Medical Ethics Question. Who Would You Save?
Long scenario but im curious in serious answers and solid ethical reasoning.
Your team is in charge of a trauma center and have just received 7 emergency patients. Your goal is to relieve their pain until they can be moved into the operating theatre. In addition, there are numerous other patients and injuries on the way. There was a serious accident and as many as 25 people have been hurt.
Patient M is the CEO for Microsoft and insists that he be given pain relief immediately. He is belligerent and threatens everyone with termination or loss of Hospital funding if he is not moved up on the priority list for the operating theatre. He has broken ribs and a bloody nose. He is complaining about the pain in his chest and he states that the pain is severe and radiating. He is 55 years old.
Patient N is one of your relatives (Mother-in-law) has a serious but not life threatening gash on her skull. She is 75 years old, is bleeding profusely. She will require stitches and cosmetic surgery but has no skull fracture. She is terribly obese and complains that she cannot move because the pain is so intense.
Patient O is one of your oldest friends, who you grew-up with and you have known since the fifth grade. This person is 25 years old and has a set of serious injuries (a broken elbow, jaw, and arm) but none are life threatening. This person is also complaining about pain. They are in good physical shape.
Patient P is the pastor from your church and has a broken leg in three places. He too is complaining about the pain and is conscious. The pastor is 45 years old. The bone is protruding from through the skin. This person is moderately overweight.
Patient Q is your instructor at Cal Poly and has a almost severed leg and is in pain. The injury is life threatening and requires a great deal of surgical intervention. This person is delirious and is 62 years old. This person is overweight.
Patient R is a stranger but is a recognizable movie star and has a broken neck. This person is in great pain but has no idea where the pain is generating from and/or what is its cause. This person is 50 years old and in good physical shape.
Patient S is a child that has been brought to your facility by the authorities. He has a broken arm and says that his father grabbed him and broke his arm.
You have only 1 morphine shot available, plenty of aspirin, and antibiotics. More morphine is on the way but it will not be there for at least two hours.
What criteria would you use to distribute the pain medication?
Who would you select for the pain shot? Why?
Posted Jul 10, 2012, 4:49 AM UTC