Takeaways are OK – but call the cops on those park covidiots! Our expert answers your coronavirus ethical dilemmas

IS it ever okay to let an older person die so a younger one can live? Should you really get that takeaway? As the terrifying coronavirus reshapes our daily lives, it's easy to become tied up in knots over its ethical dilemmas.

Living in lockdown, we're being dealt more moral challenges than ever before - from whether to order non-essential items online to wondering if you can see your elderly mum because she's terribly lonely.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

11

"The moral question is how to weigh up what does the most harm," Michael Buerk, host of Radio 4's Moral Maze, tells Sun Online.

"Put crudely, is it worth blighting the lives of the many to save the relatively few, most of whom might not have much longer to live anyway?"

While he says it may be a "heartless calculation" to have to make at any time, especially when it's your own family member, he says it's something doctors face every day.

The moral question is how to weigh up what does the most harm

Michael Buerk

"Don’t kid yourself that it’s not something doctors do every day, trying to work out whether it’s worth giving a patient expensive treatment," he adds.

"The hit to the economy, meanwhile, could be £100 billion, with lives ruined and futures destroyed.

"For the moment, any sacrifice seems worth it to stop completely losing control. But, once the peak of the surge has passed, somebody, somewhere is going to have to make some tough decisions."

11

Here we ask ethicist and corporate philosopher Roger Steare, who has worked with the NHS, banks, the military and the police, to give his take on some of the key issues we all face today...

Is it ever OK to let an older person die so a young person can live?

Verdict: Yes

There are several ways of thinking about this, but the first thing it is useful to do is to flip the question around – is it ever okay to let a young person die so an older person can live? It helps focus the mind.

11

There are two things we judge our society by – the way we look after our children and the way we look after the old and infirm, and in an ideal world you would do both with equal care.

Ultimately though, this comes down to the lesser of two evils.

In a situation where you have more people requiring ventilators than there are ventilators to be given, what medics will be doing is deciding to save the lives of those people with the best chance of benefitting from that treatment - which tends to be younger, healthier people.

These are hard choices being made by those on the NHS frontline every day.

Your mum is desperately lonely – but she’s also 81 and high risk. Is it right to visit?

Verdict: No

Society is underpinned by rules, and in an emergency situation there is also a greater acceptance that we need them.

11

But they only work in a community where everyone obeys them, even though you may tell yourself that the exceptions you want to make are valid.

In this case, social distancing, while tough, is there for a reason, however much we may dislike it.

Bluntly, sometimes you have to put your own needs last – you can’t be a good parent or friend if you constantly put yourself first. Make sure she’s not isolated – but don’t visit.

Is it ok to stockpile?

Verdict: No

Only in times of plenty. After Britain spent an eye-watering £1billion extra panic-buying in just three weeks, the Government stressed there was more than enough food to go around.

Many will need it far more than the many stockpiling their cupboards.

11

You're feeling down, is it OK to meet a friend for a walk if you stay 2 metres apart?

Verdict: No

This comes under what ethicists call ‘consequentialism’, or what will happen as a result of your actions.

The consequence could be that someone will die from coronavirus in an intensive care bed. How would that make you feel?

Philosopher Roger Steare

In this case you may think you will stay two metres apart - but you will probably forget and the consequence of that could be that someone will die from coronavirus in an intensive care bed.

How would that make you feel?

Is it still OK to order non-essential stuff from Amazon?

Verdict: It depends

You need to ask yourself what the essentials are for a good and decent life.

You may feel you need those £200 trainers for your daily exercise – but do you need them more than a family who are reliant on foodbanks to whom you could donate that money instead?

11

My favourite philosopher Albert Camus said: "Life is the sum of all our choices."

Some of our many dilemmas can be answered by asking yourself if you are willing to sacrifice some of your personal needs for the greater good.

You sit down on a park bench during your daily morning exercise when a police officer moves you on. Should you argue?

Verdict: No.

Instead I would simply tell them that they are doing a really difficult job and have your thanks and support – then move on.

11

Should we be ordering takeaways? 

11

That doesn’t mean there aren’t judgment calls to be made: when you order a takeaway and a delivery, do you trust the hygiene while the food is being prepared?

It’s also important to think about the quality of the food you’re eating because one of the most important things we can do at the moment is to improve our immune system.

Part of that means a good diet which is not going to be helped by the kind of fast food that takeaways often provide.

Overall, quality healthy home-cooked food is probably a better choice - but if you want to ring the changes then I would consider ordering a freshly cooked Asian dish full of vegetables compared to a deep fried Mars bar.

You see a group of young men flouting the rules and exercising at an outdoor gym even though it’s roped off. Should you tell them to stop or walk by?

Verdict: Walk by – then contact the police.

You have to act but you have to act with prudence - you don’t want to get caught in a fight.

11

Should I go to work if I'm ordered to - but feel my job's unessential or can be done from home?

Verdict: No

The government has advised employees to work from home unless it is impossible for them to do - and under the health and safety act employers have a duty to look after our health and well being.

The fact that they’re asking you this at all under the circumstances suggest you are working for a bullying employer - and when the emergency is over you probably want to find a new employer who deserves you better.

11

more in news

‘RUSSIAN ROULETTE’

My son died in seconds after taking drug 50 times stronger than fentanyl

ROBO COACH

AI Mourinho gives rousing team talk to fans after they share everyday mistakes

PARADISE LOST

Inside sinister drug underworld threatening real-life Death in Paradise isle

WHO KILLED JILL?

The six sinister theories behind the murder of Jill Dando 20 years on

My friend has joined the clap for NHS workers each Thursday but her husband has chosen not to, preferring to make a donation to our local hospital instead. Who is right?

Verdict: Both

As human beings we should do what we can to help others in whatever way we feel comfortable.

It’s good for morale to clap - both for our nursing heroes and for ourselves -  to acknowledge others' hard work and sacrifice.

11

It is also good to support our NHS heroes in a practical way by making a donation or helping them day-to-day by, for example, doing their shopping.

Why not try for yourself?