I need help???

Question

Writer to ‘Dear Abby’ Faces Child-Porn Counts

MILWAUKEE — A man who wrote to “Dear Abby” for advice on how to handle his fantasies about having sex with young girls was charged Wednesday with possessing child pornography after the columnist turned him in, authorities say. Paul Weiser, 28, was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography. He was ordered released on $10,000 bail on condition he avoid computers and contact with anyone under 18. Police said 40 pornographic photographs of children were found in his computer after his arrest Monday. “He acknowledges he needs help and denies ever acting upon any desires,” said prosecutor Paul Tiffin. “Dear Abby” columnist Jeanne Phillips, daughter of column founder Pauline Phillips, called police after receiving the letter. Jeanne Phillips, who shares her mother’s pen name, Abigail Van Buren, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel she agonized over whether to report Weiser, since the column’s credibility is based on anonymity given those seeking advice. “I lost sleep. Didn’t sleep for days, because I really believe this man wrote to me genuinely seeking help,” she said. “I was torn, because my readers do turn to me for help, yet there was the priority of the safety of those young girls.” She was said to be traveling on Wednesday and did not return a call seeking comment. Weiser could get up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count, if convicted. He did not speak during Wednesday’s court hearing except to answer “yes” when asked if he understood the proceedings. A preliminary hearing was set for March 25.

Associated Press


Do you think Dear Abby columnist, Jeanne Phillips, did the right thing by calling the police after she received Paul Weiser’s letter? State your stance on this issue, and describe how your moral reasoning led to your opinion.

Answer 1

Absolutely. She did the right thing. Even a psychiatrist has a legal obligation to report a patient who is a threat to the public. If public safety overrides doctor patient confidentiality then a writer obviously has to follow suit.

He claims not to act on his fantasies but has pics of under age girls. He may not be taking the pictures but is providing a market for the creeps that are. In my book that makes him just as bad.

Also if he wrote to a newspaper about this then some part of him wanted to be caught/discovered, so she has proved him with help.

Answer 2

Yes, she did the right thing. In almost all professional instances where confidence is generally guaranteed, such as a therapist/patient, Dr./patient, Pastor/Paritioner relationship, the professional is legally obligated to break that confidence and report the other person if he/she has adequate reason to believe that person may harm his/herself or others. In this instance I find there was enough evidence to conclude that there was a reasonable fear of harm to others. In this case, and any similar case, the safety of the children who were or might have been victims of this man's fantasies must take precedence over the man's right to confidentiality. And quite frankly, if he wrote to a national newscolumn, one can argue that he had already voluntarily given up his right to confidentiality; if he wanted to be truly anonymous and sincerely seek help, he could have found organizations, support groups, counselors, etc. in his area to deal with this issue.