Question

Heinz's Dilemma A dilemma that Kohlberg used in his original research was the druggist's dilemma: Heinz Steals the Drug In Europe. A woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to produce. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together about $ 1,000, which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said, "No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it." So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug for his wife. a. What is an ethical dilemma? b. Based on your definition, does Heinz face with an ethical dilemma? c. If yes, please briefly explain what his dilemma is? Please make sure you incorporate the knowledge you gained from reading Chapter 1 into your answer. a. If you were in Heinz's place what would you do? Describe your action. b. Explain why you would act in that way? a. Based on your answer to question #2a, please explain which of Kohlberg's stages you would place yourself in?

Answer 1

1. A. The ethical dilemma in this case is that whether Heinz was right or wrong in stealing the drug to save the life of his wife. The druggist was charging 10 times the price of the drug and was money oriented. He did not feel the need to help Heinz by reducing the charges or allowing him to pay later, so that his wife would survive. Thus, Heinz stole from his shop.

B. Yes,

C. he had to decide whether to arrange for money from else where and let his wife suffer or steal the drug from the druggist. This is similar to choosing between ethics and legal activities. This is the ethical dilemma Heinz faces.

2. A. I may have done the same thing as Heinz tried his level best to arrange for the money but couldn't. I can't let my loved one die too. Besides, the druggist was himself unethical in charging such exhoberant amount. Hence I would have done the same act which Heinz did.

B. As I stated in the above answer, I couldn't have let my wife or any close relative suffer and die because of lack of unaffordable drug.

3. Stage 6, post conventional morality . Heinz had a moral duty towards his wife. Besides an individual's life is above anything in the world.