires insurance coverage and takes such factors as immigration status into account when allocating kidney transplants. Should Jesus Navarro have a lesser priority when it comes to receiving kidney transplants in the United States? Why or why not?

8. Internetting for Organs: Instead of waiting on a national government wait list such that managed by UNOS, people have been turning to the internet to speed up the process. MatchingDonors.com is a website that allows people to search for live potential donors. People have used Facebook to search for a living organ match. Do you think that it is morally just to allow people to search for altruistic strangers who are willing to donate their organs (e.g. kidneys)? Why or why not?

Directions Due date: 72-hour window for submission beginning Tuesday, August 5, noon – Friday, August 8, noon. After Friday at 12 noon, a 3% penalty will apply for every day late. You should submit an electronic copy to Turnitin.com in blackboard (go to Essays folder). Your title should state the question number that you have chosen (e.g. #8 Internetting for Organs).

In your 4-6 page essay, you should discuss important facts about the moral issue, present your arguments in support of your thesis statement, and defend against counterarguments or possible objections. Your goal is not to find the one “right answer” but to draw your own conclusions based on good reasons and supporting evidence. This essay should apply theoretical concepts and ethical principles from course material. You should incorporate into your paper some key ideas and central points made by at least two articles which we have discussed in class; parenthetical notation will be sufficient for citing any information taken from our assigned articles. If the only sources you use are the blackboard assigned readings, then no bibliography or works cited page is necessary. Outside sources, if used, must be properly cited.

Paper Format: typed, double-spaced, 12-point font Times Roman, with one-inch margins, and pages numbered. Each paragraph of your essay should begin with a heading in place of the usual paragraph indentation (see sample essays in the Essay folder). Here’s a quick checklist:

· 4-6 pages in length

· Double-spaced and one inch margins

· 12-point font Times New Roman

· Pages numbered

· Headings in place of paragraph indentation

· Title by Paper Topic (Example: #1 Death Row Organ Donation)

· Parenthetical Notation

Structure of Your Paper Label each of your paragraphs with the following headings:

Introduction: No more than five sentences. Introductory paragraph should include a thesis which states what you are trying to prove in your essay.

Reason One: Second paragraph should give one of your main reasons. Ethical principles and theories or articles we’ve read should help to provide justification for your thesis.

Reason Two: Third paragraph should give another of your main reasons. Ethical principles and theories or articles we’ve read should help to provide justification for your thesis.

Objection One: Fourth paragraph should present a criticism or counterargument to your position. Explain a strong objection that an opponent of your view might argue. Justify the reasoning of your opponents with ethical principles/theories or articles we have read.

Reply to Objection One: In the fifth paragraph, you should defend against Objection One. Back your position by using ethical principles/theories or articles we have read.

Objection Two: Sixth paragraph – same as Objection One directions.

Reply to Objection Two: Seventh paragraph – same as Reply to Objection One directions.

Conclusion: No more than five sentences. State what you have proven in your paper and the wider significance or ramifications of your position.

Additional Notes

*Your paragraphs are labeled to help you keep on track and to assist the grader when following your train of thought.

*The order of your paragraphs may vary. In the sample paper, the student chose to present objections first, followed by her main reasons.

*Some paragraphs can be combined together into one paragraph (e.g. Objection One and Reply)

*A long paragraph can be split into more than one paragraph. For example, it might take you two paragraphs to explain Reason Two.

*Both the introductory and concluding paragraphs are restricted to no more than five sentences, because often students ramble on about overly general points. The focus of the paper should lie with the arguments and counterarguments contained in the body of the essay.

Philosophy Essay Grading Rubric (Total 100 points)

10% - Introduction and Conclusion

______ Introduction and Conclusion (0 - 5): Does the introduction contain a specific thesis statement (the claim you intend to prove)? How well does the first paragraph introduce your topic and the issue in question? Is your introduction within five sentences?

______ Conclusion (0 – 5): How well did you state what you have accomplished in your essay? Do you convey the wider ramifications? Is your conclusion within five sentences?

30% - Reason One and Two

______ Reason One (0-15 pts each): How strong are your arguments in support of the thesis? Are your argument supported by moral theories/principles/standards and backed up with facts?

Are your points insightful, original and show an understanding of relevant texts?

______ Reason Two (0-15 pts each): same as above

40% - Counterargument and Replies

______ Objection One (0-10): How well do you present objections against your view? Do you give an accurate and strong representation of the opposing viewpoint?

______ Objection Two (0-10): same as above

______ Reply to Objection One (0 –10): How well do you reply to objections? Do you defend your position using moral principles or relevant facts? Do you show that the counterarguments are mistaken, are not a real problem, or are relatively less important?

______ Reply to Objection Two (0 –10): same as above

20% - Composition and Mechanics

______ Composition, Spelling, and Grammar (0 – 10): Is your language clear and precise college-level writing? Are you using correct terminology? Did you proofread your paper carefully?

______ Mechanics (0 – 10): Did you draw upon ideas from at least two authors discussed in class? Did you use parenthetical citation and cite your sources? Are your paragraphs given identifying headings? Is your paper divided into your reasons, objections and replies to objections? Are the ideas in your paper logically ordered? Do you follow directions for the formatting of the electronic copy (see checklist)?