Abstract
One of the most powerful movies of the 20th century, Miss Evers’ Boys can be viewed from both the artistic perspective and the nursing one. More to the point, the movie can be interpreted from the viewpoint of several theories of ethics. Viewing the film through the lens of the duty ethics will lead to the reconsideration of the priorities of a nurse and show that a nursing specialist must always have the benefit of the patient at the top of their priority list.
Though the focus of the film is on the relationships between the nurse and the patients, as well as the lives of the latter, the key principles of the duty based ethics make the basis of the movie, which every turn of the plot proves in a rather graphic way. Miss Evers’ Boys, therefore, handles a complex ethical dilemma, which presupposes the choice between complying with the orders of the authorities and the duties that the nurse has before its patients, and as the plot evolves, new arguments in favor of the latter option are provided.
Introduction: The Experiment Starts
Released in 1997, years after the infamous Tuskegee Experiment, the movie revolves around the ethical issues concerning the Tuskegee case. Though the film touches upon a wide variety of ethical theories, the dilemmas related to the duty based ethics shine through the rest of the ethical concerns. The very start of the movie invites the question whether the authors of the experiment actually complied with the duty based ethics when starting the case study.
Eunice Evers Enters the Stage
The introduction of the main character into the movie adds tension to the drama and makes the ethical issue more complicated. Not only do the authors of the experiment conceal the truth from the participants, but also keep the information secret from one of the staff members. This conflicts with the key postulates of the duty based ethics.
The Plot Thickens: Shedding Some Light on the Issue
As soon as Eunice learns the truth about the experiment (Kavanagh 01:12:57), she faces a difficult choice between disclosing the secret data and letting innocent people die. She miraculously manages to balance between the two extremes, complying with the key principles of duty based ethics. Neither she confesses to the patients what diseases they have, nor follows the rules concerning the restricted treatment options (Benjamin and Curtis 89).
The Denouement and a New Dilemma
Once the runaway participants of the experiment start working on their social lives and even thinking of building their own families, the issue concerning the social acceptance of people with major health issues – or, to be more exact, the lack thereof – becomes explicit. As the survivors of the Tuskegee experiment receive the treatment and the compensation for their painful experience, however, the emphasis is shifted back to the ethical issues related to nursing, especially the one of receiving an informed consent.
Conclusion: Getting the Priorities in Line
The movie is a graphic example of what a nursing specialist is expected to do in case of an ethical dilemma. While one might argue that whistleblowing may hinder an essential study of a major issue, a nurse still must make sure that every single participant has given their informed consent prior to the start of the experiment. As long as the actions of a nurse are aimed for the patient’s benefit and recovery, no major ethical issues should arise.
Reference List
Benjamin, Martin and Joy Curtis. Ethics in Nursing: Cases, Principles, and Reasoning. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2010. Print.
Kavanagh, Derek. Miss Evers’ Boys. New York, NY: HBO. 1997. DVD.