Question

Do you feel that corrections officials are ethically obligated to provide all necessary health care to inmates? Consider the case of Prisoner X, who is serving life in prison for murder. He has fallen ill, and only a $1 million heart transplant will save his life. Should taxpayers pay for the heart transplant? Should Prisoner X receive the transplant instead of law-abiding citizens who also need a new heart? Explain your answers.

Answer 1

No, I do not feel that corrections officials are ethically obligated to provide all necessary health care to inmates. While I believe that all prisoners should have access to basic health care, I do not believe that taxpayers should be responsible for funding expensive procedures like heart transplants. Secondly, I believe that law-abiding citizens who need lifesaving procedures like a heart transplant should be given priority over prisoners. While I sympathize with Prisoner X, I believe that they made their bed when they committed murder and should not be given preferential treatment over law-abiding citizens.