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Ethics Case Study 22 | INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS
BY INSIGHT S | OCT OBER 2 9 , 2 0 1 3 1 0 :3 9 A M

Ethics Case Study 22

Quest ion cat egory - Decision making, impartiality and non-partisanship, tolerance and compassion towards weaker section,
emotional intelligence, dilemma

You are the DM of a hill district of an Indian state which has poor civ il infrastructure. The Hom e Minister of the state has sam e place
his constituency . Unfortunately there is a clash continuing between two group of laborers in a factory in the town on som e
unknown com m unal issues, but hav e not caused casualties y et. The state Hom e Secretary has instructed y ou to m onitor the
situation and prev ent any m iss-happening(s).
Around 9 pm in the ev ening it was raining heav ily when y ou were inform ed that the m inister had m et an accident. The Hom e
Secretary again asked y ou to facilitate things there. Coincidentally the tim e y ou reached hospital y ou see two brutally injured
patients being pushed in sim ultaneously . You realized one as the m inister. A police officer m eanwhile briefed y ou that the other one
was a laborer belonging to the m inority com m unity from the disputed site and had been brutally attacked around the sam e tim e
the m inister m et the accident.
The team of doctors had started their em ergency care. But then the superintendent of the hospital inform ed y ou of criticality of the
two cases and said that both patients had casualties of sam e m agnitude (clinically ) and required im m ediate operations which for
the hospital had an OT equipped m inim ally to carry one operation only . The town has no other priv ate or gov t. hospital to carry
such critical operation. You contacted the officials in capital for a helicopter to fly the m inister there but were inform ed that bad
weather didnt allow one. Roads in the rain will take 8 hours to reach the capital and adjacent district headquarters cannot be
accessed by road till m orning. The team of doctors is pushing y ou to take a decision between the two patients as who to be taken first
for operation. Meanwhile, the hospital superintendent hinted y ou that the other m ay succum b to his injuries during the next 3
hours of operation.
Your choice is going to affect two liv es. On one side is a VVIP and elected leader of m asses, neglecting whom will create political,
professional, social and personal upheav al. On the other is a poor laborer, lone bread earner of his large fam ily . His death m ay lead
to unwarranted situation of labor unrest and com m unal clash both.
You, the DM, belong to the sam e m inority com m unity to which belongs this dy ing laborer. You see the fam ilies of both the m en.
Wom en cry ing, children sobbing.
Assuming the above hypothesis true, propose an ideal approach as an administrator in the above case. (300 Words)
Prov ided by : Prasoon Kaushik

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Relat ed

Ethics Case Study - 10: Ethics In

Personal and Publice Relationships
In "CASE STUDIES"
Ethics Case Study - 4 - Ethics in
Public Service
In "CASE STUDIES"
Case Study - Integrity and
Professional Behaviour
In "DAILY ANSWER WRITING"

56 responses to Ethics Case Study 22

Akand Sitra
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 1 :04 am
Decision m aking in a critical situation takes a lot of courage and m ust be done keeping the consequences of the action taken in
m ind. In this scenario, we hav e the Hom e Minister of the state on one side and a poor labourer on the other. The Hom e Minister is
an elected representativ e of the m asses, a m an who has power to im pact m illions of people. The labourer, who is also a hum an
being, has a large fam ily to feed and would be unethical to leav e him to die.
This situation would not hav e risen if the com m unal clashes were stopped on tim e before the v iolence would hav e started and
gone out of proportion. The roads should hav e been constructed properly to attain connectiv ity to other cities. The civ il
infrastructure should hav e been built in tim e to ensure safety to the people. More hospitals should hav e been constructed as such
cases will arise frequently . Accidents on the roads should be m inim ized so that liv es are not hurt. These are the m ain issues
which need to be addressed first, so that such situations dont arise again.
Now, I would sav e the Hom e Minister, as he would hav e powers to m ake all the aforem entioned suggestions practical. Since he
suffered from an accident also, he would be proactiv e to m ake his constituency a better place. He would decrease com m unal
clashes and m ake the gov ernm ent take all necessary construction activ ities to curb such tragedies to happen again. If the
labourer dies, his fam ily can be reim bursed with m oney and jobs can be giv en to som eone from the fam ily . A person would die,
of course, but we m ust take that risk to ensure this nev er repeats again. A right decision which would im pact m illions of people
at the peril of one, is a better decision than doing nothing.
Reply

