HU-223 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

ASSIGNMENT-1

ETHICAL DILEMMA

SUBMITTED TO: DR. EHSAN UL HASSAN

SUBMITTED BY:

RIMSHA MIRZA
CMS ID: 285718
BESE-10A
 THE LIFEBOAT DILEMMA
In the given scenario, a ship is sinking and only one life boat is left. The lifeboat can
accommodate only 6 people while there are 10 people present on the ship. The passengers on the
ship whom I would save are;

a. Six weeks pregnant woman.

b. Lifeguard.
c. Thirteen-year-old twins.
d. Veteran Surgeon.
e. Captain of the ship.

EXPLANATION:

The people on the lifeboat must be certainly saved, for this reason the lifeguard, captain of the
ship and veteran surgeon should be saved. By choosing the pregnant woman, seven human lives
are saved instead of six. They are prioritized not only for the people present on the lifeboat,
rather they will be beneficial for the society as well in near future.

 The captain of the ship has information about the sea and, can determine the safest and
nearest route to the shore. Hence, his presence is vital for the passengers to reach the
shore safe and sound.
 In case of any life-threatening situation on lifeboat, the lifeguard can save the lives of
people as this is his job and he must have had adequate training for this.
 The pregnant woman has two human lives at stake, herself and her child. It is morally
and ethically right to inflict the least loss of human-life.
 The twin children should be saved as they are young and have their whole lives ahead of
them. Children are always prioritized in a crucial and critical situation as they are the
future of the nation.
 The surgeon should be saved as there are passengers present on the lifeboat, he can help
in case of any emergency. The veteran surgeon is an asset to the society. Hence, he is
valuable not only for this lifeboat but for the society as well as he will play his role in
providing better health care facilities.
The remaining individuals are not saved because they are not as productive for the society as the
others.

 The senior citizen is not saved because according to the information given, he is a
grandparent that gives an idea that he has lived his life and achieved his goals.
Prioritizing a few years of life of a senior citizen to many years of life of a young person
would be unethical as the senior citizen has played his role in the society.
 The prominent professor plays a pivotal role in the society but as this is a crucial
situation and his skills are of no use on the lifeboat. Hence, he is not saved.
 The young couple is not saved because they have accomplished a few milestones of
their lives. Although, they still have a life to live and can prove to be responsible citizens
of the society but they would not be helpful on the lifeboat.

CONCLUSION:

In this scenario, the passengers are saved on the basis of morality and utilitarianism. The captain
of the ship, lifeguard and veteran surgeon are saved because they will be beneficial on the
lifeboat as well as for the society. While, the pregnant lady and twin children are saved by
applying principles of both morality and utilitarianism.