How do our own preconceptions influence our decisions?

This was from a class some years in the past now, but the exercise still holds my interest, and perhaps will ignite a heated discussion here in the blog. Time shall tell.


You are a member of a surgical team at the World's Greatest Hospital. All the patients listed below MUST receive a heart transplant TODAY or else they will die. There only TWO hearts available and YOU must decide, from this list, which two patients will be heart-donor recipients.

1. A seventy-year old female U.S. Senator credited with creating and protecting the nation's first National Health Plan.

2. A Hispanic ex-officer who is a very successful drug dealer. His "business" allows him to hire community youth, support his entire extended family of fifteen, and be perceived by the community as a leader.

3. An African-American Vietnam veteran and amputee who created a national training program for people with disabilities. Hie is under investigation for possible embezzlement of program funds to support a known gambling addiction.

A White fifteen-year-old female who tested intellectually "gifted." She is on drugs and supports her habit through prostitution.

5. A scientist/researcher who is know to be closely associated with a white-supremacist group and is very close to discovering a cure for AIDS.

6. An ex-Roman-Catholic priest who works with small children in a day-care center. He is homosexual and a strong gay-rights advocate. His lover recently tested HIV positive.