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The medical drama Awakenings (1990) is based on a real-life event. The movie focuses on Dr. Oliver Sacks work treating people with catatonia, a disorder marked by excessive stiffness and a lack of responsiveness to stimuli. Dr. Sacks began administering L-dopa, a medication generally used to treat Parkinsons disease, to his patients after speculating that an underlying illness may bring on the condition. The ethical dilemma lies in the fact that the drug is experimental and was not tested for side effects on humans, which poses potential dangers for patients. Throughout the film, various ethical principles could be used to evaluate the characters, such as Utilitarianism and ethics of Virtue.
Utilitarianism is a complex theory of ethics that fosters several branches of thought. This theory explores the notion that actions should maximize utility or happiness (Dimmock & Fisher, 2017). In Benthams version of Utilitarianism, the concept implies pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain (Dimmock & Fisher, 2017). In the film, this aspect is maximized via the pursuit of a drug that may benefit the lives of many and similarly maximize happiness. In a way, this theory could be compared to consequentialism, which relays the implication of actions as morally right or wrong.
In detail, it is possible to review the scene where Dr. Sacks provides arguments for the administration of L-dopa to his patients as an example of Benthams Utilitarianism. At the time when Dr Sacks approaches his superiors, he is driven by the conviction that this drug may improve their quality of life. He sees it as an opportunity to bring them happiness by giving the patients the ability to return control of their actions. This opportunity, in his view, is far more beneficial rather than simply caring for their basic needs. The possibility would imply the dissemination of happiness to the families that practically lost their beloved to catatonic disorder. Moreover, it would be possible for patients that remain in a practically vegetative state to avoid the pain of eternal silence and immobility. Consequently, the utility would be maximized by introducing the new drug and avoiding pain, which is consistent with the basic principle of Utilitarianism.
Simultaneously, the doctors personal utility is similarly maximized as he observes the patients that regain their life. When Dr. Sacks is monitoring the effects of L-dopa on his patients, it is another moment that illustrates utilitarian ethics in action. He is happy to see that the medication is improving their health and that he can assist them. This could be seen as the pleasure from recognition and value of the individuals work and gaining a meaningful qualification which is seen as utility beyond simple pleasure. Access to meaningful qualifications improves the quality of life and allows one to perceive Utilitarianism outside of the basic frames of pleasure and pain.
However, the film demonstrates that the drugs effects are temporary. Consequently, an argument could be constructed that the temporary nature of the drug could bring more harm than pleasure. This could act as substance abuse which does not align with the pleasures of Utilitarianism. Substance abuse allows one to experience a temporary state of euphoria at the cost of health, life expectancy and various mental and physical deteriorations. Although Dr Sacks is driven by goodwill, patients that would return to their catatonic state may feel or be exposed to severe mental deterioration. The pain from gaining access to normal life and losing it may overpower some individuals. As a result, the return to the catatonic state may traumatize people, but no complaints would be voiced as the ability to communicate would be lost forever.
Overall, the movie Awakenings emphasizes how the utilitarian ethical theory might be advantageous when used to improve medical care. The idea may be applied to defend taking chances to advance a larger good. Furthermore, it can be used to evaluate a treatments efficacy by taking into account patients positive outcomes. In addition, it is possible to argue that the drug may bring mental harm to the patients and ultimately be considered a more painful than pleasurable experience. However, the negative aspects might be mitigated with proper spiritual care.
The review of the drug administration plot in the film may also follow the ethics of Virtue. Aristotelian Virtue ethics revolves around the notion of eudaimonia, which relays the need for flourishing behavior. This behavior may imply a reasonable approach to the act of goodwill, which portrays the middle ground between the vices of deficiency and excess (Dimmock & Fisher, 2017). For example, the virtuous behavior between cowardness (vice of deficiency) and recklessness (vice of excess) is courage (Dimmock & Fisher, 2017). In the film, the main character is driven primarily by such virtuous as courage, compassion, friendliness and empathy.
The Awakenings narrative emphasizes the value of moral conduct in the medical industry. Dr Sayers commitment is one such aspect that emphasizes Virtue. He is driven to treat his patients because of his compassion. He is heartbroken by their predicament and motivated to come up with a solution to assist them. By making an effort to comprehend their experiences and by giving them the finest treatment possible, he demonstrates empathy for his patients. Additionally, he remains courageous in the face of obstacles like the difficulty in treating his patients and the skepticism of his colleagues. The moral guidance of the character is to induce goodwill that remains within the available prospects of reason.
However, this narrative does not address the consequences of such actions. The moral dilemma would be the hypothetical situation of continuous drug administration for those that did not experience it. It would be possible that the doctor may continue to act in the name of virtuous behavior. The question is would the temporary effect be sufficient for patients? For some, spiritual care may prove to be effective in the mitigation of depression after returning to the catatonic state. For others, it may be too difficult, and consequences might be dire, but no one would be able to appraise them. Consequently, the doctor may act in the best interest of his patients and Virtue, while the consequences may not be as apparent. This could be a dilemma in consideration of Virtue ethics in the film.
The film Awakenings could be considered an illustration of Utilitarianism and Virtue ethics theories. According to Utilitarianism and Virtue ethics, the actions of the main character reflect the major values of both theories as he is driven by eudemonia and utility. Although some ethical dilemmas could be traced given that the temporary state of the drug may induce deterioration of mental health among those who return to a catatonic state. These ethical principles allowed me to review my approach to my personal and professional life. In my opinion, people should strive to follow the notions of Virtue and utility to propagate goodwill. This way, it would be possible to increase overall happiness in the world of the living. I want to consider any projects given that I may professionally undertake with the consideration of end results and personal values to remain within acceptable limits of both theories.
Reference
Dimmock, M., & Fisher, A. (2017). Ethics for A-level. Open Book Publishers.
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