Ethics Updates

 



Ethics Case Study Detail


Case # 8:

Responsibilities after Divorce

Category: Family ethics

Elmer donated a pint of blood that his wife Doris needed during operation. Elmer and Doris were subsequently divorced. Several years after the divorce Elmer was in an accident and needed a pint of blood. His new wife, Cora, was of a different blood type, and thus could not contribute blood to Elmer. Doris still lived in the same area as Elmer, and there were no health-related reasons that would have prevented her from donating blood.

Was Doris morally obligated to donate a pint of blood to Elmer; “Yes,” “No,” or “It depends”? Whatever your response explain the reasoning behind it.

Notes:

Fourth Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, APPE, 2/26/98




Author Information

Name:  Robert F. Ladenson

E-mail:  ladenson@iit.edu

Homepage:  http://www.iit.edu/departments/humanities/

Institution:  Department of Philosophy Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), and Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), and Faculty Associate, Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions (IIT)

Web site: http://ethics.iit.edu/

Copyright: 1998