Dr Myrick Extreme Measure Essay

In the film, Extreme Measures, Dr. Myrick experiments on several human subjects in order to reach the goal that no scientist or doctor has ever accomplished: to cure paralysis. Under the Utilitarianism of both Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill the experimental procedures performed by Dr. Myrick are justifiably Utilitarian. The fundamental foundation of the reasoning behind Utilitarianism is the maximization of happiness for the most amount of people, also known as the Principle of Utility. The experiments conducted by Dr. Myrick are justifiable in the eyes of the Utilitarian because, in the plight of the few who must die, the remainder of the world population would be saved from the disease of paralysis. Utilitarianism is very similar to …show more content…
Myrick believes that his experiments are morally praiseworthy due to the vast benefits that the world will attain if he is able to cure paralysis. With Bentham’s proposal of the Felicific Calculus, a numerical value is placed on every human being and the correct action can be determined though calculating the “net” happiness for the most amount of people. The justification of Dr. Myrick’s experiments are quite clear in the mind of the Utilitarian, due to the rational comparison that is taken into account. The lives of ten vagabonds, who have “no family and no future” versus the lives of the rest and future populations of the world who will no longer endure paralysis if Dr. Myrick succeeds his experiments. Through the thought process of a Utilitarian, the definition of happiness is the maximum experience of pleasure and the minimization of pain; therefore, Dr. Myrick justifies his experiments by stating that “they are not victims, but heroes” due to the greater overall cause their lives serve rather than wandering around the world homeless. The parts of moral act for a Christian define if the action is morally praiseworthy or if it is unethical and evil. The first part of the moral act is ‘The Object’, which is the action