Now that you have analyzed both positions you are ready to debate this issue.

Preparing for the Debate
As you prepare your notes and evidence for this debate, keep in mind that you must be able to present a detailed justification in support of the position you have been assigned. You may not agree with your assigned position, but you should still be able to defend it. You should be able to address the following questions:

• What is the ethical issue?


• What is your position?


• Why and how do the positive consequences of your position to the affected parties (donors, patients, hospitals, families, etc.) outweigh the negative consequences?


• Why and how does your position uphold more, or more important, ethical principles for the affected parties than it violates?

Not only will you need to answer these questions, but you will need to answer them persuasively, under pressure, during the debate. Please be prepared.

After the Debate
Listening to the ideas and opinions of your colleagues might change some of your own ideas. After the debate is over you will have a chance to review all your notes from this task and then write an individual report, which details your own opinion on this issue.

I look forward to hearing your ideas, both in your report and in our debate! I will synthesize the debate proceedings and your individual reports into a report for the Senator; I am sure he will appreciate the thought we put into his request for a policy recommendation, and will gain insight from our ideas.

Thank you,
Chris Jones, M.D.
Chair, Ethics Committee
Lincoln Regional Medical Center