Essay --

Bob is a successful businessman who works hard and supports his family. He has three children and his wife is not happy with him. She thinks he spends too much time working and not having enough time to spend with her and her children. He supports them financially, but is always busy with work and his clients. One day, his wife decides to tell him about how she feels, but he comes home that day and hugs her tightly. As a confused wife, she wonders what is wrong. He starts behaving differently from the very next day. He took her out to eat and made time to spend with the children. After a couple of weeks, Bob’s wife reads a letter from the doctor conforming that Bob has lung cancer and needs to set up an appointment as soon as possible. She goes to the doctor immediately and finds out that his lung cancer is in the last stage because he smokes about three to four packs of cigarettes every day. Bob doesn’t know that he is in the last stage, but his wife does. Furthermore, his wife breaks down and decides to be there for him so they could make it through. She forgets about all the complaints she had against him. Although, she could be lying because she knows he is suffering through a lung cancer, but this lie makes Bob really happy and he gains confidence that everything will be fine as long as his wife is there for him. A few weeks later, the doctor tells him that he has 50% chance of recovering, but in reality all the tests says that he has about 4 months to live. The doctor lies to Bob because he knows Bob will be depressed about it and would not be able to enjoy the last few months of his life. If the doctor told him the truth, he would become weak and depressed. Again, this lie makes Bob happy and he will cherish his last momen... ...ause he will believe the lie he was told. Deontologists would think about the consequences if he finds out the truth. The consequences will be negative if he does find out the truth. In this situation, Bob is the only one that is affected and not the doctor. All we want is to see Bob happy. I would say that lying to him is not wrong at least in this type of situation. Hurting his human dignity is nothing compared to hurting his mind psychologically. He would be more hurt hearing the truth and kill himself. Should the doctor let him commit suicide? Is it right to purposely hurt someone when they are already hurt and depressed? If it is our duty to avoid harming others, then this principle should be applied here. We cannot hurt poor Bob more by telling him the bitter truth. Lying is acceptable at least in this situation because we don’t want Bob to commit suicide.