Did Heinz need to steal the drug? Why? Would it change anything if Heinz did not love his wife? Should the police arrest the chemist for murder if the woman died? Why? What if the person dying were a stranger, would it make any difference?
Read carefully the story written by Kohlberg (1984), after which you will answer the following guide questions.
Answering a Moral Dilemma
Heinz’s wife was dying from a particular type of cancer. Doctors said a new drug might save her. The drug had been discovered by a local chemist, and Heinz tried desperately to buy some, but the chemist was charging ten times the money it cost to make the drug, and this was much more than Heinz could afford. Heinz could only raise half the money, even after help from family and friends. He explained to the chemist that his wife was dying and asked if he could have the drug cheaper or pay the rest of the money later. The chemist refused, saying that he had discovered the drug and was going to make money from it. The husband was desperate to save his wife, so later that night he broke into the chemist’s and stole the drug.
Guide Questions:
- Did Heinz need to steal the drug? Why?
- Would it change anything if Heinz did not love his wife?
- Should the police arrest the chemist for murder if the woman died? Why?
- What if the person dying were a stranger, would it make any difference?
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