Riding the Moral Elephant
LIVING LIFE IN A MORAL WAY HAS BEEN LIKENED TO RIDING AN ELEPHANT.
We have moral intuitions that feel as big and as powerful as an elephant (Jonathan Haidt). Like the rider, we try to manage these moral intuitions through our thinking and reasoning. But at the end of the day, you may feel like a tiny rider sitting atop and trying to control your elephant-like responses.
MAiD CAN PRODUCE SUCH DEPTHS OF MORAL INTUITION.
For some nurses, it is terrible to think about hastening the death of another. For other nurses, to not hasten death is equivalent to a compassion failure. Some nurses simply do not know what to think. Honoring your intuition is important. Staying true to your values is an important part of conscience-informed care. However, we don’t necessarily need to stop there. We can also reflect on the factors that have informed the values and intuitions we hold.

