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Case Study

Seema, a 35-year old lady is suffering from cancer since last three years. She has a family history of cancer; her
mother and grandmother both had the same disease. As she comes from a middle-class background, with
moderate income, she is considering whether to undergo treatment for her cancer or not. She approached
CanTreat Foundation, a leading hospital chain that specialises in treatment of cancer. After reviewing her
condition, the hospital advices her to go for the treatment. After some initial hesitation, Seema agrees fo it. The
doctors create a schedule for her treatment and monitoring, which ultimately leads to Seema living a cancer-free
life. Let us analyse the case as per the four bioethical principles: Autonomy, Beneficence (maximum benefit),
Non-maleficence (do not harm), and Justice.
u Right for Autonomy: Seema has the right to make her own informed
decision about whether to undergo treatment or not. This includes
discussing the potential psychological and physical impact of the
treatment, the duration of the treatment, and the expenses involved.
She also wanted to know about the hospital’s track record of dealing with
such cases. The hospital provided her the required details transparently,
which helped Seema overcome her initial apprehensions and take the decision to go for the treatment.

u Beneficence (Maximum Benefit): The hospital provided Seema with a detailed list of expenses related to
the treatment procedures and after-treatment measures. Though the expenses were on the higher side,
considering Seema’s financial background, the hospital provided her an instalment-based mode of payment.
This ensured maximum financial benefit, emotional support and resources, empowering Seema to take the
right decision.

u Non-maleficence (Do No Harm): The doctors realised that cancer
treatment can be a traumatic experience for patients. Thus, they provided
Seema mental health support, ensuring she feels safe and secure
throughout the process. They eased her worries about the expenses for
the treatment, thus minimising her anxieties and worries. Seema was
also told about the various genetic concerns about cancer, allaying her
fears about passing on the illness to her children.
u Justice: The hospital provided all necessary details and resources for Seema’s treatment, irrespective of her
financial background or family history. This ensured that she got the best treatment and was considered
equal to patients coming from a more affluent background.

Pop Quiz Quiz
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Demonstrate the ethical principles in context of AI technologies for autonomous vehicles.

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K Keyey TTermserms

u Artificial Intelligence

The branch of computer science that enables machines to think and act intelligently, without human
intervention.
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