Philosophy - Triage Dilemma

File: 1saRPHsNZZ-14.png (49KB, 300x250px) Image search: [Google]

49KB, 300x250px

General Setup:

There is only one doctor working at the emergency room and he can only attend to one patient at a time.

Scenario A:

John and Emily walk into the emergency room. John has suffered a serious injury in which he would lose his ability to walk altogether if he does not get treatment. Emily has a less serious injury in which she would only lose a foot if she doesn't get treatment. Who gets treatment first?

Scenario B:

John and Emily walk into the emergency room. John again has the more serious injury, and Emily has the less serious injury. However, John and Emily are married, and John insists that the doctor save his wife's foot before attending his legs, and thus John is refusing immediate treatment. Who gets treatment first?

Scenario C:

John, Emily and Amber walk into the emergency room. John again has the more serious injury, and Emily has the less serious injury. Amber has an intermediate injury, where she would lose one leg if she doesn't get treatment. John is again transferring his treatment onto his wife Emily.

Who gets treatment first?