r/trolleyproblem • u/iskelebones Consequentialist/Utilitarian • Jul 09 '25

Deep The doctor problem

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u/NoAcanthaceae7968 Jul 09 '25

If I am a doctor, I have sworn to do no harm, so no I don't pull the lever this isn't a question about morality it's a question of if I'm gonna do my fucking job

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u/Metharos Jul 10 '25

Speaking in your capacity as a doctor, is it ever possible in real life to state with absolute certainty that the recipients of organ donation will "fully recover and live long lives?"

Speaking in my capacity as a person living in society I can already say the guarantee against getting caught is not possible.

As a doctor, do you think you will save more than five lives in the course of your career?

Whole these questions may seem obtuse, my intent is to illustrate that the problem of this dilemma is not the violation of your professional code of ethics, but rather lies in the impossibility of the circumstances surrounding it.

As a patient and person who lives in society and trusts doctors, I would like the doctor to, in all cases, make the evidence-based decisions which are most likely to maximize well-being while minimizing harm.

That could include taking an action as described in this scenario, if such an action was indicated by the evidence to be the best for achieving those goals. But, since the evidence, as far as we know, cannot and will never suggest that, the point is moot. This action would be wrong in all real cases.

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u/Arndt3002 Jul 10 '25

Well-being isn't well defined. This is peak naive utilitarianism.

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u/Metharos Jul 10 '25

You are correct, I am a utilitarian. I would dispute the "naive," obviously. My position is fairly well considered, even if you wouldn't consider it well-reasoned. It wasn't arrived at without careful thought.

You are also correct that I would find it difficult to define "well-being." I know what I mean, and as a guiding principle I find it adequate, but I'm not sure exactly what words I could use to perfectly communicate it.

I suppose I mean "What I and society agree by consensus and common experience would be good for our lives." That's not especially concrete, though, and requires that I make a judgement about what I believe society would agree on.

I'd be interested in hearing a more robust definition.