So this is the doctor scene, about the cure. That sappy Zebra scene is little laughable and corny - but oh well.
Marlene at least objected it - and for that I respect that decision, and perhaps sympathize as the leader of a "group". (But more I think about, it was Hail Mary attempt on her account to hire Tess and Joel to deliver Ellie. Some leader, and friend of Ellie's mother, and literally closest person besides Joel to Ellie.)
At the same time, I am actually convinced that the doctor here is the absolute quack, who doesn't even understand what being a doctor under the Hyppocratic oath is nor has morality of one. Similar to organ donation situation - when the donor is alive and well. It's illegal and unethical, like those underground organ theft rings in China or whatnot. It is really disgusting to see, that the decision was more of less his insistence.
If Ellie was brain dead or can't live without being on a life support - it would haven't been any issue but we are talking about alive girl., a minor one in fact
He can't even answer to the question if it was Abby. If there's a selfish bastard in the game, that's that quack.
It is intertwined with the membrane? Why not get the sample from the cell and examine how it reacts to the virus first? Realistically, Ellie is much more valuable to the science "alive" than dead, figuring out how the virus works and what substance exactly stops it, etc... and I'm sure Joel and Ellie would have glad agree with it. But rushing in to kill her first and figure out what next? Oh yeah, the only person who actually was able to successfully host that "tumor", is now dead and gone? Maybe it's because it's something about Ellie's genes, not the virus itself is special?
And Abby saying - if it was me, do it on me. Riiiight. Big words from an angsty teen-ager. (Same goes to Ellie, that your life would have fucking MATTERED BS to Joel. Grow up.)
That's what bothers me. Sure, it's a post-apocalyptic situation of fantasy virus, and maybe they didn't have equipment or facility or whatnot - but the writers conveniently just overlooked, or ignored the very basic and logical science and medical ethics to begin with. Naughty Dog never really gave us that choice. It's like asking someone "Yes" or "No" question - which is almost always a convenient, divisive trap.
Sure that doctor didn't deserve to die, but Naughty Dog never gave the players the choice. (heck, you couldn't proceed unless you killed the doctor.) And killing off Joel for that reason in highly anticipated sequel in such a way - it's really does feel like betrayal, and retcon to certain degree.