A doctor will always be faced with difficult decisions, and there are many factors with the ability to influence that decision. The RIP system, however, eliminates that risk and comes to a conclusion based solely on anatomical conditions. “How important have social variables such as race, gender, age, and social class been in the past?” (para. 4.) These are some of the conditions that could potentially cause discrimination. Along with these factors is the outside influence of family. Although when it all comes down to it, all families want what’s best for their loved one, sometimes their sorrow or fear can lead to a skewed realistic view. For example, the RIP system bases its results on the likelihood of survival and “if the probability is 95 percent or better that the patient is going to die, regardless of treatment, it is recommended that treatment not be administered. However, if the odds are greater than 5 percent that the patient will survive, the computer not only indicates the probability of