What is the value of a human
life? How does one determine the
value? Is there a complex mathematical
equation that can describe it? What
started me thinking about this, is the arrival of the first of two American Ebola
patients in the US. Certainly these people
deserve good medical treatment. But
then, don't all those stricken with Ebola deserve good medical treatment? It seems one component of the equation that
determines the value of a life is nationality.
An American life apparently is worth more than one from West
Africa. Individuals with important roles
in our society, such as the president, seem to rank higher. Those who have committed crimes, especially
heinous crimes, seem to rank lower. I'm
not sure I'm willing to go into the realm of evaluating the value of a life
based on societal status or intellectual contribution. So, to equalize those factors, my thoughts go to babies. Those small beings that
ensure the survival of our species and contain within them enormous
possibilities. What is the value of a
baby's life? Is the life of my baby
worth as much as that of my neighbor?
What about Bill Gates, is the life of his baby worth the same as mine? Should money be brought into the
equation? How should I be defining the
word ‘value’? As usual, I have more
questions than answers.
Good questions all....and there is no doubt that with money and status comes great privilege. Some poor guy could be on the waiting list for an organ transplant and then someone famous ends up going to the front of the line. As a childfree person I have also been rubbed the wrong way when listening to news stories about a tragedy and the 'including x many children' is pointed out. So the adults that died had no value? They aren't worth mentioning? Why point out how many kids? This ebola thing is pretty scary and I seem to be among a majority in thinking that moving 2 patients here is a really bad idea.
ReplyDeleteThese are powerful questions and ones that raise big debates. The Ebola virus, quite frankly, scares me and I think of the bubonic plague during the middle ages that devastated almost all of Europe. I recall reading there was one town-I can't recall if it was in Belgium or France or even n=Northern Germany but I know it was in the Northern area...anyway, the town officials quarantined the town. Anyone coming in was shot and anyone leaving could not come back. Drastic...yes...did it work? Yes!! I believe these 2 people should have stayed in Africa and been treated there and if they were given certain meds to help them then all should have been given this. A child, even though I have no children, has their life ahead of them and should be given all that one can. These are tough questions. I would lock the whole area down with no planes going in or out except for medical needs. The medical teams are much more aware of what to do than the average person. Unfortunately, as it was and will be, money talks, nationality talks and your last name talks. Someone named Kennedy or (God help us) Khardassian works much better than a Swartz or Jones. It is a shame. Think of the Australian couple who got a Thai surrogate. Twins were born but the male has heart issues and has down's. What does the couple do? They only take the girl!! The left the boy-their own child! If they couldn't have children or carry a child, why didn't they adopt? Why did are they not responsible for both children?? Questions abound, heads shake in disbelief, fear comes into play and level heads must prevail amidst this world where fairness doesn't exist
ReplyDeleteso many questions ... without answers. Or I guess answers that any of us want to admit (out loud). Life and all its many hierarchies are mind numbing to think about when inequality is brought into the discussion - because it is so systemic
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. Isn't there some kind of saying about the first breath babies take is the only time they are equal for the rest of their lives? Or something like that!
ReplyDelete