I need a medical ethics research paper on this topic (Donating organs to relatives in lower need versus non-relatives with greater need.) Write a 5-7 page paper where you detail the arguments on both sides of your chosen topic
question. You will then present your own position for how we should try to resolve the problem
at issue in the topic question.
Parts of the Paper:
*Note you should explicitly write a heading for each section in your paper, i.e. you
should write “Introduction”, “State of the Debate”, etc.
Title- The title of your paper should be the question you chose to write on.
Introduction (~1/2 page)- Your first sentence should draw the reader into the issue underlying
your topic question. Why should the reader care about the issue you are going to be addressing.
Then, summarize the positions on either side of the topic question, i.e. why do people disagree on
this issue. And then, wrap up your introduction by giving a specific thesis statement. This is a
statement that summarizes your position on the issue that you will defend in your “Advancing the
Debate” section (see below).
State of the Debate – Side ‘Yes’ (1-1.5 pages)- In this section of the paper, you should explain
and apply at least 2 major moral principles or ethical theories (such as care ethics or virtue
ethics) in order to support your arguments. Each principle/theory should be the topic of its own
paragraph and should be highlighted or bolded to call attention to which concept you are using. I
am looking for your ability to present the strongest argument possible for this side regardless of
your own personal opinion. So, do not state what your own position is or give them a weak
argument just because you disagree with this side. I should not be able to tell which side of the
issue you come down on by reading this section alone.
*Please review the “Major Moral Principles in Medical Ethics” in your book and my notes.
State of the Debate – Side ‘No’ (1-1.5 pages) In this section of the paper, you should explain and
apply at least 2 major moral principles or ethical theories (such as care ethics or virtue ethics) in
order to support your arguments. Each principle/theory should be the topic of its own paragraph
and should be highlighted or bolded to call attention to which concept you are using. I am looking
for your ability to present the strongest argument possible for this side regardless of your own
personal opinion. So, again, do not state what your own position is in this section or give them a
weak argument just because you disagree with this side. I should not be able to tell which side of
the issue you come down on.
Advancing the Debate (2-3 pages)- In this section, you will be addressing the issue in your topic
question from your own perspective. (This is where you get to the thesis statement that you
introduced in your introductory paragraph. Express your own position.) You should start out by
identifying what each side is right about, i.e. you should acknowledge what important interest
each side has and contributes to the debate. Then, use the various approaches to environmental
ethics to provide arguments for how we might resolve the issue. In some fashion, your position
should address the main interest on each side of the debate. I do not require that you solve the
issue. Rather, I am looking for your ability to ‘advance the debate’, i.e. that we are closer to
resolving it than before.
In this section of the paper, you should explain and apply at least 2 major moral principles or
ethical theories (such as care ethics or virtue ethics) in order to support your arguments. Each
principle/theory should be the topic of its own paragraph and should be highlighted or bolded to
call attention to which concept you are using. Your arguments should lead up to your answer to
your topic question. (Your answer to the topic question will also be your thesis statement that
you have in your Introduction).
Conclusion (1/2 page)- In this section, you want to restate your thesis and summarize your main
arguments in support of your thesis. Be confident in your position. Do not undermine your paper
by ending with a statement like “will we ever resolve this issue? Who knows?”
Format
-Word compatible (save as .rtf doc if you don’t use Microsoft Word)
-12 pt. font
-1” margins
-Double-spaced
Sources
You should use at least 3 sources in your paper. You should have sources that aid your arguments
on both sides of the issue. Please cite your new scholarly research (as you did in our thesis check
meeting), using APA or MLA style. In your ‘Works Cited’ page, I do not care which format you use
(MLA or APA) as long as you use that source properly. In-text citation is also required; when
you cite specific information in the body of your paper, cite it using the MLA or APA style.