PRACTICE: Ethical Awareness

1. The film, Awakenings, [videorecording]. Imprint Culver City, Calif. Columbia Tristar Home Video. c1999 120 min. is based on a book by Oliver Sacks. It describes a situation that occured in a long term care facility that had many patients who appeared catatonic. A newly hired physician [Sachs], who had been a researcher and not a practitioner, became interested in their cases. He discovered that all entered the facility after contracting encephalites and he decided to try the new drug l-dopa to see if it would be of help. The film is interesting. It also is filled with numerous ethical issues that are unrecognized by the characters.

   Watch the film and make a list of 20 ethical questions that the protagonists should have asked themselves but did not. Make a note of some ethical questions that were raised by any of the protagonists in the film and who raised them.

   Post the first 5 of your questions to me via e-mail and I shall reply to let you know if you are on the "right track". Bring the rest of the questions to class.

2. Keep a journal this week in which you list at least 2 or 3 of your activities each day and then list some ethical questions that could be asked about or during the activity.
   Example: I commuted to school and was almost late for class.
   Questions:
   Was it right to speed on the turnpike in order to get to class on time?
   Is there a moral obligation to be on time for class so as not to disturb other students or is this just a question of politeness?

3. Study an episode of a "medical" TV program from the point of view of "ethical awareness". Be aware of ethical questions relevant to the program you have seen. Note how many ethical questions the characters do recognize and how many they do not recognize. Make a list of ethical questions that the characters might have asked themselves but did not.

4. Spend a half hour in a heath care facility. [local hospital, clinic, lab etc.] Observe the layout of the waiting room, the interaction between clients and staff, all other aspects of the facility. Make a list of at least 5 ethical questions that the staff of the facility might ask themselves.

5. Make a list of ethical questions that health care workers face each week....whether or not they are aware of them. Example: Should I look my clients in the face/eyes each time I meet them or is doing my assigned tasks for them without really looking at them enough?
   Should I always serve all clients on a first come, first served basis or are there any times when I should use another order for service?