The episode I chose to write about is Grey's Anatomy, episode 25 of season 2. I chose this episode because it features many different ethical questions that are presented in one episode episode. The main issue I will focus on is the heart transplant for Denny and the decisions made by Izzie and other people in relation to the heart transplant. The issue will be analyzed from different ethical perspectives. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Problem Summary The problem in question involves a heart transplant. Izzie's significant other (Denny) is on the waiting list for a heart transplant. He has been on the waiting list for more than a year and a half. In the episode, he is called to receive a heart transplant. However, doctors discover that the heart of the person they were about to take it from no longer works. As a result, Denny would not be given a transplant. At another hospital, a separated patient is next on the heart transplant list (above Denny) and, as such, is eligible to receive the next heart, which comes from someone who is undergoing surgery in the episode. Izzie decides to try to put Denny above the other patient by lying about Denny's condition. He attempts to make his condition appear worse than it actually is so that he will be given priority on the heart transplant list. In addition to lying about his condition, she also makes the decision to intentionally stop his heart to fool the other doctors into thinking that he is more in need of the heart transplant than the other patient. The episode ends with her cutting the tube on her cardiac assist device. Several important ethical issues are related to the issue of heart transplantation and two different potential recipients. Ethical Issues The scenario in the episode raises a number of different ethical issues. The first perspective to analyze is the utilitarian perspective. Utilitarianism is an ethical philosophy based on producing the greatest overall level of pleasure or happiness for the greatest number of people, and also on minimizing pain for the greatest number of people (Harsanyi, 1978). The heart transplant situation is difficult to examine from a utilitarian perspective. It would likely depend on the number of family members and friends of each heart transplant patient. Since the episode shows Izzie falling in love with Denny, it seems like her decision could be justified from a utilitarian perspective if there was no other information about the other heart transplant patient. It is possible that the situation would be different if the other patient was also in love and had a caring family who would be devastated if the patient did not have a new heart. The second ethical theory is based on Kant's ethical philosophy. Kant's principles are different from utilitarianism in that they do not measure the rightness or wrongness of actions based on results. Instead, Kant's ethical theory is based on whether or not an individual fulfills his or her moral duty (Nell, 1978). The situation in the Grey's Anatomy episode is much easier to analyze from a Kantian perspective. Izzie has a moral duty to save patients and act honestly. He violates both of these duties when he decides to lie to save a patient he personally cares about, at the expense of another patient who actually needed the heart transplant more. Izzie's actions would be highly immoral from a Kantian perspective. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay To my own.