METHODIST PILLEY INSTITUTE

MPU DEPARTMENT

A coursework completed as part of the requirement for

SUBJECT NAME : MORAL & ETHICS
SUBJECT CODE : MPU 2313
SEMESTER : AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2021
LECTURER/TUTOR : BETTY WONG LEE LING

Assignment Details:
ASSIGNMENT : GROUP ASSIGNMENT 1
DATE OF SUBMISSION :
DUE DATE :
WORD COUNT :

Produced by:
Name Student ID Course Signature
Diploma in Ivy
Ivy Ting Hiong Yee 011114130166
Accounting
Diploma in Jocelyn
Jocelyn Ting Zhao Cen 020620130956
Accounting
Diploma in Ivy Wong
Ivy Wong Qin Ci 020429130616
Accounting
Diploma in Angela
Angela Wong Ann Siew 020716130336
Taxation
Diploma in Ling
Ling Ang Siew 020309130320
Taxation
Table of Content

No Content Page
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1 Case study 1 3-7
2 Case study 2- Question 1 8
3 Case study 2- Question 2 8-9
4 Case study 2- Question 3 10
Case study 1

Introduction
This article is about facing the patient, the doctor should truthfully tell the patient about
the condition or follow the patient’s family member’s opinion tightly.
1. Gather the facts

As mentioned in the article, when the sixty-seven-year-old Hispanic woman

knows that something is wrong with her, she appears anxious and fearful. After being
admitted to the hospital, the doctor informed her son of all her physical problems
because she did not understand any English. The son was worried that his mother
would give up treatment, so he chose to conceal his mother’s true condition. He just
said that his mother had a minor illness, and she would recover after some treatment.
He told his mother that during the treatment, it will cause her to become sick to her
stomach and lose some of her hair.

2. Determine the ethical issues

The ethical issue that appears in this article is whether to or not to tell patients
their true physical condition. This patient has anxiety and fear about the unknown
recovery. The patient’s son was worried that his mother would give up on her own
after knowing the true condition, which would affect the treatment. Thus, he chose to
conceal his mother’s true condition and told his mother that she just contracted a
minor illness. The son thinks that taking care of his mother is his responsibility, he
does not want his mother to give up on herself.

3. Determine what virtues/principles have a bearing on the case

 Compliance
 Doctor should follow the choices of the patients and their family members
 Keep your word
If the doctor agree to the patient’s son and choose not to tell the patient the
true condition, he or she should be tight-lipped
 Caring
The son cares about his mother very much, and the son hopes that his mother
can survive. The family stayed with the patient when she was admitted to the
hospital.
 Responsibility
The son is were responsible, he has taken on the responsibility of taking care
of his mother. When his mother was sick and hospitalized, he also
accompanied her.
 Sensible
The son still thinks very sensibly when his mother was sick. He thinks that his
mother might give up treatment because she can’t accept the fact. So he
choose to conceal the mother’s true condition.

4. List the alternatives

The first alternative is to override the family’s wishes and inform the patient of her
condition and seriousness of the treatment. This alternative will likely meet with strong
objections from her son because he will likely take it as a significant offense.

Besides, the second alternative is to agree to the patient’s son and choose not to tell the
patient the true condition. The physicians and nurses should be tight-lipped and withhold the
information from the patient. The son would remain as her translator.

The third alternative is asking directly to the patient if she wants to know her health
condition. You could bring an another translator and patient in a room, ask her if she wants to
know the details of her condition. If the patient refused to know, then you should choose not
to tell the patient. If the patient wants to know, you should tell the patient the truth.

5. Compare the alternative with the virtues/principles

 The more alternative satisfies the values of patient autonomy is by giving decision
back to the patient herself. Since the disease and treatment are both fairly serious and it is
hard to sure that the family’s fear of “giving up” is rational, the best choice which tilt the
balance of patient autonomy is by giving decision back to the patient herself.

