Details, Dilemma and Decision - Assignment Example

Details, Dilemma and Decision Details Mrs. Wilkins was offered by Dr. Blake to take part in a Phase I trial of a new drug. Dr. Blake informed Mrs. Wilkins that she will not be benefiting from the use of the drug meaning it will not cure her ailment or even make her feel better. The trial is just to test how the drug will react to people. With that information given to Mrs. Wilkins, the fact that she does have a terminal ailment makes her think twice of what to do.DilemmaWith the facts brought to her straightly by Dr.

Blake, will Mrs. Wilkins agree to be a part of the trial phase? If she does not agree, what will the effect be to the study of that drug? If she does agree to be part of the trial phase, would there be a guarantee that this will not trigger her ailment that may cause her life to be shortened even more? Or could there be a hope that in the process something might be discovered eventually that she may also benefit from it after all? As for Dr. Blake, the offer that he made to Mrs. Wilkins may defy the principle of non-maleficence.

It can jeopardize his career and credibility as a professional and his relationship with his patients. As a doctor, he may influence the decision that Mrs. Wilkins will take though it will not be what the patient would really want.Decision People in the medical field do take note of non-maleficence principle which means not to do harm and is considered to be an overriding principle to everyone who undertakes the care of the patient. (Butts and Rich, 2005, p.13) With this in mind, it is just appropriate for Mrs.

Wilkins to become a part of the trial phase that Dr. Blake is offering her. As a doctor, Dr. Blake has studied his patient’s medical history and would not risk the safety of Mrs. Wilkins just to get facts and data for a certain project. Mrs. Wilkins, being terminally ill, may not even think of her own self. It may be true that Mrs. Wilkins will not benefit from the drug at all. That is just the start of the study, there could still be a little hope or possibility that the patient may benefit from it.

If the study will be completed, it is not just for the benefit of one but maybe for the benefit of a lot of patients that will be taking it eventually. The decision of one should not just be based for the good of one. Yet it should be for the good of many. In the long run, as people start using the drug, the users will be thankful to those people who tested the drug first, this includes Mrs. Wilkins. The life that she may have right now is bound to end at any stage, however with her actions and her decision to participate in the trial, hundreds or thousands of people will eventually benefit from the drug that she helped to be tested.

Future users will be thankful for her courage and unselfishness to be a subject for something that would not cure her or extend her life.