What would you do?

[Vegitto]

What if:
You go to the doctor's office on a happy, shiny day for an STD-test. You just got hired at some special facility, and company policy requires it. A few days after the test, the doctor phones you, and asks you to come and see him. Once you're there, you're told that you have terminal AIDS, and will live for another 2 to 3 months.

Here's the catch: You're still a virgin. The doctor suspects that the bloodtransfusion you were given after your car crash 2 years ago was contaminated with AIDS.

Governement officials offer you a large sum of money if you keep your mouth shut. You're very poor, and with that money, you could buy healthcare to die comfortabely. Or, you could refuse the money, and go to the media. That, ofcourse, would mean that you wouldn't receive any healthcare, as your insurance has abandoned you since they learned you had AIDS.

You can't take any money from your family, as they are poor. You can't accept the money and then go to the media, as the governement officials swore to you that they'd kill your family and friends if you did that. You can't sue the hospital, as you have no evidence.

What will you do?

 

[DaTT]

Money buys happiness.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: DaTT
Money buys happiness.

not always true

anyway, this type of thing has been known to happen. its not like its some super top secret government project. you could probably still go to the media and sue the hospital anyway.

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: DaTT
Money buys happiness.

But, in this case, also death to other people. If you don't contact the media, a gigantic bloodtransfusion scandal may never be known, and people might be infected with AIDS!

 

[imported_LoKe]

I'd just take the money, then, after I get it, I'd go to the media. I mean, I'm dying soon so what do I have to lose?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: DaTT
Money buys happiness.

But, in this case, also death to other people. If you don't contact the media, a gigantic bloodtransfusion scandal may never be known, and people might be infected with AIDS!

no, you sue the hospital and the media finds out and you get your money AND save other people. this is a bad what if question

 

[Buck Naked]

:music:Take the money, and run.:music:
Move to another country, and report the problem from there

 

[Vegitto]

What if editted .

 

[Vegitto]

BUMP! Very interested in the results .

 

[RadioHead84]

Originally posted by: Buck Naked
:music:Take the money, and run.:music:
Move to another country, and report the problem from there

radiohead...


Yeah i would take the money and then expose them..your gonna die anyway...screw em

 

[DAGTA]

Cure myself.

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: RadioHead84

Originally posted by: Buck Naked
:music:Take the money, and run.:music:
Move to another country, and report the problem from there

radiohead...


Yeah i would take the money and then expose them..your gonna die anyway...screw em

Read . They'll kill your family if you do that .

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Go to media and hope someone will get on my side to take down the government coverup / get donations to cover my final preparations.

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: DaTT
Money buys happiness.

But, in this case, also death to other people. If you don't contact the media, a gigantic bloodtransfusion scandal may never be known, and people might be infected with AIDS!

Are you working out a plot for a book?

To answer your question:

I try to avoid Pyrrhic victories or fights. What good would going to media do? When it comes to AIDS\HIV this country has reverted back to Middle Ages in terms of its thinking about disease. Would the media champion someone who has the infection and is aparently trying shift the "blame" onto someone else?

I would take the aid offered and try to make my remaining time as confortable as possible.

 

[Leper Messiah]

eh. nearly nothing is "terminal". magic johnson's has had HIV/AIDS for how long? I'd take the money.

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: LoKe
I'd just take the money, then, after I get it, I'd go to the media. I mean, I'm dying soon so what do I have to lose?

Exactly.

 

[cheapgoose]

i want to say I'd do the right thing, but if my family is poor, I would def. take the money and give it to them.

 

[Conky]

So... did they hire you or not?

 

[Siddhartha]

There is an inherent conspiracy subplot in your question. Why would anyone be guilty for taking the money? Why would government officials try to keep this quiet?

 

[Xyclone]

It's only 2-3 months. I would die in agony but save others.

 

[ohtwell]

I'd accept the money and then give it to my family instead of using it all for myself.

Who would you be helping by telling that story? All you would cause is chaos, because then people would be paranoid about the blood they've received. Everyone makes mistakes and no test is fail-proof. Somehow it was missed and running to the media would do nothing but cause unnecessary paranoia, IMO.


: ) Amanda

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
What if:
You go to the doctor's office on a happy, shiny day for an STD-test. You just got hired at some special facility, and company policy requires it. A few days after the test, the doctor phones you, and asks you to come and see him. Once you're there, you're told that you have terminal AIDS, and will live for another 2 to 3 months.

Here's the catch: You're still a virgin. The doctor suspects that the bloodtransfusion you were given after your car crash 2 years ago was contaminated with AIDS.

Governement officials offer you a large sum of money if you keep your mouth shut. You're very poor, and with that money, you could buy healthcare to die comfortabely. Or, you could refuse the money, and go to the media. That, ofcourse, would mean that you wouldn't receive any healthcare, as your insurance has abandoned you since they learned you had AIDS.

You can't take any money from your family, as they are poor. You can't accept the money and then go to the media, as the governement officials swore to you that they'd kill your family and friends if you did that. You can't sue the hospital, as you have no evidence.

What will you do?

There are many problems with your plot line.

The biggest is "terminal AIDS." If you are going for a routine STD test and are not sick, you do not have "AIDS." You are, at worst, HIV positive. Most people with HIV live for years, even decades before AIDS sets in. And now, with the meds, many will live long, full lives.

Finally, there are enough people who have contracted HIV through transfusions and gone public/sued... enough to destroy your plot point. Additionally, the chances of now contracting HIV through transfusion is extremely remote. It's screened multiple times by separate entities.

Finally, it is illegal for your existing health insurance to drop you for a non-pre-existing condition. The burden of proof is on them to prove you contracted HIV before they insured you... A long shot. They may limit how much they pay out, and your insurance runs out after a while, but they cannot just up and drop you because you've become sick. That would be breach of contract. It would be akin to your car insurance refusing to pay for damages because you wrecked yoru car.

You need a third choice in your poll: My plot has holes in it a mile wide.

 

[Amused]

I wonder why my post killed this thread?

 

[markgm]

Um, take the money and not complain? Mistakes happen, I'd only go to the media if it were deliberatly given to me. Someone tried to save my life, not end it. Though I guess another option is to tell the media and sue.

I don't think insurance can drop you because you have AIDS either, but I could be wrong. I'd imagine they just wouldn't give you a new policy.

I'd take the money and not feel guilty.

 

[Lonyo]

Take the money, and spend it wisely, benefitting both myself anothers.