6. Consider the consequences

If the option of disclosing the information directly is taken, the following are some of the
likely consequences:
 The family would feel angry with the physician because their cultural values
have been violated.
 The family may take the patient to another medical center
 The patient may give up treatment

If the option of continued withholding of information is taken, the following are some of
the likely consequences:
 The family will be satisfied because their cultural values respected
 The patient will continue to be fearful and anxious about her treatment
 The patient will no seriously take the treatment because she thought it is just an
innocuous disease
 The patient will feel doubtful and point out some questions
 The patient will feel not being respected because she cannot make decision by herself

If the option of directly asking the patient if she wants to know her situation is taken, the
following are some of the likely consequences:
 The family would feel guilty because they try to cheat their mother
 The patient will have an opportunity to speak for herself. If she wishes to know
her health condition, the physician should tell her the truth. If she wishes to let her
son to make decision, the wish of her family will be followed.
 The patient will feel being respected as her voices have been listened.

7. Make a decision
 The most suitable alternative is asking the patient if she wants to know the details. If
she wishes to, the physician should tell her the truth. If she wishes to let her son to make
decision, the wish of her family will be followed. This alternative satisfies most of the
virtues and values and produce the best balance of consequences.

Conclusion
This case study makes us to choose either respecting the family’s choice or respecting
the patient autonomy. If we choose to follow the family’s choice by withholding the
information from the patient, it is not fair to the patient. If we choose to disclose the
information directly to the patient, the family might feel not being respected. Here it
seems that the alternative that involves giving decision back to the patient herself is the
best choice which tilt the balance between patient autonomy and family cultural.

Reference
Scott Rae (August 5, 2009) Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com.my/books/about/Moral_Choices.html?
id=5llPjOOggrgC&redir_esc=y
 Appendix 2 – Case Study 1 Group Assignment Grading Rubrics
ASSESSME ABOVE Max.
LOW FAIR EXCELLENT
NT Weight 0 AVERAGE mark
CRITERIA (0-5) (6-10) (11-15) (16-20) s
The introduction is
The introduction is very good and
No The introduction
Introduction is good. The intention interesting. The
1 Introduction 0.5 introduction is relatively clear
not relevant. of discussion is intention of discussion
is given. and suitable.
clearly explained. is comprehensively
explained.
Discussion
Discussion of the
on the topic
No Discussion on the topic is very clear
given Discussion the
discussion Discussion on the topic is reasonably with various
2 3 topic is
on the topic topic is brief. good with limited perspectives and
insignificant.
given. perspective. answers the question
accurately.

Simple summary,
Comprehensive
Poor summary, with explanations Good summary,
No summary, with
Conclusion with explanations that slightly with explanations
3 0.5 summary of explanations that are
of the paper that are not related to the that are related to
the paper. related to the topic.
related. topic. the topic.

Writing is
Writing is generally
unreasonably
Writing is clear, but Writing is clear, and
long and difficult
The writing unreasonably unnecessary words succinct. The use of
The clarity to understand
is poor and long. Misspelled are occasionally pronouns, modifiers,
4 of writing 0.5 with misspelled
difficult to for a few words, used. parallel construction,
presentation words and
understand. and incorrect and appropriate
incorrect
grammar. language.
grammar.

Proper
report
format
Some formats are All formats are
(Cover Page, Does not Some formats are Most formats are
available but not available and all are
Table of follow the available but only available and most
5 0.5 correct. correct.
Content, format at a few are correct. are correct.
page all.
numbering,
&
references)
*Total marks will be converted to 15% / 20
Case Study 2- Question 1
Based on my opinion, I will advise her to keep the baby when she decides to end her
pregnancy. The reason that I do not advise her to abortion because it will bring her permanent
damage especially in her physical health and emotional. In terms of health, abortion is the
main culprit for women’s infertility, and it is difficult for women to regain their fertility
regardless of Chinese or Western medicine. Not only that, abortion will also be tumors on the
uterus or appendages, death, abortion and preterm birth for future pregnancies, and other
serious consequences.
Natural hormonal changes that occur in body are affected by an abortion. These hormonal
changes can make her feel more emotional than usual such as insomnia, sadness, anxiety,
irritability and poor concentration. According to research by the Finnish Government’s
National Finance and Health Development Research Center in 1977, the rate of depression in
women who had abortion is three times that of women who had not abortion. The suicide rate
is five times that of women who without abortion. The chance of accidental death such as car
accident, death, and so forth is also three times that of women who without abortion.
In conclusion, I will not advise her to end her pregnancy because it will bring a lot of
damage for herself. We also have no right to take the baby’s life because babies have the
right to live in this world.

