The 'simple' ethical question revisited.

[Guest]

For those that have taken first year head-shrinking classes this will be quite familiar. There are also quite a few who, like me, had this scenario presented to them via school. When I entered the TAG program around age six or seven I remember them asking me this and I believe I gave them the ‘wrong’ answer.

Anyhow.

There is a man named Robert and his wife, Alicia, is very sick. She has a terminal disease and requires a very expensive drug for treatment. Robert doesn’t have enough money to pay for the drug, doesn’t have the ability to raise enough money, and their insurance company won’t cover them for it. Robert goes to the pharmacy but the druggist refuses to give him the drug unless he can pay.

What should Robert do?

 

[Guest]

And why?

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

is kill himself in an accidental accident with lot of life insurance in hopes it will be enough to aid in the purchase of his wife meds for her duration, a viable option?

 

[Rhys]

taking the bait

Talk to the Dr that made the prescription. Find out if there is a drug on the insurance formulary that his wife could take and that insurance would pay for.

alternate scenario:
Contact insurance company describe problem ask for their help.
Contact assistance agencies and consumer groups for information and help.

 

[Guest]

is kill himself in an accidental accident with lot of life insurance in hopes it will be enough to aid in the purchase of his wife meds for her duration, a viable option?

Yes.

 

[seXieleXie]

Nevah, how would you answer. personally, i am stumped. i have no clue you brought it up, what would you do?

 

[Unclebill]

Find out who manufactures the drug. Contact the company's public relations department, explain your situation and ask if they can would make available reduced cost or donated medication as part of their public relations program.

Many drug companies have such programs and the beneficiaries are usually seniors and the indigent. They also provide samples of some drugs directly to physicians to get their name/product known

 

[sigh]

rhys and unclebill are exactly right...there are usually tons of alternate ways to get what you need (at least in the states)

are we to assume that all these alternates have been exhausted?

if so, then show up at the emergency room at a catholic hospital and talk yourself into getting admitted...one way or the other you'll get your drugs...i'm a pharmacist in one and i've never seen it fail yet...99.9% of the time i have no idea what sort of insurance a patient has, or even if they are insured at all...it's irrelevant to me

 

[seXieleXie]

well how the heck would you answer that if you were six or seven years old?

 

[Never]

SeXieleXie,
I’ve changed this scenario quite a bit from its typical format.
Typically the situation and question are phrased so that the only action available to Robert is stealing the medicine. You’re supposed to say whether or not you think he should and why and your moral maturity is evaluated on this scale they have of possible responses.

 

[Laurel]

Stealing IMHO is not as great a crime as allowing someone to die. If there are no other options, and assuming he doesn't harm the pharmacist in the theft, I would say steal the drug, administer it to the wife, then once she's better he can turn himself in for the crime.

 

[Marxist]

Uncle Bill is right sorta. Free stuff is readily available through indigent programs at your local doc. sponsored by the manufacturer of the drug.

 

[Never]

If I remember correctly that would be the 'right' answer.

By the by, thank you for the help on the Editor's Forum Laurel.

 

[Mensa]

Ummmmmm!

Go to a "free clinic"?

 

[Laurel]

Anytime, my inquisitive little minx.

 

[Never]

"Inquisitive little minx"
I like the sound of that.. maybe I'll make it my next title.

 

[Guest]

 

[sch00lteacher]

Yep, stealing it is the right answer. Been a hell of a long time but I do remember this one.

 

[Never]

The Literotica answer: Have Alicia become a hooker and buy her own drugs. Yes, that sounds about right.