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Critical Thinking & Application Paper

Murray, Fabre` L.

Studies in Applied Ethics PHI1600

Professor Smiley

March 19, 2011

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a  a
entification
Phe central ethical issue of this critical thinking and application paper is ³What should Dr. Jacob do about

Mark Apollo?´ While this is the central and core ethical issue, more ethical issues can be found through out this

case study. One such ethical issue stems form one simple statement in the case study, ³New clients, higher fees,

and increased prestige have placed OSMA«.´ Phe ethical issue of ³Should OSMA charge higher fees to new

clients, just because they have become more reputable?´ Another ethical issue stems from how OSMA won the

bid to become the official medical providers for the Lumberjacks. Instead of gaining the bid by the skills they

possess, experience, and track record that the physicians collectively possess, the Lumberjacks awarded OSMA

the bid because they donated $150,000 worth of equipment and treatment at a reduced rate. Phis brings up the

ethical issue of ³Should OSMA have been awarded the bid for the official medical providers of the

Lumberjacks, simply because of what they donated and offered?´One final ethical issue I could find had to do

with how instead of focusing on Mark Apollo¶s full recovery and well being, the Owner, General Manager,

Head Coach, and Mark himself were only concerned about having home field advantage during the play-offs.

Phey instead of following Dr. Jacob recommendations for treatment and prognosis that warranted surgery and

physical therapy to prevent any further injury, they prefer to just give Mark Apollo injections that will only

mask the symptoms of his injury. Phis brings arise to the ethical issue of ³Should the health, safety and over all

well being of an athlete be sacrificed for the sake of a team and/or community?´ Also the ethical issue of

³Should an athlete be given injections/drugs that will only elevate the symptoms of an injury just so an athlete

can continue to play during the games?´ Phese are just a few ethical issues that I have been able to Identify, but

there could possibly be many more hidden in this compelling case study.
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aa esearch

M Jow to ecover from a Sport anjury Naturally

In this article I found some ways that one could use to recover naturally from sport injury. Although

injuries are dreaded to athletes, they still happen very frequently due to weariness, bad eating habits, poor

form, or constant repeating of exercises. (How to Recover) Most injuries are the result of over-use. (4) Rest

is one way to help naturally heal an injury, by cutting back on running mileage, or not running at all, not

putting weight on your injured area.(6) Icing the injured area with anything cold and that will conform to the

body part, also naturally helps reduce inflammation and pain.(7) Compression with a latex or non latex Ace

bandage will help reduce blood flow to the injured area helping to slowly reduce swelling.(8) Lastly,

Elevation above the heart will help inhibit over flow of blood to the injured area, helping blood flow

naturally and normally.(9) In the article, whether with surgery or medication, the only true way that Apollo

would be able to fully heal would be to take the natural rout. All these things plus time is the only way to

truly and fully heal his injury.

Link: g
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M Treating Sports anjuries with Drugs

Phis article helps point out how one can treat sport injuries with the help of drugs. While many minor

sport injuries can be self-treated, some more prominent injuries may require the help of over the counter

drugs. (A Harvard) One might use Acetaminophen (Pylenol), which helps reduce pain but not

inflammation or one might want to switch to NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) to help

fight inflammation and pain. One can also choose topical anti-inflammatory instead of oral anti-

inflammatory. (23) Overall, liniments are not cure-alls. Phey reduce pain, but they do not heal tissue. (26)

Phis article directly relates to Dr. Jacob¶s ethical issue, because it shows you how the use of drugs can

mask and hide the symptoms caused by the injury, but definitively cannot heal the injury itself.
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 Link: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=11&sid=9aa41164-5dff-447b-aeed-

c1ccb0b2ab51%40sessionmgr111&vid=50&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db

=a9h&AN=48637836

M Si
e Effects to Non-Treate
Sport anjuries

Phis final article helps inform you of some of the side effects to serious sport ligament injuries if left

untreated. Knee ligament injuries, such as ACL injuries, may act up months or years down the line. Phey

could cause one¶s knee to give out when one twists or pivots. (Moore) It also informs me that certain

ligaments, such as the ACL and PCL, cannot be repaired. Once they are completely torn or stretched

beyond their limit that¶s it. (18) If one chooses not to opt for reconstructive surgery, and can live with pain,

they will have to except the risk of some permanent weakness and instability in their leg, or other area of

the body. (19) Apollo is taking a major risk by not opting for the surgery and healing time off. While he

may be able to enjoy one more game, the risk he is taking could possibly permanently damage his injured

area to the point he may end his football career abruptly, as well as forever suffer with the inflictions.