Question 2
Based my opinion, I do not agree that ending a pregnancy resulting from a sexual assault is
an exception to the pro-life view. This is because the main meaning of pro-life is to oppose
abortion. Although the term “pro-life” originated from the abortions of the 1970s, pro-life
movement has grown into a prosperous group in today’s society, including those with
valuable mentality of all human life to solve political issues. Whether it is a premature baby,
a newborn, an elderly, or a person with disability and special needs, everyone’s life is very
important. At its core, pro-life movement is about the value of everyone. Moreover, although
pro-life is accused of being conservative and religious dogma is discredited by a diverse
population. But the movement is not limited to feminists and atheists.
 More than that, the accurate definitions of the pro-life is believe that all human beings are
equal, regardless of size, level of development, education and dependence can be equal
treatment. So in the pro-life view, taking the life of an unborn child is a violation of basic life.
Pro-life is a synonym for anti-abortion. This is because the pro-life movement seeks to
elevate and value all life. But even so, there is a lot of negative information out there about
not sympathy and not caring for women who are pregnant. In fact, many people don’t know
that there are more than 2,500 PRCSs in the United States (pregnancy resource center). Most
of these centers provide high quality and non-commented services. Some PRCs even offers
free pregnancy testing and ultrasonic examination. In addition, there is a most serious
misunderstanding that a woman who wants to have an abortion actually does not want to
have her own child. This is because many women who decide to have an abortion feel they
have no other choice. For this reason, the pro-life community has also created several
compassion-based networks to help post-abortion mothers who have sadly lost their unborn
children.

In the conclusion, I don’t think even ending a pregnancy for sexual assault reasons is a pro-
life argument, but it’s a pro-choice argument. This is because pro-choice is to support the
choice abortion of women who have difficulty in the situation. For example, pregnant women
pregnant due to rape or incest, or must be a mother who will make choices between life or
children. Even so, the pro-life vs. Pro-choice debate can be a daunting one. It seems that
wherever one stands, something of value is lost. Therefore, we strongly encourage readers to
do their research before voting “yes” in any direction. After all, millions of lives are affected
by this problem. Based on my thinking, we can consider watching ultrasounds,
documentaries, and interviews with former abortion experts before deciding whether what is
being fought for is worth what is lost in the process. This can also be in order to avoid
permanent regret.
Question 3
In my opinion, if she has come to me very shortly, I will suggest her to eat the birth
control pill. Because this is one of the method that can protect her. Besides that, I also will
encourage her tell the situation to her parents because adults are more mature and wise than
us.
If she comes to you a week after the situation from my advice, I will suggest she did
not eat the birth control pill. The reason that I do not encourage her to eat birth control pills is
it will damage her good health. As a result, many girls will experience nausea, headaches,
and even short-term vaginal bleeding and irregular menstruation after taking the birth control
pills. They will have this side effect because the main components of the birth control pill are
progesterone and a small amount of estrogen. After eating pills, the hormone levels in the
body will make changes. Eating the birth control pill also has an impact on the uterus. It may
increase the prevalence of the uterine fibroid and may inhibit the endometrium. Over time,
the menstruation will become a less, and even early menopause may occur.
Besides that, I will encourage her go to hospital to ask and see a professional doctor.
She also can do a medical check-up for her body. Of course, I will go with her so she not
afraid. I also will suggest her bring an adult with us because adult are more mature that
compare with us.
In the conclusion, I will not encourage her to eat the birth control pill because it will
have a lot of the problems. But I can only give her my opinion because I cannot force her and
have no identity to prevent her, the decision is based on her.
References:
Buddhism Common Sense (2021, April 02). What are the disadvantages of abortion? The
dangers of abortion. Retrieved from
https://m.liaotuo.com/foxue/changshi/198662.html

Kirstie Piper (2020, October 20). Pro-life and Pro-choice : What does it mean? Retrieved
from
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/pro-life-pro-choice/

Sun Hui (2020, September). The dangers of birth control pill. Retrieved from
http://www.xinhuanet.com/health/2020-09/28/c_1126551206.htm