Medical Ethics Board - Brief

You are a Norwegian medical ethics board, which has been convened to review the events at Rosenvold.
Your role is to gather evidence, ask probing questions, and weigh up the perspectives of some of the surviving protagonists. Your ultimate aim is to evaluate the merits of each protagonist's case, and arrive at an overall verdict. 
You will be interviewing three characters, who will each provide a brief statement in response to one of the following questions:
  1. [Mrs Alving] Was it ethically justifiable for you to conceal your husband’s behaviour from Oswald and the community?
  2. [Pastor Manders] Was your advice to Mrs Alving to stay with her husband morally and ethically responsible, given the consequences?
  3. [Regine Engstrand] What ethical obligations did others have toward you, and how did their choices affect your future?


After each presentation, you will ask two follow-up questions:

For Mrs Alving:
  • If transparency is generally considered an ethical virtue, why was secrecy the better choice in this case?
  • How do you respond to the argument that Oswald had the right to know his father’s history, especially given his illness?
For Pastor Manders:
  • Looking back, do you think your advice served the best interests of Mrs Alving and Oswald?
  • Would you offer the same guidance in the 21st century, given evolving views on marriage, morality, and individual well-being?
 For Regine Engstrand:
  • Do you think Mrs Alving had a duty to tell you the truth about your father earlier? If so, when?
  • If financial security is an ethical concern, was Engstrand ultimately justified in his treatment of you, despite his deception?


Mrs Alving - Brief

In advance of the hearing, you should prepare notes for a five-minute statement in response to the question: "Was it ethically justifiable for you to conceal your husband’s behaviour from Oswald and the community?"
Some points to consider:
  • What were your reasons for keeping the truth about Captain Alving a secret?
  • How did you weigh the potential harm of revealing versus concealing his actions?
  • Did your decision serve to protect Oswald, or did it ultimately cause him more harm?
  • In hindsight, would you make the same choice again?

During the hearing, the board will ask further questions - see their brief above. You may want to prepare for these.



Pastor Manders - Brief

In advance of the hearing, you should prepare notes for a five-minute statement in response to the question: "Was your advice to Mrs Alving to stay with her husband morally and ethically responsible, given the consequences?"
Some points to consider:

  • What moral and religious values influenced your advice to Mrs Alving?

  • What role did social expectations play in your guidance?
  • Do you believe duty to marriage outweighs an individual’s well-being?
  • Did you consider the possible harm that Mrs Alving and Oswald might suffer by keeping the marriage intact?

During the hearing, the board will ask further questions - see their brief above. You may want to prepare for these.


Regine Engstrand - Brief

In advance of the hearing, you should prepare notes for a five-minute statement in response to the question: "What ethical obligations did others have toward you, and how did their choices affect your future?"
Some points to consider:

  • How do you feel about Mrs Alving's and Pastor Manders’ decision to keep the truth from you?
  • What responsibilities did your supposed father, Engstrand, have toward you? Did he fulfil them?
  • Do you think Oswald treated you fairly when he suggested you stay and care for him?
  • How do you think class and power influence the way others see and treat you?
  • You ultimately chose to leave the Alving household. What does that decision say about your values and sense of agency?

During the hearing, the board will ask further questions - see their brief above. You may want to prepare for these.




Last modified: Sunday, 23 February 2025, 11:29 PM