Link: g
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Keep Apollo out of the
Options
Play-offs to prevent
Stakehol
ers
further injury
Prevents further injury to his
Dr Jacob patient; could loose his job or
prestige within the community
No further or permanent
ark Apollo
damage; play-offs could be lost
Loss of home field advantage;
Lumberjacks possible loss of championship
May loose next bid for the
team¶s official medical
OSA providers; potential loss of
profits and new clients
Loss of potential profits from
City of Athens having home games
Loss of potential profits from
All Ven
ors having home games
Loss of potential profits; lose
Team Owner an
of home field advantage;
General anager
possible loss of championship
Loss of star QB temporarily
Jea
Coach during current playoffs;
possible loss of championship
More playing time; could lose
Tommy Lee (Backup the playoffs and championship
Quarterback)
for the lumber jacks
aaa Analysis
Agree to injections so
that Apollo my play

uring the Play-offs
Keeps job & prestige within the
community; may cause his
patient more harm by allowing
him to play during Playoffs
Could cause further and
permanent damage that could
effect the rest of his life
Could lose Star QB
permanently; possible home
field advantage &
championship victory
Keeps bid for official medical
providers; maintain prestige in
community; still gain new
clients and increase profits
Increased profits from having
home games; possible
championship win which
increases city¶s notoriety
Increased profits from having
home games
Increased profits from having
home games; possible
championship win
May lose star QB permanently;
may gain home field advantage
& championship win
Losses playing time; less
pressure placed on him
Suggest a more rigorous
practice routine for the
backup QB to improve
his skills for Play-offs
Could prevent further injury to
his patient
Prevents further and permanent
damage; lose of playing during
the playoffs and championship
Gain of home field advantage
and possible championship win
Keeps contract; maintains
prestige and increased profits
May gain home field advantage
which could increase profits
May gain home field advantage
which could increase profits
May gain home field advantage
which could increase profits
Prevents further injury to
Apollo; improves skill of
another player; possible
championship win
Improved skills; more playing
time; possible gain of home
field advantage and
championship win
Jan
Apollo¶s case over
to another team
physician
Relieves him of responsibility
but puts another physician in
the ³hot seat´
New physician that may or may
not play in the playoffs
Still faced with either loosing
their star QB, temporarily or
permanently depending on the
new physician¶s decision
Faced with the same dilemmas
just with a new physician
Faced with the same dilemmas
just with a new physician
Faced with the same dilemmas
just with a new physician
Faced with the same dilemmas
just with a new physician
Faced with the same dilemmas
just with a new physician
Faced with the same dilemmas
just with a new physician
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aV Application
Part 1a
I chose to apply Act Utilitarianism to the central ethical issue of ³What should Dr. Jacob do

about Mark Apollo?´ Act Utilitarianism is a consequential ethical theory that was thought up by

Jeremy Bentham during the 1800¶s A.D. It is a theory that focuses on the main principle of producing

the greatest possible good for the greatest number of people. Phis is done by finding the net utility, the

sum or total of the happiness and unhappiness caused by a specific action. (Goree Ch.5) In order to

apply Act Utilitarianism you have to follow five steps. Phose steps are:

M Identify the ethical problem ant the decision that has to be made

M Consider all possible optional actions

M Consider all people effected by these optional responses

M Determine the net utility of each person

M Phen finally choose and follow the option that produces the highest net utility

(Goree Ch.5)

In the next portion of this section I will put these steps to use and show how Act Utilitarianism is

applied.
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Part 1b Act Utilitarianism Chart

Suggest a more rigorous
Options Keep Apollo out of the Agree to injections so Jan
Apollo¶s case over
practice routine for the
Play-offs to prevent that Apollo my play to another team
backup QB to improve
further injury
uring the Play-offs physician
Stakehol
ers his skills for Play-offs
Dr Jacob 3*1= -5*1= 8*1= 10*1=
(1) 3 -5 8 10
ark Apollo -9*1= 9*1= -8*1= 3*1=
(1) -9 9 -8 3
Lumberjacks -6*50= 10*50= 2*50= -5*50=
(50) -300 500 100 -250
OSA -8*10= 8*10= 3*10= -8*10=
(10) -80 80 30 -80
Jea
Coach -10*1= 7*1= -3*1= -1*1=
(1) -10 7 -3 -1
Team Owner an
-10*2= 8*2= -2*2= -3*2=
General anager
-20 16 -4 -6
(2)
City of Athens -7*50,000= 10*50,000= 2*50,000= 0*50,000=
(50,000) -350,000 500,000 100,000 0
All Ven
ors -8*200= 10*200= 2*200= 0*200=
(200) -1,600 2,000 400 0
Tommy Lee (Backup -6*1= 5*1= 4*1= 0*1=
Quarterback)
-6 5 4 0
(1)
Totals -352,022 * 502,612 100,527 -319
(greatest possible goo
)

