It has been decided that Jerry will be receiving the heart.  His current health status poses the least risk towards the heart.  There is a better chance for the extension of life. No matter who is chosen to receive the heart, happiness is only going to be achieved with one person.  With the Greatest Happiness Principle of John Stewart Mill in mind, the choice will keep Jerry’s family happy he will be around for a while longer.  The community will be happy because he will be able to keep his store around.

The other reason for deciding on Jerry is the fact that there is a lower risk of something happening to Jerry even after the transplant.  The other candidates show high risks.  It would be more cruel to give hope of  a longer life, especially in a situation where it cannot be promised.  The greater happiness would not be achieved in these situations.

Each of the possible recipients has the right to receive the heart and continue living as long as possible.  Emmanuel Kant taught a second formulation which demands respect towards people and their rights.  None of these candidates is a means to an end.  They are the end.  This decision is not to make the person chosen just a way to keep the heart around longer.  They will have the heart as long as they live.

Within the decision, Ozzie is a rehabilitated drug user.  He is contributing as a mentor in an after school program.  The decision to eliminate him as a candidate comes from the fact that he is using the after school program as a means to an end.  This means the students he is mentoring is his way of trying to get the heart.  There is still the risk that he will go back to using drugs.  Using Ozzie as an end in accordance with Emmanuel Kant’s second formulation would not be possible.  The greater happiness would not be achieved either.  The only one that would be happy is him.  John Mill would disprove giving the heart to someone who would not try to achieve a greater happiness.

Twelve year old Lisa has not had a long enough life.  It is not fair that she has the medical conditions that she has.  There is no telling how much longer she has to live.  Even though her father did offer $2 million towards the hospital, it still plays no part in the decision that has been made.  The money would help the hospital out, and it would possibly buy time for Dr. Doe to spend it with his daughter.

Lisa’s age does not play a part in this decision either.  Granting her the transplant would be treating her as a means instead of an end, much like Ozzie’s situation.  As much as it hurts to have to make this decision, no one person has more of a right to live than the other.  Providing a false hope for people is just as cruel.  People are not just a way to keep a heart beating.  They are the ones who bring happiness to other people.  By giving the heart to one of the other candidates, there is a higher risk of shortening their life.