I went for a walk yesterday in a local in-city wilderness
preserve. It’s a trail that meanders around a lake, but has moderate ups and
downs. It has some rough surfaces that made it surprising to see strollers with
moms and dads and kids out for a walk. It looked like a national holiday. I
noticed that the dads generally did not appear glad to be there. One of the
advantages of the corona virus induced shutdown is the increased family
togetherness. I think people feel the stress and uncertainty of the future. The
fear of the unknown is a bigger problem now than the virus itself. That may
change though.
In some nations, Italy being an example, physicians are
having to make the tough choices associated with limited equipment such as
ventilators. If a 20 year old with severe breathing problems needs the
ventilator being used by a 75 year old, the switch is being made, perhaps not
in every such instance, but it happens. It must be an agonizing decision and
action for a physician when one is likely to die without the ventilator. Aside
from such pain, our health care workers are facing increased risk of
contracting the corona virus, and many have.
They deserve our gratitude and respect.
The choice described above brings up the question of which
life is worth more --- the life of a baby, or the life of an old person who has
contributed a great deal to society and continues to enrich other people’s
lives. The question is too vague. Worth more to whom? Each person’s life is worth more to himself and his
family. So let’s say the “whom” is humanity at large. It’s a hard decision…….if
you are a thinking person. We don’t know what the baby will do, but we do know that
the track record of the oldster suggests more good to come. It’s not a choice I
would want to make.
No comments :
Post a Comment