The Drunk Driver By James Dillard Analysis

We’re taught to believe what is morally wrong and right to lead our lives. And in doing so, it should allow us to live life based on our morals free from the constrictions of ethical laws brutally enforced upon us. Although James Dillard, a medical resident, acted selflessly to save a drunk man’s life, looking back on it, he regrets risking his future as a doctor to save the man, a selfish act. Dillard’s moral standards as an almost qualified doctor to save the drunk man’s life were morally right.

Ironically after the drunk driver’s life was saved, he relentlessly endangers people’s lives. According to Dillard, the drunk driver doesn’t realize his life- threatening mistake and would most likely cause the same incident again because after he discharges himself from a hospital against medical advice he gets a drink. It is subtly known throughout the article that the drunk man is an alcoholic especially when Dillard …show more content…
Although the driver could be the one blamed, his alcoholism is the cause for him to be reckless but is also an addiction problem a fair amount of people struggle with. On the other hand, the driver is still a person, and the reason why hospitals exist is that everyone deserves the same fight to live because they are all worth a “life” even if it doesn’t seem as if they all deserve it. Dillard saved a person who most likely leads an immoral life as the driver endangered lives. Conversely, Dillard knew the driver was drunk but gave the man the treatment a good person would also receive. Dillard’s morals as a doctor heavily influenced his decision to save the drunk man. Dillard swore by the oath to serve the sick and wounded in medical school. “The automatic response from long hours in the emergency room kicked in.” This quote evinces that from his experience in the E.R. Dillard would take immediate action to treat any patient as he does