Identifying Values in Decision Making (Essay Sample)

Name
Course
Instructor
Date
Identifying Values in Decision Making
Decision making during catastrophes such as biological and chemical attacks is accompanied by making difficult choices as fast as possible. Normally, ethics must be applied in such decision-making. However, certain factors render rational and sound decision-making difficult during catastrophes. Such factors include the need for decisions to be made quickly, tension, stress, pressure, fatigue, competing values, a breakdown in chains of command, limited resources, and where stakes are high- a situation of life, death, or survival. Such conditions necessitate nerves of steel. An emergency officer or anyone in charge of making such decisions must possess a solid framework to guide him or her in making the most critical choices in such a situation. Such a framework is the triage system that is a real time system important in making critical decisions by prioritizing the actions required based on the calamity’s danger, available resources, and labor during the crisis. This system would be important in the situation of expected chemical or biological attacks such as this case.
Based on the existent situation where there is only room for seven and the limited time at my expense to make the decision, I would apply the triage system in assessing the people from the list provided to make an appropriate choice. I would choose the attorney’s pregnant wife, the second year medical student, the historian/writer, the sports illustrated swimsuit model, the High School English teacher, and the police officer and the gun. Each of these people will be in a capacity of repopulating the world if only the seven of us are left alive after the attack. Each of them would contribute to survival after the catastrophe by applying their expertise for the survival of everyone in the group, and the generation to come.
The third year medical student would be of great importance to the group for various reasons. The student will have to stand in and be the group’s doctor. First medical practitioners have the responsibility to save lives, and the student would be in a position to apply his knowledge to ensure the group’s survival. After the attack, one of the group members may suffer injuries or illness requiring the expertise of a doctor. The delay of medical services to such a person would lead to death. Secondly, medical practitioners are important in extending life by increasing life expectancy and improving well-being in societies. If anyone in the group becomes sick, the doctor will be in charge of treating him or her. Additionally, the group chosen consists of the Attorney’s pregnant wife. As a doctor, the student will be important in the delivery of the child, and increasing the life expectancy of the newborn. Doctors are also responsible for humanitarian works. The student will be responsible for the advocacy of health issues and help disseminate information about methods to avoid diseases and to train future medical personnel. Finally, the doctor would be important in helping in the control of epidemics and conducting research in cases of outbreaks or unknown ailments after the attack.
The pregnant Attorney’s wife will be very important as a woman in the group and society to come. Women are an inherent part of our society that should not be neglected. As a woman, she would give birth to the group’s first child that would be the first step towards repopulation. As a woman, she would inspire making of families that would in turn make homes, which would in turn make a new society. Women play a big role in contributing to our existence. Women are responsible for education in a range of areas from behavioral to health education at the family level. She is responsible for teaching how to deal with other people making them fundamental and major contributors to the building of a strong society.
History is very important, actually indispensable. Currently, the reason history still exists in the society is that earlier leaders recognized that knowledge of historical facts was essential for a society’s continuity. History is important in making us understand societies and people. History also provides identity and creates moral understanding. For these reasons, it is important to choose the historian/writer to join the group. The historian will ensure that history is passed to future generation and that benefits of history are fully leaped.
Sports play an important role in shaping values and character of individuals in the society. Additionally, a sport is an obsession that plays various roles in the society. Such roles include teaching life skills, serving as an emotional escape, and providing a family. Skills from sports could be essential in the survival of the group’s daily activity after the attack. The group and the society to come would need sport particularly in teaching life skills for survival. For this reason, I choose the sports illustrated swimsuit model to join my group. As an athlete and sports model, she would oversee the training of such skills and other benefits of sports. Moreover, she is a woman who also increases the chances for repopulation in the future amongst other roles of a woman in the society.
Police officers comprise the coercive arm of governance. The major roles of police officers are enforcing the law, maintaining peace, protection of life, and protection of property. In performing such roles, the police ...