Exploring the Ethical Dimensions in “Extraordinary Measures”

by | May 20, 2024 | ethics

Ethical Analysis Essay:
Analyze a film’s ethical dimensions that include its characters and the story.
First, select a film of available works.
Films for Ethical Analysis Essay:

Extraordinary Measures (2010) (PG) - John Crowley is a man on the corporate fast-track, with a beautiful wife and three children. Just as his career is taking off, he learns that his two youngest kids have a fatal disease. John leaves his job and devotes himself to saving their lives. He joins forces with Dr. Robert Stonehill, a brilliant but eccentric scientist. Together they battle the medical and corporate establishment, racing against time for a cure.

Next, view the film and then write a planning document using the following subheadings:
1) Introduction
2) Ethical Analysis.
The planning document should be a minimum of 250 words in length (excluding title and references pages).

Introduction (Film Synopsis) – Recommended one paragraph

Brief film synopsis in your own words that includes the medical ethical dilemma present in the film and what happens in the film, including the ending.

Ethical Analysis – Recommended one to two paragraphs

Identify the ethical theory you have chosen to apply to the film. Briefly explain how the theory you selected applies to the film. Select one:
Virtue Ethics – Core Principles – telos, virtue, eudaimonism
Kantian Ethics – Core Principles – duty, universality, impartiality, reciprocity
Utilitarian Ethics – Core Principles – welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, consequences
Identify the core principles of the ethical theory that apply to a medical ethical issue present in the film. Briefly explain how at least one of these core principles applies to the medical ethical issue. (You will expand upon this in the final essay and incorporate all of the core principles for your selected theory.)

APA Formatting – Your planning document must be written using APA format (including APA-approved fonts – e.g., Calibri or Times New Roman 12-point fonts). It should be double-spaced and include a title page and references page. Include in-text citations and references as needed for sources that support your work.
Required Citations and References – You will need to provide in-text citation(s) and reference for the film you select as well as course materials (media or readings) you use to inform your planning document. (USLO 7.4)

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Ethical Analysis Essay: Exploring the Ethical Dimensions in “Extraordinary Measures”

Introduction:

“Extraordinary Measures” is a 2010 film that follows the story of John Crowley, a man who leaves his corporate career to save his two youngest children affected by a fatal disease. Teaming up with Dr. Robert Stonehill, a brilliant scientist, they challenge the medical and corporate norms, racing against time to find a cure. The film presents a compelling medical ethical dilemma where the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs clashes with bureaucratic hurdles and ethical considerations.

Ethical Analysis:

For the analysis of the ethical dimensions in “Extraordinary Measures,” the chosen ethical theory is Utilitarian Ethics. Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing overall welfare and promoting the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In this context, the core principles of Utilitarian Ethics – welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, and consequences – can be applied to the medical ethical issue presented in the film.

The core principle of welfare is evident throughout the film as John Crowley prioritizes the well-being of his children above all else, even sacrificing his career and financial stability. This principle highlights the importance of considering the welfare of individuals affected by medical conditions and the moral obligation to alleviate their suffering.

Furthermore, impartiality is reflected in the actions of Dr. Stonehill and John Crowley, who strive to overcome biases and obstacles in the medical and corporate establishment to ensure equal access to potential treatments for all patients in need. By advocating for impartiality, the characters demonstrate a commitment to fairness and justice in healthcare decisions.

Moreover, the concept of sum-ranking is exemplified as John and Dr. Stonehill weigh the potential benefits and risks of experimental treatments, considering the overall outcome for their children and other patients with similar conditions. This principle underscores the complexity of decision-making in medical ethics, emphasizing the need to weigh competing interests and outcomes to achieve the greatest good.

Lastly, the emphasis on consequences in Utilitarian Ethics is central to the characters’ actions in “Extraordinary Measures.” They are driven by the potential positive outcomes of their efforts – finding a cure that could save lives and improve quality of life for individuals affected by the rare disease. By focusing on consequences, the film raises important ethical questions about risk-taking, innovation, and ethical responsibility in medical research and treatment.

In conclusion, “Extraordinary Measures” provides a compelling narrative that invites viewers to reflect on the ethical complexities inherent in healthcare decision-making. Through the lens of Utilitarian Ethics, the film challenges conventional norms and underscores the ethical imperative to prioritize welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, and consequences in navigating medical dilemmas. The ethical analysis of this film offers valuable insights into the intersection of morality, science, and compassion in addressing life-threatening conditions.

 

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