A mini psychology experiment...

**Kim** · 10-13-2004, 07:01 AM

A man finds out his beloved wife of 30 years has a terminal disease, and there is only one medicine that can save her life. The drug costs $1000, and insurance does not cover the cost. The man has tried every way to get the money and he can not. The pharmacy will not let him make payments or pay later. He can not get the medicine in any honest way, so he breaks into the pharmacy to steal the pills. He is arrested.

According to my professor, there will be a difference in the way males and females answer this question...Do you think it was ok that the man stole the medicine? What do you think his punishment should be?

**gear02** · 10-13-2004, 07:07 AM

I think it is ok to do it, and I would hope a judge would be lenient (community service at a place that works with people who need help, etc.)

I think if he shows that he had no other option to save a loved one, then he should do it, but he should also pay the consequences for breaking the law. It's unfortunate.

**nickel** · 10-13-2004, 07:13 AM

yes, if i were the man i would do the same thing, but i wouldn't get caught.

**angl2b** · 10-13-2004, 07:17 AM

I think it is a very sweet and thoughtful thing for the husband to do - hopefully the judge will be understanding about the circumstances.
I think it is ok that he did it - his punishment - I think he should probably just pay a fine at most.

**ski** · 10-13-2004, 07:22 AM

<FamilyGuy>Well, he could whore himself out to 20 fat chicks for $50 each... or 2 REALLY fat chicks for $500 each</FamilyGuy>

I think it would be okay if he managed to get them for his wife (and she hid them or lied about having them), then he got caught and punished. This guy doesn't get away with stealing $1000 for anything, no judge would let him off without community service to some time.

**nickel** · 10-13-2004, 08:01 AM

i am sure that is the what Kim's professor said that the guys would think it was OK, but that he should be punished for committing a crime, and women would feel the guy should not be punished for his act.

**ApltnHkyMutt** · 10-13-2004, 08:03 AM

if he cant afford to save $1000 he should probably qualify for medical assistance. and if medical assistance refused to cover the med he could have tried to get a Prior-Authorization from his doctor saying the medicine is required.

**eSDee** · 10-13-2004, 08:26 AM

It was OK. Should get probation.

**Merlin** · 10-13-2004, 08:33 AM

People seem to be a little more lienient because he is stealing the medicine. What if he robbed YOU for enough money to buy the medicine. That would be different.

I think stealing is wrong so I'm against this. What if the pharmacist can't afford something essential he needs because you stole $1,000 from him. It is not all about you and your needs.

Besides, he would get off easy because he is presumably not a career criminal and this being the first thing he has done. Also, he is clearly not thinking right.

**ShawnLee** · 10-13-2004, 08:52 AM

Yeah... This guy, for as admirable as his reasons, needs to face the crime and deal with the punishment. He broke the law and for the law to be dismissed so easily for one case is just wrong. Nay, the guy should pay.

**Nija** · 10-13-2004, 10:02 AM

Death By Ra-ra!

**Kevster** · 10-13-2004, 10:09 AM

This is the same topic as that groundbreaking Denzel Washington film, "John Q." that after 1 week in theatres went like a rocketsled straight to the video store.

[/sarcasm]

As for me, I agree with Merlin that stealing is wrong. Stealing the medicine for a good cause doesn't make it right and if he was successful it would have ramifications afterward for others. Yes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

**seqiro** · 10-13-2004, 10:10 AM

He just should hitch a ride to Canada where he can probably get the same drug for $100.

But yeah, I have no problem with him stealing the medicine.

**ray** · 10-13-2004, 10:10 AM

Was the man able to get the pills to his wife before he was arrested?

**irwin** · 10-13-2004, 11:01 AM

Aren't terminal diseases non-curable?

**Booyamos** · 10-13-2004, 11:07 AM

heh good point passwird. But i'd say he is right to steal it. But at the same time no on is above the law (unless you have $$$

) so he will still get punished. But for something like this it would be safe to assume the judge would give him a lesser punishment, probably community service or something similar. And then fox new or one of those channels would pick up the story and do one of the "we care" type news stories and people would contribute or a company would step up and help.

**blueindian** · 10-13-2004, 11:32 AM

my first instinct was that he should be let off lightly. upon futher consideration, the punishment should fit the crime, same as if i stole $1000 worth of the organic cotton sweatters my wants because I can't afford them.

**attgig** · 10-13-2004, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by ApltnHkyMutt

if he cant afford to save $1000 he should probably qualify for medical assistance. and if medical assistance refused to cover the med he could have tried to get a Prior-Authorization from his doctor saying the medicine is required.

by the time he gets through medical assistance, and they completely deny him, the wife would be dead.

