Ethical Dilemmas in Heart Transplant Decisions

1. Part 1. A

1.1 Introduction

The hospital ethics committee was discussing an urgent case. A donor heart had become available and the heart matches with two candidates, namely Mr X and Ms Y. Mr X has been on the transplant waiting list for over a year. Ms Y has just been placed on the list and could be sustained with medication possibly until another heart became available. The answer seems obvious, give the heart to Mr X. a number of the committee members did not agree with this answer. They saw a problem in Mr Xʹs medical record. Mr X is 64 years, he suffered from a heart condition for years and had 2 angioplasties and 2 bypass operations. Doctors warned Mr X to change his lifestyle after each procedure but he claimed that was too hard.

I would not judge life of a patient because everyone has a right to life instead of judging I would help the patient. If I was Mr X I would try to change my lifestyle, seek for help from professionals and change my life to be better. I would reach this way because I deserve to live like everyone else.

To the committee would have considered to give the heart to Mr X only as he is near death and he had been on the list for a long time than Ms Y who just came in. They should look for another heart for Ms Y as the medication can sustain her for quite some time.

2. Part 1.B

2.1

She was admitted in hospital because of severe cramping. An ultrasound showed abnormalities in the brain of her fetus. She is with her husband Mr Ansari and her mother. The physician Dr Fox found out that the fetus is afflicted with severe encephalocele. Dr Fox was in the room with the family to deliver the results of the scan but Mr Ansari notice the deep concerned look in Dr Fox. Mr Ansari noticed that his wife was sick with fear and anxiety, he thought that her wife would prefer him to deal with the situation. He asked if he could speak to the doctor in a separate room, the doctor agreed but he insisted that must happen now. The family were Muslims and it was time to pray for the news but Mr Ansari had to live. Dr Fox showed him the scan and recommended termination of the pregnancy. Mrs Ansari’s mother came in and could see the bad news in their faces, she insisted that Mrs Ansari must not be told until she is mentally fit for the news. Mr Ansari also insisted that Dr Fox not to tell Mrs Ansari, he will tell her wife himself. The doctor said that such choice is not his to make, he went ahead and told Mrs Ansari the scan results. He interpreted their prayer and broke the news. Mrs Ansari could not hold her