Practical problems in medical ethics: III. Taking the sting out of memory

We are now at the end of this week’s special series considering three case studies in medical ethics as proposed recently by my colleague at City College, Jeff Blustein. We started out by examining a case of unexpected finding of non-paternity, continuing with an instance of wanting a baby to be deaf by design. For this last installment we are going to examine a situation that involves taking the sting out of painful memories.

As usual, before we proceed, let me remind you of the six criteria that my colleague suggested in order to arrive at a good philosophical evaluation of the case studies:

1. Formulate the problem. This is not always as easy as it sounds, as there may be more than one way to formulate the problem itself, before we even begin to consider possible answers.

2. Consider the relevant information. If there are critical pieces of information that are missing, articulate why they are relevant to the ethical analysis, and what follows from the fact that they are currently missing.

3. Refer to the ethical principles involved. An ethical dilemma arises when some values dictate incompatible courses of action, and it is not immediately obvious which should take priority.

4. Review alternative courses of action. Consider the possible alternatives, compare the range of outcomes against relevant principles and values. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to accept trade-offs.

5. Suggest an ethical solution. Consider the solution that appears to be best, all things considered, that is, taking into account all the various ethical principles at stake in the case.

6. Suggest how to best implement the proposed solution. Who, how, where, and when?

And now the case. Gregor, a 53 year old Chechnyan immigrant, is visiting a hospital at the behest of his employer, a taxi company. Recently, he has shown symptoms of PTSD — flashbacks, depression, and hyper-vigilance. Once triggered, he hyperventilates and feels “paralyzed” by fear, he is frozen and can’t move. As a taxi driver, he is of course liable for any damages to the car and patrons. Because of this, his concerned employer connects him with a free consultation and the local…