Similar in some aspects to

lifeboat ethics is the process of

triage. This process of
allocating scarce resources has
been commonly practiced and
justified in the crisis of war or
disaster. When used in the time
of war the practiced is usually
to divide the wounded into
three groups.
1st group
The walking wounded who have
received superficial wounds
that require minimal care.
These soldiers are often
ignored during the first few
minutes, or patched up
immediately if they can be sent
back to the battlefield.
2 group
nd

Are the fatally wounded

who are given available
narcotics to ease their
pain but are not treated
for their injuries
3 group
rd

Are the seriously

wounded. These are
treated immediately as
they care will bring
about the highest
percentage of
survivors.
 In 1842, the American ship the
William Brown stuck an iceberg near
Newfoundland and began to sink. The
crew and half the passengers managed
to leave the vessel in two
overcrowded lifeboats. After twenty-
four hours one of these vessels began
to founder in the high seas . The crew
became concerned that all lives would
be lost unless they decrease the
numbers in the boat. The decision was
to give priority to married men and all
women.
Under this system, fourteen
single men were thrown
overboard and two young
women , sisters of men in the
water chose to join them.
Several hours later, the survivors
in the lifeboat were rescued by
passing vessels.
 Upon their return in Philadelphia
all of the crew –with the exception
of seaman Holmes—disappeared .
Holmes was brought before the
court to face trial for murder of
the individuals thrown overboard.
The defense argued that the action
were needed t save lives and that
there were no volunteer to enter
the water .
The defense justified the
decisions using the utilitarian
value of keeping families
intact and the duty oriented
value of protecting helpless
females.
The court using a
different duty oriented
approach based on the
sacred nature to each
life, stated that a lottery
would have been the only
ethical method, and
seaman Holmes was