Analysis of Ethical Dilemmas in Social Policy: Charlie Gard Case

This report delves into the multifaceted realm of social policy, particularly focusing on the ethical dilemmas inherent in it. The report uses the poignant case of Charlie Gard to illustrate the complexities of ethical decision-making, especially when it involves medical interventions, parental rights, and l...Read More

ISSUES IN SOCIAL
POLICY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Meaning of ethics with example............................................................................................3
1.2 Ethical dilemma and issues surrounding it............................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Legislation and policies relevant to the chosen ethical dilemma...........................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Comparing Different Views on chosen ethical dilemma.......................................................4
3.2 Evaluating different views and drawing inferences thereof..................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Social policy includes different kind of policies, principles, and guidelines which impacts
to the living conditions of the human beings (De Alcantara, 2013). In other words, this policy is
consists parameters in which society works for the benefits of the people. On the other hand,
there are many issues regarding to the social policy like hunger, poverty, access to health care
etc. Herein, this project report provides detailed information about the ethics and current
legislation, policies regarding to the ethical dilemma. In the project report, case of Charlie and
Gard is selected.
TASK 1
1.1 Meaning of ethics with example.
Ethic is a kind of philosophy which is related to development of concept for addressing
right and wrong. Eventually, ethics are the basic concepts, values, norms and belief of human
beings that are needed in daily life. In other words, ethic defines a way that states about how a
person behave with others (Geyer, 2013). In the case of Charlie and Gard, they follow an ethical
way in which parents were trying to save their child as per the human values. Herein, some
example of ethics are mentioned below:
 The best example of the ethics is the use of ethics in the businesses (business ethics).
Now these days the role of ethics is very important in the businesses because it helps in
applying a pattern of ethics by managers and employees. As well as ethics are used in the
management practices.
 The second example of the ethics is the values, behaviour pattern in daily life routine, by
the individuals. (social ethics) Eventually, it is necessary for the people to behave in an
ethical manner. Like respect to the elders and women.
 The third example of the ethics is the personal ethics which is being used by the
individuals to improve the personality. (Personal ethics).
1.2 Ethical dilemma and issues surrounding it.
The ethical dilemma means critical and complex challenges which can not be solved
easily. As well as to solve the issues every person has its own perception. Additionally ethical
dilemma is a kind of issue in the decision making which arise due to two or more alternatives.

Herein, the case of Charlie and Gard, the ethical dilemma arises due to distinguish among
parents, doctors and courts. The parents are wandering that their child can be save, while doctors
have their own opinion that Charlie can not alive due to his serious disease (Henry and et.al.,
2013). On the other hand, court stated against the parents of Charlie because medical treatment
can not help the child. So in the above case, issues are related to different thinkings of parents,
doctors and courts.
TASK 2
2.1 Legislation and policies relevant to the chosen ethical dilemma
The above case explain and disclose the dimensions of ethical dilemma and essentiality of
legislations. At last, the things remain stable in terms of agreements and disagreements among
the judiciary and parents (Wilkins, 2013). The dependency upon the professionals seems faded in
the Charlie’s case. The Supreme court judgement was based upon the case intree University
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v. James [2013]. As per UKSC 67, a passage states that the
doctors do decide to provide lawful treatment to infant and not let the parents to suffers in this
dilemmatic condition. The case was full of emotions, legal rights and ethics. However, it was
categorised under humanity rights and legislations. USA government was also involved in this
case. By considering appeal of parents of Charlie RRMB from of MDDS treatment was provided
to them (High Court Case, 2017).
TASK 3
3.1 Comparing Different Views on chosen ethical dilemma
Charlie Gard's case involved an ethical dilemma for the professional team as well as his
parents. For both sides the ethical dilemma was whether to keep the child alive and go ahead
with the Nucleoside Treatment as suggested by the Parents or to withdraw the patient from Life
Support. By Mid of December, the infant started to experience epileptic seizures. The two
different views for this ethical dilemma were as follows:
 Parents: Connie and Chris were determined to have life support. They were of the view
that there have been other cases of babies with rare MDDS Disease which have survived
through advanced treatment even though their life expectancy was not good. They
asserted that Nucleoside Treatment must be done on their child.

 Professional/Medical Team: The Great Ormond Street Hospital's Medical Team as well
as the Clinical Ethics Committee contended the view of Charlie's parents stating that it
would be wrong to continue to keep the patient alive. Hence, they did not support
Nucleoside Treatment as it had no hope of helping or improving Gard's already worsened
condition.
3.2 Evaluating different views and drawing inferences thereof
The views mentioned above had been a part of a bigger ethical dilemma which was
whether to let the child live and be disabled for the rest of his life or to end his suffering by
removing the life support system(Charlie Gard Case, 2019). Even though it was parents who are
supposed to decide whether or not their child should be withdrawn from artificial breathing
system or not, it is important to note that there's is a limit to the extent to which a parent can
assess the best interests of their offspring. In the given case scenario, as far as best interests of a
child are concerned, parental role also takes a back-seat and does not carry much weight-age.
Thus, overriding the wishes of the parents in legal matters like the case of Charlie Gard.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it can be concluded that Ethical Dilemmas may result in
situations which may not be in the best interest of one party but need to be carried out anyway. In
case of Charlie Gard, legal principles, ethics as well as best interests of the child were those
which made him lose his life. However it needs to be done for the sake of logic and what's best
in the long-run.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
De Alcantara, C. H. ed., 2013.Real markets: Social and political issues of food policy reform.
Routledge.
Geyer, R. R., 2013.Exploring European social policy. John Wiley & Sons.
Henry, M. and et.al., 2013.Educational policy and the politics of change. Routledge.
Wilkins, L. T., 2013.Social deviance: Social policy, action and research. Routledge.
Online
High Court Case. 2017. [Online]. Available Through:
<http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2017/972.html>
Charlie Gard Case. 2019. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537990/>