As the sole clinician in a rural area you have 2 patients who are seeking healthcare from you. The first, John, age 52, has a longstanding appointment for counseling to reduce risk factors for heart disease. The second, Bill, age 63 and John's brother, is having epigastric pain. On the basis of information obtained during an over-the-phone discussion, you think the pain may be angina.
You have time to see only 1 of the 2 patients. If you don't see Bill now he will die at age 65 of an acute myocardial infarction. If you do see him, he will die at age 74. If you don't see John now he will die at age 65 of an acute myocardial infarction. If you do see him, he will die at age 74.
Assume that you know these outcomes -- that they are truth. Remember, you can see either Bill or John, but not both. Whoever you see will live to age 74. Whoever you don't see will live to age 65. Who is seen is purely up to you.
Who Will You See?
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11 comments:
yikes. are there other background info? like whether they have family members who need their financial support? future QOL? if they have only each other, then i will save the older bro so they have each other's company and wont be alone in the world
This scenario is what philosophers call a thought experiment. It fixes the world with certain rules that require us to suspend our belief of the world; we are to consider a problem only within those rules.
I read it somewhere and thought it will be interesting to share with all of you. It will be more insightful if we have more responses, ...then I will share with you guys the model answer. :)
Share your views!
I will see Bill first since John still has many more years to 65.
By the way, do you know who is Marilyn Manson?
nope. Why? Sounds like a band or some singer though
U want me to buy their album here? or they having a concert here?
Please enlighten me! hehe
Hmmm...if I see Bill, he'll have 11 more years to live but John will have 13 more years...
If I see John, he'll have 22 more years and Bill will only have 2 years...
Either way, Bill die first...and assuming he already has angina, his QOL won't be great for the next 11 years even if I see him...might as well see John...he doesn't have any symptoms yet...he'll probably have better QOL till he dies...
hehe...just trying to come up with a different answer...
Since John requires conselling and not treatment, I will send him some background info read about reducing risk factors. Thus, I don't need to see him, and I can fix another date for the appointment; say the next day. And I can see Bill for his angina. So, both will live to 74. Thanks.
i think marilyn manson is a rock singer and the only thing i remember abt him (if i remember correctly) is that he removed 2 of his lowest ribs so that he can give himself a BJ...so know..like suck his own C***
Wah best...why the sudden interest in marilyn manson? Why go to such pains? He should just come to Amsterdam for those stuffs....
Anyway, lets not go to such details. So back to the question, who will U see? Anonymous...
Marilyn Manson
It's rumors that he took out his ribs. Tho' he said during an interview that its a cool thing to do.
Anyway, back to your qn, oyster...er...actually I haven't read yet. Haha...the comments seem more interesting.
Will get back to you in a few days time ok?
Hey, what's the answer then? After reading the other answers, I think I didn't really understand the question.. haha... seems like a chim question hor... :P
haha..ok I think I shall post the answer now. I think the answers might sound more chim than the question itself!!
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