Sociology

Ethics are the social norms or values of the society. It refers to what is morally right . In reference to medicine, however, ethics in allocation of scarce resources has raised big problems especially in the current times of organ transplant and expensive technical procedures. This is because the transplant and the procedures are rather expensive and not every citizen can easily afford it. It has thus, tended to be associated with social worth whereby, those people who are wealthy access the scarce resources fast because they have money to buy it. On the contrary, the poor remain disadvantaged since they do not have the cash to pay fast for the health care.
    In the case of Mr. Krampitz who received a liver transplant through a short procedure whilst there were people who needed the same, is unethical. This is due to his using the ability to advertise so as to appeal to pity from many people and hence get a donor. What about those people who do not have the ability to advertise Data shows that there were 17,000 people who needed liver transplant. To make the issue more unethical is the fact that he was not critically ill as compared to other people who were waiting for the same health attention. Krampitz should have adhered to the United Network for organ sharing waiting list to be referred to as ethical.
    Issues concerning life and death are rather sensitive. Every individual wants to live no matter the age. Thus one would do anything to be given back life in a matter of death. Krampitzs family and himself had the fear of death and wanted to save his life. They were self-centered and never really care of what other people with the same problem and their families felt. The Kantian theory on medical ethics critique the use of social worth factor to favor one patient over another in allocating of scarce resources. Kantian ethics argue that individuals should never be treated merely as a means to an end. In giving priority to those who have more social worth, they are reduced to merely a means of achieving the most possible social good but not as human beings with other intrinsic values that goes beyond their ability to contribute to the society. To curb the same from happening in future, there are things that should be put in place.
     The country as a whole led by the government should come with a rule that all transplants should be done in a public hospital and no person should donate a liver directly to an individual but rather to a health institution. Here it will be easy for the medical practitioner to decide who to be given the transplant in reference to how long they have been waiting and how critical the transplant is. It would also be difficult for selfish individuals to cut line and receive a transplant since everybody wants hiher life saved. Those people who are economically unstable will thus receive justice because they cannot afford money to advertise for quick transplants. Any medical practitioner who will get involved in transplants that are not on the named list should be able to face charges for breaking the law . It is easy to implement this since there exist already a United Network for organ sharing. All it needs to do, with the help of the government is to set rules and regulations governing it.
    The public should also be inspired to donate organs needed. The advertisement should be public like the one on blood donations and this will help the health practitioner meet their needs of these organs.
    In summary, for distributive justice when allocating scarce resources, the aspects of social worth should be stamped out . This will enable all people regardless of their social backgrounds, be attended to fairly.