Question

professional duty
you are an emt (emergency medical technician) responding to a serious car crash. when you arrive, you recognize the people involved: one is a close friend, and the other is a stranger. both are seriously injured and need urgent medical help.
you quickly realize that:

• if you help your friend first, theres a chance they might survive - but the stranger will definitely die before you can get to them.
• if you help the stranger first, you can definitely save their life, but your friend will likely die before you can return to help them.

as a first - responder, your job is to treat the person with the best chance of survival - but emotionally, you are pulled toward helping your friend.

1. the moral dilemma: do you follow your professional duty and help the stranger, or do you follow your personal values and try to save your friend - even if it goes against protocol?
2. how would this situation be viewed in a court of law or professional review board?

Explanation:

1. As an EMT, professional duty emphasizes treating the patient with the best chance of survival. Saving the stranger aligns with this duty, while helping the friend over the stranger goes against protocol. In ethical decision - making, one must balance personal and professional values.
2. In a court of law or professional review board, if the EMT helps the friend first and the stranger dies, they may be held liable for negligence as they deviated from standard operating procedures. Professional review boards expect first - responders to act objectively based on medical need, not personal relationships.

Answer:

1. One should follow professional duty and help the stranger as it is the objective and ethical choice based on the goal of maximizing survival chances.
2. Deviating from protocol to help a friend may lead to legal and professional consequences such as being found negligent.