Perspectives (Basics 3); Premonition 3. Share your thoughts, questions (etc.) in the comments section below.
1. Chapter 3 begins by asking if our bioethical perspective ("vision") is skewed by _____... (a) cultural assumptions, (b) gender bias, (c) religious faith, (d) all of the above
2. What's the leading global cause of death among women of reproductive age?
3. (T/F) The "feminist critique" says bioethics has been dominated by culturally masculine thinking.
4. What ethical perspective did Nel Noddings (supported by Carol Gilligan's research) describe as the "feminine approach"?
5. What's a furor therapeuticus?
6. Does Campbell consider the outlawing of female genital mutilation culturally insensitive?
7. What's allegedly distinctive about "Asian bioethics"?
8. What western ethical preconception is "somewhat alien" in the eastern dharmic traditions?
9. What gives Buddhists and Hindus a "whole new perspective" on bioethical issues?
10. What does Campbell identify as a "tension in the Christian perspectives" on bioethics?
Premonition
1. What book "more of less" led to the invention of U.S. pandemic planning? Have you read it? Will its lessons again be forgotten before the next pandemic?
2. Who is Richard Hatchett? Do you think many people in health care possess the souls of poets?
3. What did Hatchett not know about "social distance"? Is that the best term for what it purports to describe?
4. What did Carter Mecher "notice" about most medical students? Would you expect a higher percentage of those who choose a medical career to be calm and collected in a health emergency than the general population, or better at learning from their mistakes?
5. What did Mecher think was a good way to reduce medical error?
6. What was the gist of Mecher's Lessons Learned report to the VA?
- How do you think your own attitudes and assumptions about gender, religion, etc. influence your Bioethical perspective?
- What do Plato's Euthyphro and the Biblical story of Abraham & Isaac suggest to you about the place of religion in addressing biotethical issues? (61-2)
- What is Buddhism's bioethical relevance? (69)
- How should medical professionals treat and care for children whose parents object to medical intervention on religious grounds?
- Is it best for caregivers to try and limit their personal knowledge of patients' particular perspectives, beliefs, identities (religious, political, cultural etc.) so as to avoid conscious or unconscious bias in treatment, or does this unduly sacrifice the humane dimension of medical practice?
- Post your DQs
Basics 3:
ReplyDeleteIn developed countries, women have a longer life expectancy than men. What disadvantages do women in under-developed countries face that may outweigh the advantages afforded to women in developed countries, in regards to life expectancy?
What do feminist bioethicists advocate for, primarily?
1. What book "more of less" led to the invention of U.S. pandemic planning? Have you read it? Will its lessons again be forgotten before the next pandemic?
ReplyDeleteThis book was "The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History" by John Barry. I haven't read the entirety of this book, but I have read about the influenza pandemic of 1918 and studied its consequences under a modern lens. I think humans (and government agencies especially) are very likely to forget important lessons learned from tragic losses. Obviously, the US as a whole is still learning about pandemic planning; nowadays I think the focus has shifted to a "pandemic living," where people in power are content to let this disease wreak its havoc instead of continuing to fight against it with full effort.
2. What's the leading global cause of death among women of reproductive age?
ReplyDeleteThe leading cause of death is HIV/AIDS for women of reproductive age. This is especially true in areas of the world where inadequate reproductive health and violence against women are prevalent.
5. What did Mecher think was a good way to reduce medical error?
ReplyDeleteHe suggested reducing the possibility of human error by altering the situation/machines. One line that I thought was particularly interesting was "In medicine there were too many 120-volt plugs
that fit into 240-volt outlets." That is, there was too much room for common human mistakes. The problem is that those mistakes could cost someone their life. By changing the machines/environment (e.g. bar codes connecting meds to patients, setting machine limits on amount of gas/meds that can be given), it takes some of the issues out of human hands.
DG: In Premonition, what do you all think about these government documents that are "plans to make a plan"? Or even "plans to make a plan to make a plan"?
ReplyDeleteWas it better to leave it vague since the specific pandemic-causing agent hadn't been identified? Or do you think that too much energy was spent on making sure it met government formatting and language style as opposed to actual substance? Was it the committees' moral obligation to ensure that it had more practical use and less talking in circles? After all, a plan to make a plan isn't as good as an actual plan.
I think that the government is extremely bureaucratic by design to protect the rights of individuals. This, however, is a bad thing when it comes to pandemics. Since bureaucracy does not lend itself to haste. This then leads to things like "plans to make a plan to make a plan" no US government organization has enough power or immediacy to truly put into effect any plans that it does have, so it is forced to make plans about plans unending.
DeletePremonition 3: What did Hatchett not know about "social distance"? Is that the best term for what it purports to describe?
ReplyDeleteHatchett did not know that it was previously used to describe family relationships. The kinship definition is not the best term for what is purports to describe, as the text continues he explains it is reviving an old thought that isolation and slowing the spread is ideal.
1. Chapter 3 begins by asking if our bioethical perspective ("vision") is skewed by _____... (a) cultural assumptions, (b) gender bias, (c) religious faith, (d) all of the above
ReplyDeleteChapter 1 asks if our bioethical perspective is skewed by all of the above. Our cultural assumptions, religious faith, lack of religious faith, and gender biases all skew how we see and understand the world. These also influence the ethical decisions we make. It is important to be aware of biases and stereotypes so we can make fair and informed decisions.
7. What's allegedly distinctive about "Asian bioethics"?
ReplyDeleteIn the simplest terms, Asian bioethics is based on social harmony and calls for an ordered society. There is an emphasis on the duties of the individual rather than the rights of individuals. The author states that the principle can be summed up as 'familial communitarianism.'
10. What does Campbell identify as a "tension in the Christian perspectives" on bioethics?
ReplyDeleteCampbell notes that Christian perspectives on bioethics may vary because on one hand, it can push for a very open, caring, and flexible attitude to bioethical issues. However, on the other had, it can push for a rigid, legalistic approach. The author states that there will never be just one Christian view of the right thing to do with many issues we encounter.
6. Does Campbell consider the outlawing of female genital mutilation culturally insensitive?
ReplyDeleteCampbell mentions that outlawing the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) might be considered culturally insensitive, but he doesn't take a strong stance either way. FGM is a cultural practice in many countries and is so engraved into some societies that it would be hard to outlaw it altogether, no matter how horrific the practice seems to people outside of that culture.
(8) The concept of some kind of distinctive and separate ethical perspective is an alien idea since they focus more on advocating how to live than on advocating what to believe or ways to know what is right.
ReplyDelete