In the short story “The Use of Force,” by William Carlos Williams, a doctor narrates his visit to the Olson Family whose daughter, Mathilda, may be sick with diphtheria. The doctor explains that he is trying to be nice to Mathilda, but seeing that she refuses to let him examine her he asks the parents to consent to a forceful method. Eventually, he uses excessive force to get the diagnosis. Are his actions justifiable? Given that Mathilda is finally revealed to have diphtheria and the doctor’s primary intention is to help her, it can be argued that his force is necessary. On the other hand, he also admits that he enjoys what he is doing to her; this is unprofessional and unethical for the reason that his job as a doctor is to have patience
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After the parents give him permission to use force, the doctors asks the father to hold down Mathilda, but whenever she screams the father loses hold of her. The doctors says, “his shame at her behavior and his dread of hurting her made him release her just at the critical times when I had almost achieved success, till I want to kill him” (1592). Even though, his real intentions may not be literally killing the parent, just the thought shows the unprofessionalism of the doctor. His use of language suggests that he is out of control. Moreover, he shows that he is angry. He has taken this case too personal and he is forgetting that he has to have control of the situation in a professional manner. After Mathilda bleed and screams, “ ‘let them go of my hands. Let them go I tell. Stop it! Stop it! You’re killing me!’ ” (1592). The doctor uses aggressive procedures to make Mathilda open her mouth and he says,“ But the worst of it was that I too had got beyond reason. I could have torn the child apart in my own fury and enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to attack her. My face was burning with it” (1592). The doctor is not just hurting Mathilda, but he is enjoying what he is doing, he is taking his power out of …show more content…
In this case is when one asks oneself, is it right to justify unprofessionalism when a necessary outcome is needed? Well, the answer in this case is partially yes. The doctor uses words to persuade that indeed his main intention is helping Mathilda. Moreover, the doctor gets a diagnosis that helps the family understand Mathilda’s situation. However, these unethical actions should be sanction since he has not right to abuse of his power. He should definitely reconsider what he has written and apologize to both the child and the family about his
After the parents give him permission to use force, the doctors asks the father to hold down Mathilda, but whenever she screams the father loses hold of her. The doctors says, “his shame at her behavior and his dread of hurting her made him release her just at the critical times when I had almost achieved success, till I want to kill him” (1592). Even though, his real intentions may not be literally killing the parent, just the thought shows the unprofessionalism of the doctor. His use of language suggests that he is out of control. Moreover, he shows that he is angry. He has taken this case too personal and he is forgetting that he has to have control of the situation in a professional manner. After Mathilda bleed and screams, “ ‘let them go of my hands. Let them go I tell. Stop it! Stop it! You’re killing me!’ ” (1592). The doctor uses aggressive procedures to make Mathilda open her mouth and he says,“ But the worst of it was that I too had got beyond reason. I could have torn the child apart in my own fury and enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to attack her. My face was burning with it” (1592). The doctor is not just hurting Mathilda, but he is enjoying what he is doing, he is taking his power out of …show more content…
In this case is when one asks oneself, is it right to justify unprofessionalism when a necessary outcome is needed? Well, the answer in this case is partially yes. The doctor uses words to persuade that indeed his main intention is helping Mathilda. Moreover, the doctor gets a diagnosis that helps the family understand Mathilda’s situation. However, these unethical actions should be sanction since he has not right to abuse of his power. He should definitely reconsider what he has written and apologize to both the child and the family about his