The Doctor's Choice

Dr. Reeves had two patients who both needed an emergency organ transplant. Only one organ was available. Patient A was 28 with two young children. Patient B was 65 but had spent 40 years saving thousands of lives as a surgeon. Dr. Reeves chose Patient A. Patient B died that night. A colleague told her she should have chosen the surgeon because his future work would have saved more lives. Dr. Reeves said she couldn't put a value on one life over another — she chose the younger patient because they had more years ahead. If she had chosen differently, would that have been more ethical or less?

The Silent Witness

Marco was walking home when he saw his best friend's car parked outside a restaurant. His best friend was supposed to be on a business trip. Through the window, Marco could see his friend having dinner with a woman who was not his wife. Marco said nothing. Six months later, his friend's wife found out and filed for divorce. She asked Marco: "Did you know?" He admitted he had. She said: "If you had told me, I could have left sooner instead of wasting six more months of my life." Marco's friend said: "If you had told her, you would have destroyed my marriage." Marco still doesn't know if he should have spoken up.

The Company Secret

Jana worked at a chemical company. She discovered that the company had been dumping waste illegally for years. Her manager told her to forget what she had seen. Jana reported it anonymously to the environmental agency. The company was fined €2 million, and three managers were fired — including one who had nothing to do with the dumping. Jana was never identified, but she watched an innocent colleague lose his job because of her report. If she hadn't reported it, the pollution would have continued. If she had reported it openly, she would have been fired. She chose the anonymous route, and someone else paid the price.

The Lifeboat

In 1842, a ship sank in the Atlantic. Thirty people crowded into a lifeboat designed for seven. The boat was sinking. The first mate ordered the crew to throw passengers overboard to save the rest. Fourteen people were thrown into the sea and drowned. The remaining sixteen survived. At the trial, the first mate said: "If I hadn't given that order, everyone would have died." The jury found him guilty of manslaughter but gave him a minimal sentence. The judge said it was the hardest case he had ever heard.