Ethical theories serve as a significant foundation for understanding moral dilemmas that linger throughout society. Nevertheless, ethical dilemmas in the real world can become highly complex, causing the different ethical theories to disperse in interpretation. The complexity of these dilemmas is precisely exhibited in the medical world- a world that showcases the immense “grey” area of morality and ethics. In essence, the following case studies illustrate how these theories can be manipulated to either justify or condemn moral dilemmas that arise in the medical world.

Case Study #1: “But, Doctor, Our Daughter Didn’t Want This!” In the state of Kansas, a married couple, Janet and Jack, experienced the merciless and brutal facet of life. The married couple was expecting a child and one day as they were driving home from an ob-gyn appointment, a distracted elderly driver ran a red light and crashed into their car. The accident resulted in the death …show more content…
In this case study, a primary care physician named Dr. Contadina must make a decision between doing the right thing and doing what’s best for her professional career. One day, Dr. Contadina observes a patient complaining of ankle pain in his right leg. The patient is a farmer and explained how the pain resulted from a fall he took while taking care of his chickens. Hi injuries included cuts and bruises on both legs and a swollen right ankle. Since the injuries appeared to be harmless, Dr. Contadina instructs him to get an air cast, ibuprofen, and rest. Three days later, the patient goes to the emergency room with a fever, low blood pressure, extreme shaking, and an irregular heartbeat. The nurses then notice that the patient’s leg (opposite of the leg with the swollen ankle) has a cut that has become infected. The patient’s condition aggravated and he dies from complete organ