The value of life Options

[tkproduce]

A lot of debates seemed to be based on this, so I thought I might make a new topic out of it.

Obviously, life is a valuable thing. But how valuable is it to you? Different people have different opinions.

Say this kid at a school has somehow managed to pick up a fatal disease - maybe something like ebola, but worse. If he is not killed in the next 10 minutes, the disease is contagious enough to infect everyone in the school. You're a doctor with a needle in your hand and you are given the responsibility of making the decision of whether or not to kill this kid. What would you do?

Okay, a very unrealistic situation, but it is slightly similar to other situations. Like the war in Iraq. Do you think the lives of some are worth sacrificing for the welfare of others? The debate about abortion. Letting every foetus with a potential for life to live on, wanted or unwanted, may seem ideal to you, but looking at the big picture, I can see overpopulation and poverty.

So how much do you value individual life?

[illumineering]

This isn't a real dilemma. (Based on the scenario that started the thread.)
Killing the host of the virus won't contain the rate of infection. The whole area needs to be quarrantined and decontaminated. Killing the kid in 10 minutes won't change anything. The likelihood of infection is based on proximity to the carrier. Isolation, sterilization and education are the most effective ways to contain an outbreak.

[SillyCourtney]

This isn't a real dilemma.  (Based on the scenario that started the thread.)
Killing the host of the virus won't contain the rate of infection.  The whole area needs to be quarrantined and decontaminated.  Killing the kid in 10 minutes won't change anything.  The likelihood of infection is based on proximity to the carrier.  Isolation, sterilization and education are the most effective ways to contain an outbreak.

No, it's not a real dilemma. It was just a made-up example. It was just for you to answer on what would you do.. not really to be taken seriously.

But yes, I would kill the child. No reason to infect others.

As for abortion.. I'm with you. Give a lady a choice for crying out loud! This world is already so overpopulated, why have another baby you can't take care of or that you don't want? AND, if you don't want the baby and you have to keep it, you're not exactly going to love it and take care of it. This will definetly hurt the child's self-esteem and self-value. And who would want that?

[Paradox of Life]

No, it's not a real dilemma. It was just a made-up example. It was just for you to answer on what would you do.. not really to be taken seriously.

But yes, I would kill the child. No reason to infect others.

As for abortion.. I'm with you. Give a lady a choice for crying out loud! This world is already so overpopulated, why have another baby you can't take care of or that you don't want? AND, if you don't want the baby and you have to keep it, you're not exactly going to love it and take care of it. This will definetly hurt the child's self-esteem and self-value. And who would want that?

I was afraid you'd start saying "BUT IT'S MURDER!!"

Anyway, how is this about life value? How much value in life can a kid have when he's a safety threat to everyone around him and his last option is to die? Um, is it not obvious? Kill the kid so you can save everyone else and end his misery. I have value in my own life; perhaps less than others, but there are things in life that I value and wouldn't want to give up. I think I'm getting sidetracked now. How's this a debate?