Unhappiness Jappiness

-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Part 2a

I¶ve chosen to apply the non-consequential theory Natural Law to Dr. Jacob¶s ethical issue. Natural Law

was the product of the philosopher Phomas Aquinas during the 1200s A.D. Natural Law looks to natural

features and characteristics of humans as the basis for ethical reasoning. Phese features or characteristics are

ones that we are born with, ones that are natural to the human nature. (Goree Ch.6) Natural Law believes that

there are natural human inclinations that are inherently morally good, providing that they are reasonably

pursued, and that if these if these inclinations are values shared by all humans then they must be apart of our

basic human nature. Phis idea of natural inclinations are referred to as $% &!'().

(pg.168) Phese Universal Human Goods (Values) are:

M Human life

M Health

M Procreation

M Welfare of Children

M Knowledge

M Human Relationships and the consideration of other people¶s interests

(Goree Ch.6)

Pherefore actions that promote these shared universal values are ethically ³good´, because they help fulfill our

human nature and purpose. On the other hand if an action violates or interferes with a universal value it

becomes ethically ³wrong´, because it interferes with the fulfillment of our human nature and purpose. (pg.169)

Now that you have a clear understanding as to what Natural Law is, I will apply it to Dr. Jacob¶s ethical issue in

the next portion of this section.

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Part 2b

Step 1: Consi
er all possible optional actions

Option A: Keep Apollo out of the Play-offs to prevent further injury.

Option B: Agree to injections so that Apollo my play during the Play-offs.

Option C: Suggest a more rigorous practice routine for the backup QB to improve his skills for Play-offs.

Option D: Hand Apollo¶s case over to another team physician.

Step 2: Evaluate each option to see if it violates or interferes with any of the Universal Juman Goo
s

Option A: Phe values of health and knowledge play a role in this option. Phe value of health is promoted

because Dr, Jacob wants to heal Apollo¶s injury correctly and prevent ant further or permanent

damage. Knowledge is promoted because Mark Apollo is made aware of the extent of is injury

and what treatment is needed in order for him to resume normal activity.

Option B: Phe values of health and knowledge once again come into play. Phe value of health is violated

because it puts Apollo at risk of causing further and possible permanent damage. Knowledge is

promoted because once again Apollo is made aware of what could happen if he continues to

play on his untreated injury, and what exactly the injections will do for him.

Option C: Phe value of Human relationships and the consideration of other people¶s interests apply to Dr.

Jacob¶s ethical issue in this option. Phis Value is violated because it may possibly interfere

with Pommy Lee¶s relationship with Mark Apollo, his other team members, and the City of
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Athens. Phis option interferes with the consideration of the other stakeholders¶ interests of

gaining home field advantage and possibly bringing the championship to Athens.

Option D: Phe values of knowledge and human relationships come into play in this option. Knowledge is

violated because the new physician may not know the complete extent of Apollo¶s injury like

Dr. Jacob may. So because of this the new physician may not be able to make sound logical

decision. Phe value of human relationships is violated because this option interferes with the

relationship between Dr. Jacob and his colleagues, precisely the physician he hands Apollo¶s

case over to.

Step 3: Eliminate all actions that clearly violate one or more Universal Juman Goo
s

Options B, C, D clearly violate one or more of the Universal Human Goods so ther are all morally and

ethically wrong according to Natural Law.

Step 4: Any options remaining are morally permissible

Option A is morally permissible because it does not violate any Universal Human Good. Pherefore

according to Natural Law Dr. Jacob should keep Mark Apollo out of the games to prevent further injury.
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V  Decision aking

I¶ve come to the conclusion that Dr. Jacob should keep Apollo out of the games in order to reduce the

chance of further and possible injury. My research has shown me how even though medications can alleviate

the symptoms of an injury, only Dr. Jacob¶s recommendations will help him heal correctly and more quickly

with out further damage. According to the theory Natural Law the ethical and morally correct option would also

be to keep Apollo out of the games. Phis option, doesn¶t violate, but instead promotes some of the Universal

Human Goods (or Values). Although according to Act Utilitarianism this is the worst possible option because it

fails do the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. Phis is because it is only for the

immediate present time, the period of the playoffs and the championship, not the length of Apollo¶s career. Also

the welfare of Mark Apollo was lost in the overall good of the group. So even though just giving Mark Apollo

the injections may benefit the other stakeholders, it would prove detrimental to Apollo. And as Apollo¶s

physician Dr. Jacob is obligated to do what¶s in the best interests of his patient, not the other stakeholders¶. So

according to my research and Natural Law the more sound, reasonable, and ethical option would be the one that

I chose.

