Is this unethical?

Question

Okay, let's say that a friend wanted to do something that you knew was dangerous. And that simply continuing to do what he was doing would kill him. Let's say you knew that if he did not stop doign this, he would definitely die. But your friend feels that the alternative is stupid, imaginary, and a waste of time. And you even know that any expert opinion would be rendered as irrelevant by your friend. But you are convinced that if he continues on this path, he will die.

Should you keep silent? Or do you have a responsibility to allow him to continue on his path. Even though this path will definitely kill him?

What would you do? Do you have a moral obligation to stop him?

The person is not on drugs and it is not a situation that can be resolved by calling the police.

I find it encouraging that most Christians here realize the moral responsibility we have to stop people from hurting themselves.

Answer 1

What you need to do is stop trying to convert him to your religion for a few minutes and actually listen to what he says. If you can't listen to him, why should he listen to you? As long as you dismiss every word of his out of hand, you should expect him to do the same.

Also, you should make sure that you don't define expert as "someone who agrees with me." Chances are good that you haven't actually talked to an expert on the issue. To truly be an expert, you must consider both sides of the issue before making your decision. Few people do that on matters of religion.

Answer 2

yes you do have a moral obligation to help him. If you do not offer any assistance, you do not show any care for your friend. Your friend is delusional, you need to kick some sense out of him, tell him to get some help. He seriously need to be on some medication.

You should call a doctor.. trick him that you are going to a Friends house or something so he would come along.. he need professional help. If you don't help him now, he will die and if you let him do it without showing any effort to help him go on the right path, you were not be supportive and it shows you don't care. Even if you did everything you can , but he still does, at least you tried.

Answer 3

Try conducting an intervention.

An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one, or often many, people (usually family and friends) to get someone to seek professional help with an addiction or some kind of traumatic event or crisis.

Interventions have been used to address serious personal problems, including, but not limited to, compulsive gambling, compulsive eating and other eating disorders, self-mutilation, "workaholism", tobacco smoking, alcoholism, and various types of poor personal health care. Interventions have also been conducted due to personal habits not generally considered harmful, such as video game addiction, excessive television viewing, and excessive computer use.

Interventions are either direct, typically involving a confrontative meeting with the alcohol or other drug dependent person (the most typical type of intervention) or indirect, involving work with a co-dependent family to encourage them to be more effective in helping the addicted individual. In the same sense, direct interventions tend to be a form of short-term therapy aimed at getting the addicted person into inpatient rehabilitation, whereas indirect interventions are more of a long-term therapy, directed at changing the family system, and therefore promoting healing of addiction.

Answer 4

I'll not keep silent.
I do feel that I have a responsibility not to allow him to continue on his path.
The observation that the path will definitely kill him is matter of time and circumstance, since death will happen only at the destined time.
I'll see that he is not getting succes in his attempts emerging as the one you narrated.
I do have a moral obligation to stop him.

Answer 5

I truly believe that if you have exhausted all other methods the only method is to walk away. That may seem harsh but you have to remember that he chose this life that he is leading not you. You didnt chose for him to do what ever it is that he is doing. I believe that if you have tried to help him and done everything that you can think of to help then you have fulfilled your moral obligation. I believe that every person has a moral obligation to always try to help when they can but if you have done this then always know that you did everything that you could do to help him. You cannot fix something that you did not break. Good luck.

Answer 6

You do not have a moral obligation to stop him.

I would tell my friend what the consequences of his actions would most likely be. After telling my friend what the consequences are, I would ask him which experience he would like to have. If the experience he wants to have is something I would want for myself in the same situation, then I would help him to achieve that experience.

Answer 7

We will all die one day.

You have a moral obligation to respect your friend's beliefs as long as he is not depriving anyone else of their rights in the process. The only reason to question his path is to ask if he is truly contributing to the world and living up to his potential.

And no, your friend won't go to hell for not believing in God, so give it up.

Answer 8

You are your brother's keeper. It's not unethical and you do have a moral obligation to do what you know in your heart is right. You know the answer..act now ! It's not often you have the chance to save or change a life. You won't regret it..I promise.

Answer 9

You do have the moral obligation to stop him. If not now when? If not you then who? What kind of citizen would you be if you did not take PERSONAL responsibility for those around you.

Answer 10

If you are really friends, then you should be able to say uncomfortable things to each other. You should be able to share your deep feelings for his welfare, whether he likes what he hears or no!

If friends (and family) don't have the right to speak to each other about STUPID STUNTS, then who does?

Talk, share, cry. Scream, yell, rant, rave! Call his family, other friends, doctor, lawer, indian cheif. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET YOUR POINT ACROSS TO THIS IDIOT YOU LOVE SO MUCH.

If he still won't listen, say goodbye, and walk away. Tell him what you will say at his funeral. Then go away and cry.

You are not his brain or his conscience. Your responsibility will be fulfilled.