Question

Одна женщина в Европе умирала от особого вида рака. Доктора считали, что одно лекарство могло бы спасти ее. Речь шла о форме радия, недавно открытой фармацевтом в этом же городе. Изготовление этого лекарства было дорогим, но фармацевт запрашивал за него еще в десять раз больше. Он платил за радий 400 долларов и просил за маленькую дозу лекарства 4000 долларов. Муж больной женщины Хайнц обращался ко всем знакомым, чтобы занять денег, и исчерпал все возможные законные пути, но смог собрать только 2000 долларов, что составляло лишь пол цены. Он рассказал аптекарю, что жена умирает, и попросил продать лекарство дешевле или разрешить ему заплатить позже. Но аптекарь сказал: «Нет, я открыл это лекарство и собираюсь заработать на нем». Итак, исчерпав все законные пути, Хайнц отчаивается и решает залезть в аптеку и украсть лекарство для своей жены. Предположим, умирает не его жена, а чужой человек. Следует ли Хайнцу красть лекарство для чужого человека?

Answer 1

Красть нельзя.
В таком критическом случае необходимо обратиться в благотворительные организации, фонды для получения помощи.
Также можно обратиться к государственным органам самоуправления.

Answer 2

Should Heinz Steal the Medicine for Another Person?

The situation presented involves Heinz, whose wife is dying from a specific type of cancer. Doctors believe that a newly discovered form of radium could potentially save her life. However, the cost of manufacturing the medicine is high, and the pharmacist is charging ten times more than the cost of the radium itself. Heinz has exhausted all legal means to gather the necessary funds but has only managed to collect half of the required amount. He pleads with the pharmacist to sell the medicine at a lower price or allow him to pay later, but the pharmacist refuses, stating that he intends to profit from it. In desperation, Heinz contemplates stealing the medicine for his wife.

The ethical dilemma here is whether Heinz should steal the medicine for another person, even if it is to save a life. To address this question, we need to consider different ethical perspectives and principles.

Ethical Perspectives and Principles

1. Consequentialism/Utilitarianism: This ethical perspective focuses on the consequences of an action. According to consequentialism, Heinz should steal the medicine if it maximizes overall happiness or minimizes overall suffering. In this case, saving a life could be seen as a greater good, justifying the act of theft. However, it is important to consider the potential negative consequences, such as legal repercussions or harm to the pharmacist.

2. Deontology: Deontological ethics emphasizes following moral duties and principles. From a deontological perspective, stealing is generally considered morally wrong, regardless of the circumstances. According to this view, Heinz should not steal the medicine, as it violates the principle of respecting others' property rights.

3. Rights-Based Ethics: Rights-based ethics focuses on protecting individual rights and freedoms. In this case, the pharmacist has the right to set the price for the medicine and profit from it. Heinz's right to save his wife does not necessarily override the pharmacist's property rights. Therefore, from a rights-based perspective, Heinz should not steal the medicine.

4. Virtue Ethics: Virtue ethics emphasizes the development of moral character and virtues. In this situation, virtues such as compassion, empathy, and courage are relevant. Heinz's actions could be seen as driven by his love for his wife and his willingness to take risks to save her. However, stealing is generally considered a vice, and virtues should guide individuals to find alternative solutions rather than resorting to theft.

Conclusion

Considering the different ethical perspectives, there is no definitive answer to whether Heinz should steal the medicine for another person. The decision ultimately depends on an individual's personal values, beliefs, and the weight they assign to different ethical principles.

It is important to note that this scenario is a hypothetical ethical dilemma and does not provide a real-life solution. In reality, seeking assistance from charitable organizations, exploring alternative treatment options, or engaging in open discussions with the pharmacist and medical professionals could be more appropriate approaches to address the situation.

Please remember that this response is based on a hypothetical scenario and should not be considered legal or ethical advice.