Ethical analysis of “Extraordinary Measures” based on Virtue Ethics (Essay Sample)

Ethical analysis of “Extraordinary Measures” based on Virtue Ethics Name of the Student Institutional Affiliation Course Code and Course Name Professor Date of Submission Ethical analysis of “Extraordinary Measures” based on Virtue Ethics Introduction "Extraordinary Measures" (2010) is a film based on the true story of a father's struggle to help his children who are affected by a rare genetic disease. John Crowley, portrayed by Brendan Fraser, is a business man who seems to have everything that he could ever desire – a well-paid job, a beautiful wife, and three children. But his world comes crashing down when he is informed that his two youngest children, Megan and Patrick, have been diagnosed with Pompe disease, a disease that is progressive and fatal in its finality. Faced with the grim reality of their diagnosis, the failure of modern medicine, and insufficient research, John quits his head position to search for a cure. He works in league with Dr. Robert Stonehill, a resourceful but eccentric scientist. There are a lot of challenges that these two face, starting from the bureaucratic structures that dismiss them and corporate giants that are more interested in profit than people's lives. In the end, John's resolve and principled approach, alongside Dr. Stonehill's intelligent science, helped boost treatment efficiencies, yet came at great costs and internal conflict. To this end, Virtue Ethics will be used to analyze the ethical perspective of this movie, focusing on the choices made by John Crowley and Dr. Stonehill regarding the development of the cure. Ethical Analysis The theory that is relevant to the ethical analysis of "Extraordinary Measures" is Virtue Ethics, which focuses on moral character and virtues when making ethical choices. Virtue Ethics suggests that the purpose or telos of the human being is to lead a fulfilling life or eudaimonia, which is attained through the acquisition of virtues (Mattes, 2022). In the given movie, John Crowley’s telos is to ensure his children’s prosperity. This resignation from the corporate world represents a change in the values in his life, signifying the idea of retaining a virtuous life with the responsibility of taking care of his family. This is also in line with the concept of telos in Virtue Ethics since John does what is best for his children or the highest good. In the course of the film, John's character transformation occurs in his display of bravery, perseverance, and empathy. This decision to leave a reasonably well-paying job is indicative of a strong belief anchored on the love he had for his children. Likewise, characterized by Harrison Ford’s portrayal, Dr. Stonehill also showcases Learned character qualities that include invention and determination (Rachels & Rachels, 2015). This is understandable because he is presented as a nonconformist whose unconventional behavior provokes the mainstream medical community. Altogether, the two characters demonstrate the relevance of virtues while dealing with ethical issues. Their desperate quest for a cure raises some peremptory ethical questions. For example, where is the value of science over the profits? Are they right to decide on behalf of their sick children? Furthermore, the belief held regarding ethical behaviors resulting in human thriving, known as eudaimonism, is important for analyzing the moral aspects of the characters' behavior (Saaida, 2023). John and Dr. Stonehill's quest for a cure, though fraught with challenges, results in a significant advancement in medical science and a potential lifeline for those suffering from Pompe disease. This virtue is for the sake of their benefits, yet their job may likely influence many lives in society. This principle supports the idea that distinctions between right and wrong, good and evil, are not exceptional in the film as ethical decision-making may also involve the construction of a collective moral code for the society. Regarding the ethical issues in the film, they seem rather widespread and rather explicit, most of which fall into the sphere of conflicting personal and corporate agendas. As Bob confronts the clinical trials and the motives of the pharmaceutical industry, John is virtuous when he chooses his children’s lives over business. This raises the question of why profit-making is preferred over saving human lives, which forms a significant part of the topical issues being discussed regarding healthcare and medicine today. The decision-making process must be ethical, and courage coming from parenthood must be all-time persistent, as seen when John actively looks for a cure despite possible failure or even setbacks. However, it does create doubts about the values in the medical and corporate sectors of society. Characters representing such institutions seem to embody more enthusiastically utilitarian principles – they exclusively serve their commercial interests rather than patient’s needs. This brings ethical questions on how much the medical industry can implement virtuous procedures when the overall system does not act in harmony (Mattes, 2022). They fail to give answers to questions about using various personal virtues as a tool that silences audacity and interferes with individual ethical standards in the context of institutionalized norms and narratives. Moreover, the movie brilliantly sh...