Hi Everyone!
Paper 2 topics are up now. You can also download the Paper assignment under the "INFO AND HANDOUTS" section to the right of this post.
Paper Assignment #2
Your first paper assignment is 1200-1500 words and is due by the end of class on Friday, May 23, 2008. It should follow the following technical guidelines: 12 pt., Times New Roman font, 1" margins, double spaced. You should include page numbers and a word count, no title page (keep headings short).
Choose ONE of the following Topics:
1. “Lies to the Sick and Dying” (Sissela Bok)
What does Bok think has been the historical relationship between the values of veracity and non-malfeasance? What causes does Bok give for doctors not telling their patients the truth about their conditions? What are the problems with these? What three justifications does she say are commonly offered? Why does she think that the first two fail? Why does she think that the third is exaggerated? What reasons does she give in favor of disclosing the truth? Under what circumstances will Bok allow doctors to withhold truth from their patients?
2. “Metaphors and Models of Doctor Patient Relationships: Their Implications of Autonomy” (Childress & Siegler)
What are metaphors? How do they work? Explain the paternalism metaphor (both types of paternalism). Explain the partnership metaphor. Explain the rational contractors metaphor. Explain the friendship metaphor. Explain the technician metaphor. Evaluate each metaphor, both normatively and descriptively.
3. “Standards of Competence” (Allen Buchanan and Dan Brock)
What does 'autonomy' mean (explain etymology)? Explain the three standards of competence that the authors consider and explain why they reject the first two. Why do they think that no single standard will work (2 reasons)? Explain the author's sliding scale standard (and make a chart to give examples).