Name: Jnell Edreah Ducao
Block: BSN-2C
Theory: ETHICS
Final Examination
The 1998 Comedy-Drama 'Patch Adams'
The movie 'Patch Adams', released in 1998, features Robin Williams as a doctor who prioritizes
making his patients laugh and feel happy instead of just focusing on their medical treatments.
This character represents a fascinating mix of being an entertainer who connects with people
and a medical professional who believes in a caring approach to medicine. Unlike the often
cold and strict medical practices we see, Patch Adams shows that medicine can be flexible and
full of warmth. While the story is fictional, it raises important questions about the challenges
that doctors face in their work.
The Basics of Morality: Understanding Empathy and the Golden Rule
The main message of the movie is about basic morality, which means understanding and
sharing the feelings of others, often summarized by the Golden Rule: treat others as you would
like to be treated. Patch Adams is a medical intern who becomes frustrated with the emotionless
way medicine is often practiced. He takes a strong stance that patients should be seen as real
people with feelings, rather than just cases to be treated. He believes that medical care should
go beyond the usual doctor-patient relationship and should include laughter, joy, and a sense
of community to help with healing. This idea connects to a very old ethical guideline that tells
us not to do things to others that we would not want done to ourselves. Patch embodies this
principle, showing us that caring for someone means looking after their overall well-being, not
just their illness.
Environmental Ethics: The Connectedness of Life
In addition to this, ‘Patch Adams’ touches on environmental ethics, which is about
understanding how all living things are connected. For instance, Patch incorporates nature into
the hospital design by adding gardens, showing that he believes health care should focus on
more than just treating diseases. Instead, it should consider all parts of a person’s health:
physical, mental, and emotional. This reflects a consciousness about the environment; for
Patch, caring for the environment is not just an afterthought, but is deeply tied to the mental
and physical well-being of everyone.
Business Ethics: Balancing Profit and Purpose
The movie also contrasts the narrow focus on making money in the medical industry with
Patch’s vision of health care as a service to help people. The management at the medical school
thinks Patch is a troublemaker who might ruin their business and hurt their finances. This
situation highlights the ongoing struggle to find a balance between ethical practices and making
profits in any business. Patch’s decision to step down from his managerial role in Veronika’s
screening and his commitment to his patients shows a strong stand against the
commercialization of health care.
A Global Ethical Concern: Universal Healthcare and Social Justice in Patch Adams
“Patch Adams” also subtly argues for global ethics by highlighting the importance of access to
health care and social justice. The film makes it clear that everyone deserves quality health
care, regardless of how much money they have. While all the characters in the movie care for
patients, Patch is especially focused on helping those who are often overlooked, like homeless
people or those who are less fortunate. This reflects a global ethical viewpoint that aims to
create a fair world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential.
In conclusion, “Patch Adams” is not just an uplifting film; it serves as a serious reminder of
the moral responsibilities we all have in different situations. It encourages us to think deeply
about the state of the world and the importance of compassion and humanity, especially in
health care. The film presents an optimistic vision of the world that might seem hard to achieve,
yet it calls on all of us to strive for a future where health care is seen as a right for everyone,
not just a privilege for a few. It reminds us that nurturing the spirit and emotional well-being
of individuals is just as important as treating their physical ailments.