Va Evaluation

Argument 1: Phe first possible argument against the resolution I chose is that it doesn¶t do the greatest

amount of good for the greatest amount of people. While this is true, it only proves to be true for the

immediate situation at hand. If Dr. Jacob were to give Mark Apollo the injections and allow him to continue

to play during the playoffs, there would be a strong negative effect on Apollo in the long run. It increases

the chance of Apollo further and possibly permanently damaging in injury. Who is to say that Apollo will

even make it though the play offs and actually to the championship, he may further damage is injury in the

first game he tries to play in. Phat¶s a huge risk to ask an athlete to take. Paking the risk of receiving

injections and playing on a injury could not only lessen the chance of the Lumberjacks chance of a
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championship win now, it could also possibly prevent them from even making the playoffs with Apollo as

their quarterback in sub sequential seasons.

Argument 2: Phe second possible argument against the option I chose is ³Who¶s to say that the

recommendations for treatment, the prognosis for surgery and intense physical therapy that Dr. Jacob will

actually work for or improve Apollo¶s injury?´ According to the case study Dr. Jacob provided MRI reports,

X-rays, and addition evidence in order to make a decision on how to heal Apollo¶s injury. According to my

research, Dr. Jacob¶s recommendations are the best course or action for Apollo. Although there are no

definites in any medical procedures and there is always a slight risk that a procedure may fail, there is a

greater risk of further or worse permanently damaging his injury if he does receive any form treatment. Plus

according to my research the faster an injury is treated and the less strain put on it, the greater chance of the

injury healing quickly and correctly. Phis rings true for all athletes including Apollo.

Argument 3: Phe last argument against the resolution I chose is ³Who is to say that Apollo may further and

or permanently injure himself if he receives the injections?´ Phis is something that no one can know for

certain, but one truth that was shown in my research is that the only thing that the injections would do is

³mask´ the symptoms of Apollo¶s injury. Phis is the exact same thing that Dr. Jacob let Apollo know in the

case study. Phis means that the injury is still present. So when Apollo is playing during the playoffs, he is

placing a much greater strain on his still present injury. Phis is doing the exact opposite of what is needed in

order for an injury to heal. So even though he may not feel the injury, he is increasing the chance of further

and possibly causing permanently damage to his injury with every step that he takes.
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Vaa efection

Phis assignment proved to be a great challenge to me. Phis was mainly because I procrastinated slightly, but

also because it challenged my thought process. Returning from spring break and trying to jump right back into

school was little more difficult then expected. Between work, a child, other family and friends, and additional

school work, I always had an excuse as to why I couldn¶t start this paper yet. Plus to make matters worse I

thought I understood all the theories and how to apply them, which proved to be false once I started this

assignment. I found myself having to do further research to grasp and clarify my understanding of them in order

to better apply them to the ethical dilemma of this paper. I learned a few things from the research I performed

and it helped me to better make a sound, logical and informed decision, which I seldom make. I was able to put

myself in the stakeholders¶ shoes and speculate as to how they might feel because of a decision that was made.

I stick by my original decision, because I feel that Dr. Jacob, as a physician, has the duty to his patient Mark

Apollo, not to all the other stakeholders. Due to this Dr. Jacob is responsible for Apollo¶s overall health and

safety. So really would you want a physician who holds your career in his hands to base a decision off of any

and everything other then your over all wellbeing? I know that I wouldn¶t.
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0orks Cite

"A Harvard Health Guide to Preating Sports Injuries." ü*+, - 28.1 (2010): 16-19. .! 
/g0
 . EBSCO. Web. 16 Mar. 2011.

Goree, Keith, Nicholas Manias, and Jane E. Pill. ³ Chapter 5 Consequential Ethical Pheories.´ 1 g.

!
6th Ed. Pearson Custom Publishing. Print

Goree, Keith, Nicholas Manias, and Jane E. Pill. ³ Chapter 6 Non-Consequential Ethical Pheories.´ 1 g
.

! 6th Ed. Pearson Custom Publishing. Print

³How to Recover From a Sports Injury2g . Web. 16 Mar. 2011.

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Moore, Dr. David R. ³Sports Injuries.´ g  Sept. 20th 2010. Web. 16 Mar. 2011.
http://www.newschannel5.com/story/13186322/sports-injuries-september-20-2010-dr?redirected=true