Last Rebuttal 1: On Status Quo and Ethical Issue

From the previous speech written by the Proposition, we on the opposition figures that they are having difficulties differentiating the status quo and what they are proposing. Already in the status quo, we do have guidelines that designates certain standards for a successful operation. And as we have stated before, in case of alcoholism, the patient has to remain abstinent for at least 6 months to be legible to a transplant. This is a basic requirement for the sake of successful surgery. On the other hand, what the Proposition has been proposing today is that the doctors will deny the transplants to all of those who have a record of alcohol abuse and thereby “brought the disease upon themselves” (as they would like to believe.) With that clear distinction in mind, we on the opposition sees that the Propositions point on how their policy is a just another part of criteria already taking in place is invalid. Also we would like to point out that in the status quo, liver transplants are not given to the alcoholic patients who have been drinking to excess in the past 6 months, because the doctors sees that it is a proven fact that liver transplants will not work on those patients who simply cannot refrain from drinking even when they are about to get a transplant. This is a given fact for sure. However, as we have mentioned again and again, the Proposition is assuming that “giving this man a new liver when he’s an alcohol addict ‘will probably’ [lead to] relapse.” And from their statistics we see that 38% of the alcoholic patients may drink after the surgery while the other 62% does not. Even for those alcoholic patients who continue to drink after surgery, they do not drink to the point of critically stressing their liver because from what we figure they survive just as long as any other normal patient who has received the surgery. Now on an ethical note, the Proposition argues that the modern day Hippocratic Oath – in link with utilitarianism - can be used as an excuse for denying the rights to life on certain patients. We see that they would even like to use it as a societal institution that can do the moral calculus for the doctors. However, the reality is that making the final decision on whether or not the patient will be able to survive and how much the “blame” is to be placed on is fundamentally made by the doctors. It is a burden that they cannot simply be dismissed from. In light of that, we have to reminded of the fact that in this situation, doctors can never have the full assurance that an alcoholic patient who has not drank for the past 6 months will not be able to survive the surgery. Only the facts proving the contrary continue to surface. Thus under the ethical guidelines that binds all doctors, they are required to carry out the treatments in the best interest of the patients. In the end, it all comes down to the question of whether or not there is a chance these patients can survive. As the Proposition has partially agreed and we on the Opposition has continuously pointed out, it is becoming more and more apparent that these people do survive and live a healthy life ever after. And under that factor, we firmly believe that no doctor has the right to deny the patients’ privilege to life.