Ethical Obligation To Help The Homeless

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“Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. It means they get what they need in order to be successful” (Rick Riordan). As a society we should help people in need even if it seems unfair, but with fairness comes harm, and without fairness comes harm as well. I believe that if an individual needs help and is willing to better him or herself, then we have a moral obligation to help them despite of who they are. It may not seem fair that a homeless person gets special benefits, but it is the right thing to do to help them get back on their feet and back into society. We do this by allowing physicians to practice medicine on the homeless, even though it’s unfair to hard working people that pay for the medical expenses, by not favoring the …show more content…

The oath that doctors, nurses, and EMT’s take is based on the original Hippocratic oath that initially states, “I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.” Obligation: meaning they have a duty, a call to save lives. They don’t discriminate who is worthy and who isn’t by social class, race, or financial status. It is their never failing dedication to science- to healing that is so honorable. By asking them to give this up because a homeless man, under common views, does not deserve care: it goes against everything they fight for. I believe that doctors should continue to abide by the oath, stick to what they know is morally right and continue helping the homeless even if it is seen as …show more content…

I agree that helping someone who doesn’t contribute to the economy or society seems like a lost cause, and for some it is, but for others all they need is a little help to get back on their feet. That’s what we have to learn as humans, to stop focusing on the now and have faith in the future. We must stop looking at people as if they are dollar signs and start seeing them as people: with beating hearts, individuality, and potential. Taxpayers don’t like the idea of homeless people living on the streets, and being offered things that everyone else has to work for; like homes, medical care, and stability, and I get that, but some people need that kick-start to get back on their feet. Its not like the government gives them houses and lets them sit around and watch the cooking channel all day. The point of providing homeless people with this structure is that they will get a job, start paying bills, clean themselves up, and live a life off the streets. We just need to have compassion for those who have fallen in life, and give them the utilities they need to get their life back on track because no amount of money should be worth more than someone’s

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