Reference no: EM133640641
Assignment:
Read and examine the true Case of Donald "Dax" Cowart. Dax was a young man in his 20s, extremely outgoing, athletic, and popular. He was born as the only child to very religious parents. The following is a summary of his case:
Dax's story began in the summer of 1973. He returned from serving in Vietnam as an Air Force pilot and everything was going well in his life. Unfortunately, an accident happened where propane tanks in his car exploded, killing his father. Over 68% of Dax's body was burned, with third degree burns on his face. Flames engulfed Dax, and he recalled his eyes becoming blurred as if they were melting. Both eyes were damaged and his ears and hands were mutilated. Dax asked for a gun to kill himself to put an end to his suffering but he was refused and taken to a hospital. He stayed in the hospital for a painful 14 months and during his time there, he asked for death several times.
His mother was given the power of attorney while he was declared mentally incompetent. During his stay in the hospital, he experienced painful tankings (submersion in whirlpool tanks) in alcohol and disinfectants, and several operations: his charred fingers were removed and he lost one eye, while recovery of the second eye was in doubt. Faced with the prospect of a very long, very painful recovery, he requested that treatment be discontinued and that he be allowed to die. He constantly requested that his treatment be stopped, but the doctors and his mother did not listen to him. For Dax, the pain and length of treatment, combined with the quality of life that he might lead after his release from hospital, made death seem the most reasonable solution to his situation, thus, leading to further depression and here Donald Cowart attempted his first suicide, which was a failure.
(Excerpt from Kliever, L. D. (1989). Dax's Case: Essays in medical ethics and human meaning. Dallas, TX: Southern Methodist University Press.)
More on Dax's story and Commentary can be found in the Munson text (9th ed.), pp. 3-6, & 69-73.
How would you have resolved this dilemma using the MORAL model? Provide a rationale for your answer.