Use of Force

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Use of Force
The story titled Use of Force is a typical example of the dilemma doctors’ encounter as they try to provide their services. Apparently, doctors at times might have to use force on patients with an aim to save their lives. While this is the case, the use of force by doctors has raised serious ethical questions; hence, is the doctor in the story Use of Force justified or unjustified in the use of force. Considering the context of the story, the doctor is justified in using force. In this regard, force is justifiable because the doctor needs to find out whether Mathilda has a deadly disease. Apparently, prior to the use of force, the doctor has tried to ask the girl to open her mouth for a checkup, but she was stubborn. The doctor says, “Just open your mouth wide and let me take a look… With one catlike movement both her hands clawed instinctively” (Williams).
Because the girl could not open her mouth voluntarily for medical examination the doctor’s use of force is justified. The girl in the story is young; hence, there is a high chance that she did not understand the severity of the disease she possibly had. While the parents showed a commendable level of cooperation to the doctor, the girl was not aware of what was wrong. As such, I argue that, the girl was not in a position to make a decision, hence the doctor had to make it on her behalf. Similarly, the girl’s father understands the severity of the illness and this is why he helps the doctor forcefully examine her daughter. The father sa...