An African country is experiencing high rates of a fatal disease. The only means of reducing infections is to kill all of the sheep in the country that carry the disease. The country’s health department asks an American doctor to do research to identify the number of people afflicted with the disease. The country wants to decide if enough people are afflicted to kill the sheep, as it would severely reduce the food supply.
The doctor needs to take blood samples from 1,000 villagers. He tries to explain the reason for his study to the villagers, but they do not believe that diseases are caused by viruses; but instead by bad spirits. A government representative says that the villagers will gladly give their blood if told that it is part of a religious ceremony that will scare the bad spirits away. Should the doctor agree to the deception?
First try to explain in different terms to the villagers why the blood samples need to be taken and then explain the benefits which can be provided to the country if they allow doctor to get them. If this is still ineffective, deception would be necessary in order for the doctor to provide great benefits to the country with very few risks.
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