Situation Ethics: How relevant is ‘right’ versus ‘useful’ theory in ethical practice.

ABSTRACT

Ironically in the twenty-first century, developing countries face a pile of ever increasing burden on health care facilities. The lack of political will, redundant health policies, mismanaged health care system, and grossly inadequate health care infrastructure along with battery of other local factors, have fuelled the crisis. People depend largely on government hospitals for basic health care facilities, which usually remain saturated and long queues are a customary sight. The tremendous increase in dependence over government hospitals has drained the already fatigued heath service. Under such an ambience, the people involved are often constrained to take decisions which though look agonizingly unethical, yet are defended by demand of situation. The authors present their view point under the ambit of “Situation Ethics” in an incident, reported in newspaper highlighting the plight of a victim who met with a train accident at district Malda, State of West Bengal, India, and lost both his legs, which were securely tucked under his head as ‘pillow’ giving a grisly sight unbecoming in an hospital situation.