You are working as an employee in a private company. One afternoon in the office you get a frantic call from your wife that your two-year-old daughter is very ill and her condition is critical. Unfortunately, nobody is there around to help your wife in any way. Your car is the only option to take your daughter to the hospital; you have to rush to help your daughter as soon as possible.
You soon leave the office. On your way, back home you hit an old woman and she is critically injured and before you notice she dies. Nobody has noticed the accident as it has taken place on a stretch of road that’s always free of traffic and people. Your wife is calling you frantically for the help. Any delay would cost your daughter’s life.
Q: In this scenario what will you do? And why? What are the Values which come into the picture while dealing with situation?
Driving in an emotionally charged state has caused death of an ailing old lady. Since the lady is already dead and my daughter is struggling for life my immediate step would be to ensure that my daughter's life is not lost because of my emotionally charged reaction towards the dead lady.
I will call the police and tell them about the accident and give them my personal details. Law demands that the dead body should not be displaced to determine the exact cause of death. So, without disturbing the dead body i will drive to my home and take my daughter to the nearest hospital. My next step after ensuring her treatment would be to submit myself to the nearest police station.
This is a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder for which bail is an available remedy is the culprit submits to law. My submission and cooperation with police will earn me a bail immediately. So i can take care of my daughter. I will also inquire about the family of the dead lady to explain them the cause of accident and seek pardon for my own self-satisfaction. I will also offer them some monetary help if they are poor. Rest i will leave to the court to decide.
Values which come into the picture while dealing with situation are:
- Commitment to family
- Integrity (owning up to the old woman's accident)
- Courage of conviction
- Honesty
- Being dutiful citizen
Therefore, only if one is firm on principles and values, can one cater to both the tough situations- own daughter almost dying, and the unknown woman becoming a victim of unfortunate accident.
Whereas if the man had neglected the dying woman and left for his daughter, he might have been emotionally traumatized and guilty every moment of his life- as no one would know about it except himself. Moreover, he might have had to hide this incident from his wife too, to save her this trauma.
But now coming clean on everything, he can live with his head held high, even if he may be given some punishment by the Court. Due to his honesty, his sentence may even be reprieved. Therefore, if one does ethical and moral actions, then one has nothing to fear and often gets the right justice/results too.
