NBC medical television reporter, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, agreed to a voluntary quarantine after returning from an area of Africa where there was an Ebola epidemic. There was no evidence that she was infected with Ebola, but she announced on national television that, as an act of prudence, she would voluntarily quarantine herself at home for 21 days. If a person has contracted Ebola, this is the typical incubation period for patients to manifest Ebola symptoms, such as a high fever, fatigue, and vomiting. Despite her public assurances, Dr. Snyderman violated her quarantine by venturing outside her home to pick up food from a favorite restaurant. Ebola potentially can be contracted from contact with an infected person's bodily fluids, such as sweat or saliva. If Ebola is contracted, patients face a major risk of death.
a. What level of moral development did Dr. Snyderman exhibit when she publicly announced her self-imposed quarantine?
b. What level of moral development did Dr. Snyderman exhibit when she violated her self-imposed quarantine?
c. Was it ethical for Dr. Snyderman to venture outside her home in violation of her self-imposed quarantine? Is it relevant that Dr. Synderman did not break any laws by venturing out of her home?
d. Assume that privacy laws prevent doctors from disclosing the names of patients who may have contracted a serious, contagious disease. If a doctor nonetheless discloses the identity of such a patient to enable others to get potentially life-saving treatment, what level of moral development would the doctor be exhibiting?
e. Do you venture outside your home when you have a contagious respiratory disease, such as flu? If so, although the magnitude of the harm that such an action may cause are quite different from the potential harm caused by venturing outside with Ebola, is your conduct in principle any different than Dr. Snyderman's?
f. What are the odds that a contagious person infected with flu will infect others? Do you know those odds when you venture outside with flu? Is there a probability of infecting others that you believe is acceptable?