Why Is Charlie Gordon Unethical

Understandably, this angers and frustrates Charlie. This is probably impacting him more than he writes about, it's a big deal and such a big realization to just suddenly come to. Charlie doesn't quite understand all the psychological aspects and tests of the operation he went through and not being able to learn about it frustrates him too, like when he had to do the Rorschach test again and got very angry. Charlie's co-workers at the bakery are starting to notice a change in him and Charlie feels tension and a hostility between the group. Charlie remembers more incidents involving his parents, and they are argue about Charlie being “normal” or not.

Even though it was Charlies idea to do the operation it was not an ethical decision perform the experiment to enhance his intelligent by 3. the doctors knew about the all the risks of doing the experiment but still the did it any way without informing Charlie. That is the reason that the doctors ruined Charlies life. And that is the reason that Charlies doctors did not make an ethical

Another piece of evidence that Charlie's doctors weren't ethical when preforming on Charlie is the question "Has the patient been informed of benefits and risks, understood this information, and given consent?" (Seigler). Even though both Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss told Charlie the benefits, and Charlie understood the information and gave consent, the doctors didn’t inform Charlie of the risks. They didn’t tell him that not only he would lose all of his intelligence in a short matter of time, but most likely die. Charlie found that information on his

Algernon, a mouse that was one of the first successful animals to undergo the operation, had been studied by Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss, though they never concluded their studies - which makes their decision to experiment on Charlie unethical. Before experimenting on a human, it is common sense to finish testing to make sure that everything is safe and definite. In the essay, ‘Take Care: There’s More to Medical Ethics Than Absence of Harm’ Eric Kodish explains that “...as complex and complicated as issues are, doctors can help by asking themselves…: What do I need to do in order to take care of this person before me?”

First of all, why Charlie shouldn’t have gotten the surgery is because he started understanding everyone and how they felt. This stressed him out a lot. He felt like he didn't belong with others. “Now I know what it means when they say “to pull a Charlie Gordon.” I'm ashamed.” (209). In this sentence, Charlie recognizes why his friends liked having him around so much. It was so that they could make fun of him and play tricks on him for their own fun. Also Charlie had felt bad about a kid at a restaurant. “I jumped up and shouted, “Shut up! Leave him alone! It's not his fault he can't understand! He can't help what he is! But for

One reason why the operation on Charlie was unethical was that he could not fully grasp the concept of the procedure. For example, in Progress Report 1, Charlie wrote that Miss Kinnian, Charlie's teacher, told him about the procedure and he jotted down, "I hope [Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur] use me ... I want to be smart[sic]" (Keyes 514). To receive the operation was Charlie's dream because he wanted to enhance his intelligence, however, that was all he knew about the procedure. Since Charlie had a low intelligence, he could not see the pros and cons of the surgery, only what he wanted, which was to become smart, making the operation unethical. Also, in Progress Report 3, Charlie recorded his past on how people would ask him why he wanted to become smart. "I told them becaus all my life I wantid to be smart and not dumb ... I dont care if it herts[sic]" (Keyes 515). Being born with low intelligence made Charlie yearn to get smarter. However, because getting smarter

The doctors very well knew that this procedure was a large risk toward Charlie, but they did not tell him this information. The doctors did not know what the result of the operation would be, but put Charlie through it anyways. The doctors should have at least told Charlie that this was only an experiment that has never been done on a human before, then get Charlie's and Miss Kinnian's consent. Some people might say that the surgery was ethical because the doctors did tell Charlie about the information. The doctors, however, did not give Charlie enough details about the operation.

After the operation, in only a couple of months, Charlie starts showing signs of new intelligence. His grammar, improved, and he is able to reflect on what his does in the past something he wasn’t able to do before. He had finally gotten something use had always desired. Then, everything and everyone turned on him. In “PROGRESS REPORT 12” April 30th (pg. 60) Charlie writes: “now, they hate me for my knowledge and understanding. What in the name of god do they want of me? They’ve driven me out of the factory. Now I more alone than ever before…” Charlie got what he always wanted, and now he lost everything he had. It was a sacrifice it sounded like he didn’t want to make. I can tell just be the tone of his writing. This shows that we should embrace everything that we have. Charlie didn’t embrace everything, although he appreciated most of the thing he never became happy not being able to just enjoy life as it is.

Some people argue that the doctors were selfish in their actions and took advantage of Charlie's innocence or that they were completely heartless after Charlie relapsed and started to become mentally handicapped once again. When Charlie began to relapse back to his mentally handicapped state of mind, he didn't blame the doctors; he understood all of the risks of the operation and faced them head on. He used what time he had left to expand the research that the doctors had done. His research would help the doctors to further expand their work and help other

Charlie experiences drastic changes throughout the story. All of them are mentally due to the experimental operation he had. In the

Before the surgery Charlie had lots of friends and worked as a janitor in a factory. Charlie Gordon's doctors acted ethically when they performed the surgery to make him smarter. The doctors "need facts to make an ethical decision"(Siegler) and they had gathered enough facts because Algernon was a success. The doctors who provided Charlie with the surgery acted carefully and

Nemur nor Dr. Strauss alerted Charlie of the possible side effects of the experiment. Charlie's newfound super intelligence that drove a bigger wedge than ever before between him and his friends . Because of Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss , his friends that were once laughing were now staying away from him in fear " Once again now I have the feeling of shame burning inside me . This intelligence has driven a wedge between me and all the people I once knew and loved . Before , they laughed at me and despised me for my ignorance and dullness ; now , they hate me for my knowledge and understanding " (Keyes #) .

Beauchamp, Tom L., and James F. Childress. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 6th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.

Other say that charlie should not have had the surgery but i think he should because he was able to be smart however, Charlie’s increased intellect also allows him to become aware of the thing he was missing real love friendship and ratiol understanding obviously, Charlie’s brain functions much better after the

“It’s a good feelings to know things and be smart. I wish I Had it right now, if I had I would sit down and read all the time. Anyways I bet i'm the first dumb person in the world who ever found out something important for science”. The operation was for Charlie to become smart permanently. It didn’t work so I agree of the operation being bad.