Moral dilemma Number 2 A Callous Passerby?!


Question: Roger, a competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into
the water. The boy is screaming for help. Roger recognizes that there is no danger to himself if he jumps in to save the boy; he could easily succeed if he tried. Nevertheless,
he ignores the boy's cries. The water is cold and he is afraid of catching a cold – and he doesn't want to get his good clothes wet. "Why should I inconvenience myself for this
kid," Roger says to himself, and passes on. Does Roger have a moral obligation to save the boy? If so, should he have a legal obligation ["Good Samaritan" laws] as well?


Answers: Roger, a competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into
the water. The boy is screaming for help. Roger recognizes that there is no danger to himself if he jumps in to save the boy; he could easily succeed if he tried. Nevertheless,
he ignores the boy's cries. The water is cold and he is afraid of catching a cold – and he doesn't want to get his good clothes wet. "Why should I inconvenience myself for this
kid," Roger says to himself, and passes on. Does Roger have a moral obligation to save the boy? If so, should he have a legal obligation ["Good Samaritan" laws] as well?

Sadly, 'Good Samaritans' are very few and far between!

The moral obligation is for Roger to decide.

I think it would be impossible to implement a 'Good Samaritan' law - you could leave yourself wide open to litigation if you got involved.

Roger obviously has no morals otherwise he would have saved the boy.

Moral yes,legal no....but anyone in their right senses would save the boy.....morals and legals set aside.

Morally sounds like Roger will feel he has done his part by simply dialing 911 . I don't think he should be legally obligated ,trying to save a panicking swimmer has caused many a rescuer to loose their life...

I think you are under a moral obligation as long as it poses no serious physical harm to one's self. However!! A few years back I heard that someone performed CPR on a person who ended up dying anyway. The good samaritan was not CPR certified, and the family of the deceased took him to court to sue him. Can't remember what came of it..

Definitely... he should!

I really like the idea of Roger saving the kid and then..................being taken by a shark for the price of his weigh-up about getting wet! not killed mind you, just suitably shaken!!!

Ok well I would find a rope or a stick for the kid to grab chances are he will drown you ,but anyway back to the point of the story he is WRONG to ignore the kid

Roger isn't a callous passerby, he's a heartless piece of ****.



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