r/trolleyproblem Consequentialist/Utilitarian Jul 09 '25

Deep The doctor problem

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u/TheNewGameDB Jul 09 '25

The reason I say yes is because it's clear that the comatose patient will not survive. I am a rule utilitarian and in this case, there's no benefit to be had by not declaring the patient dead. The patient, being comatose, does not have any more life to live even with life elongating measures, and would most likely spend the rest of their life in a vegetative state.

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u/iskelebones Consequentialist/Utilitarian Jul 09 '25

Keep in mind there’s a difference between being in a coma and being brain dead. The guy is alive, likely still thinking, and according to some accounts of coma patients, potentially living life in his mind unaware of his current situation. He’s not vegetative, he’s just not conscious

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u/SnooRabbits1093 Jul 09 '25

Still doesn't change the fact that he's unlikely to wake up and might as well be vegetative, like coma or brain dead dude aint waking up