Applied Ethics.
Background:
- Several thousand people worldwide suffer from an extremely rare psychiatric illness called body integrity identity disorder (BIID).
- The afflicted have an obsessive desire to be rid of a normal healthy limb, which they view as an alien appendage.
- BIID can be distressing and deadly, especially when patients decide to take matters into their own hands i.e. saw the offensive limb off, freeze it to death, or even conveniently place it in the way of an oncoming train.
Dilemma: Should surgeons grant BIID patients their wishes?
Yes
- To prevent BIID patients from injuring or killing themselves.
- Medical ethicists Tim Bayne of the University of Oxford
and Neil Levy of the University of Melbourne in Australia
No
- Amputation of healthy limbs violates the Hippocratic Oath (which instructs doctors to do no harm).
- BIID patients must be protected from their own desires for amputation, which are as delusional as the desires of anorexics for weight loss.
- Amputation is permanent while the desire for it may not be.
- Significant costs to society could be incurred if BIID amputees claim the right to medical rehabilitation and early retirement.
- Arthur Caplan, director of the Centre for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania
Thanks to: Mueller, S. (2007). “Amputee Envy”. Scientific American Mind 18:6. New York: Scientific American.
Finding the theory in reality: What metaethical theories do the respective stands represent?
Disclaimer: The above arguments are put forth solely by the respective persons to whom these arguments are attributed. By posting the above views, T-lymphocyte is by no means endorsing or criticising either stand. Please use at your own discretion.
One night I woke and found a leg
I thought it was a corpse
But when I threw it out of bed
I landed on the floor!
