Prompt #1: Dr. Moreland and Ethical Theories
“Dr. Moreland is a heart surgeon who does 100 or so cardiac bypass surgeries a year… But he knows that he can do better than the typical surgeon without the extra minutes, so he sometimes works at a quicker pace in order to have more free time. He argues that his care meets all appropriate local and national standards of care.” (P 155 for the full case)
Is it morally proper for Dr. Moreland to perform in a way he knows that is below his full capacity? Is he right about his care meeting all appropriate standards at the national and local level? In explaining your answer, you should utilize at least one of the meta-ethical theories we have looked at (utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, etc.). You should also evaluate and analyze different standards of care, with close attention to how they apply in Dr. Moreland’s case.