Originally Posted by Kevster

This is the same topic as that groundbreaking Denzel Washington film, "John Q." that after 1 week in theatres went like a rocketsled straight to the video store.

[/sarcasm]

that's EXACTLY what popped into my head when reading this.

Originally Posted by seqiro

He just should hitch a ride to Canada where he can probably get the same drug for $100.

But yeah, I have no problem with him stealing the medicine.

I'll forward him some of my spammail saying I can get drugs for 5 bucks. he can buy some cialis and viagra while he's at it so he can have fun with his healthy wife.

**Maarchk** · 10-13-2004, 01:00 PM

So whats the answer to the experiment?

**DarkFury** · 10-13-2004, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Nija

Death By Ra-ra!

How about death by Snoo Snoo.

BTW... his punishment should be that he would be forced to stay with his wife for the rest of his days... That'll teach him!!!

**whitak24** · 10-13-2004, 01:35 PM

i say it was wrong (but entirely justifiable) for him to have stolen the drugs. as for his punishment, he should be forced to make restitution, and given probation.

**tupacboy** · 10-13-2004, 02:21 PM

hmm.. caltrans or save ur wife's life... yeah... not a hard one there...

**guiseppewv** · 10-13-2004, 03:21 PM

I would have done the same thing but I would know it was wrong and I would expect to be punished for it. That is what you call taking one for the team.

The man should be punished for it but hopefully the judge/jury will go light on him. If I were the judge I would force him to pay for the drugs (over a period of time since he does not have the $$$$) and any damages that were caused to the store during the breakin. I would fine him the legal minimum for his crime and I would give him no jail time. I would also chastise the pharmacy in my statement to the people for not working something out with the man.

**ialsohaveadream** · 10-13-2004, 05:07 PM

To those who went into tangents about insurance/medical assistance, the point is supposed to be that the man can't afford the medicine (this question is about 40 years old, so you have to cut it some slack). The question is usually asked to young children to see what stage of moral development they have reached (i.e. paternal: "stealing is wrong", compassionate: "he had the right reasoning", etc.).

To answer the question: yes, he should be punished by whatever the local law was.

**molecularfire** · 10-13-2004, 07:22 PM

My opinion has already been expressed a couple of times, so I'm not going to go into the details, just chime in with my opinion. In his place, I would probably steal the pills from the pharmacy also. That being said, it is against the law and I am intentionally screwing over someone to get what I want so if I get caught, I should be punished fairly based on what the law decrees.

The funny thing would be when I get out of jail and find out that my wife has re-married.

**ufcrusher** · 10-14-2004, 12:57 AM

Its wrong to steal, no matter what the reason. As for his punishment, restitution is the name of the game along with some reasonable jail time to be served on weekends. There is no chance the guy is going to be rehabilitated as it was the situation which caused the crime not something in the guy. (That is if he would never have done it without the current situation)

**kei2** · 10-14-2004, 01:29 AM

Punishment should fit the crime. Circumstance has nothing to do with it. I'm sure many thefts have some good reason behind them (at least in the culprits' minds) but if you do the crime you should have to do the time.

**Gothic Girl** · 10-15-2004, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by DarkFury

How about death by Snoo Snoo.

There's a great punishment. However, if they were married for 30 years, that means that she's probably pretty old by now. She's already lived her life, let her die.

Just kidding. I think it's great that he does this for his wife and probably should only get probation

**oblongmelon** · 10-15-2004, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by ufcrusher

Its wrong to steal, no matter what the reason. As for his punishment, restitution is the name of the game along with some reasonable jail time to be served on weekends. There is no chance the guy is going to be rehabilitated as it was the situation which caused the crime not something in the guy. (That is if he would never have done it without the current situation)

Martha Stewart stole the money of millions of Americans with her over priced crap that is sold at K-Mart stores everywhere...and didn't get any time in the hoosgow for it...but man, she makes one bad phone call and WHAMMY!...now she's making decorative license plate holders in some hi falootin juice bar club with about 200 of her well to do, snobbish cronies...bah. Throw the dude in jail, put his wife on a hefty morphine drip, and let her enjoy the remaining days of her terminal illness-pain free and in la la land.

**YaYo** · 10-16-2004, 01:55 PM

legally its obviously wrong to do something like that and the the justice system wouldn't find any answer justifiable. however, i think any man or woman for that matter, in that situation would do the same and this man did.

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