A researcher plans to test a new drug on human subjects, and she knows that the drug will kill the patients within six months.  However, it is a potential miracle drug that, when perfected, will cause the end of a major virus plaguing much of the world's population.  This testing is critical to developing the drug properly, and so the results of the testing might help save many lives.  Furthermore, the autopsies performed on the subjects who die will be essential in understanding how the drug works—dissecting their brains will exponentially increase the knowledge researchers have about the way the drug works.  So while the drug will cause some deaths, it will also eventually cause the saving of many lives.  Should she administer the drug?

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The ethical dilemma presented in this scenario is complex and involves a balance between potential benefits and harms The researcher faces a situation ... View the full answer