Prophylaxis is wrong
A prophylactic medical treatment is defined as any treatment or procedure which seeks to prevent illness rather than treat it. These might include:
- childhood vaccines against potential future diseases (both common and rare) - booster doses of vaccines (e.g., a tetanus shot given after possible exposure to the pathogen) - antibiotics (e.g., when given to a patient undergoing surgery) - antiviral therapies (e.g., drugs that are meant to prevent transmission of HIV) - preemptive surgical removal of body parts in healthy individuals (e.g., circumcision, appendectomy, mastectomy) - taking of nutritional supplements to prevent illness
Avoiding behaviours that pose a risk of illness will not be considered (e.g., not smoking to avoid lung cancer). Only active interventions will be considered as prophylactic.
Arguments for and against prophylaxis, both from a deontological (rule-based) and consequentialist perspective will be weighed against each other.
| Statement of the claim | Prophylaxis is wrong |
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| Nature | Ethical |
| Counterclaim | Prophylaxis is right |
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