Himanshu
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 :06 pm
i respect y our v iews..but thinking in respect of exam and as a question-answer scenario,we need not to m ention first half of
y our [Link] what i think personally .Because,here we dont need to discuss past(like this should hav e been done,that
should hav e been done) or [Link] strictly need to take the present situation in m ind,and answer accordingly .
This what i am telling y ou on m y experience.
com m ent please..
Reply

Akand Sitra
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 :1 9 pm

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Yes, what y ou said is true, but I had m y own thought process.
1 . It is a 3 00 m ark question.
2 . We should alway s think of nipping the tragedy in the bud.
3 . These scenarios will occur v ery frequently . The m ain cause of such repeated tragedies is the infrastructure. Realizing
the basic cause and addressing it is m uch m ore effectiv e than just addressing the results.
4 . I talked about all the suggestions because, I wanted to set the stage say ing why I wanted to sav e the HM. If I say all
these can be done, and then say , the HM can do all these, so Im sav ing him , it m akes it a m uch m ore thought out
rational decision, rather than just rely ing on em otions and the present.
5. The past should teach us how to behav e in the present and lay the road for future actions.
Reply

seema
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 5:1 1 pm
Well y our v iews are too practical as a DM.
But as u said that this will nev er repeat again m ake it sure!
But if a labour die knw one going to rem em ber this incident m ore then a m onth but if m inister die it will definetly work for a
long tim e.
All m inisters are going pay attention afterwards.
And m ore then this the m inister surely had a good insurance. Which is m ore then any com pensetion. Hence gov t. Need not
neccessary to spend m oney on the labour. But v ia political pressure they deffinetly start the constructing infrastructure
there.
But again this will definetly going to effect y our career, hence, u m ust be ready with a good and practical exlpaination
infront of m edia and other authority . Can say that the labour is m ore serious and other labours are in unrest situation. To
control the situation i hav e to take such decision.
Reply

sham
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 1 :58 am

But this m ay lead to m ore clashes m ore liv es.. I think from other perspectiv e.. hom e m inister in past has not done m uch to
im prov e infrastructure, roads, hospitals, connectiv ity and to am eliorate the tense situation of com m unal v iolence. He just gav e
instructions to DM to keep a check ov er the situation but him self did not take strong m easures to tackle the situation.
Here guidance from doctors is v ery critical, they can assess the situation and little bit better planning can sav e both of the liv es.
Labourer can not be left to die. Doctors can help to take a decision that who is in m ore critical situation and for whom lesser tim e
would be taken for operation and surgery . The one who is m ore critical should be treated first and ev en ethics of m edicine
profession guide the sam e principle.
Reply

Akand Sitra
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 2 :2 7 pm
1 . It was the Hom e secretary who asked the DM to take care, not the Hom e Minister. He cannot do any thing m ore, as his
work is to giv e instructions to the Collector only .
2 . The doctors them selv es said that, both of them hav e the sam e lev els of criticality . Both of them will die in 3 hours. And the
decision is totally in the hands of the DM.
Reply

Akand Sitra
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 2 :3 8 pm
Moreov er, there will be a lot of v iolence and other law and order problem s in the state, if people get to know that their
leader was killed because of deny in m edical facilities.
And the labourer is from the sam e com m unity as the DM. Things will get real ugly if people take that as another
com m unal reason for m ore v iolence. It will be v ery chaotic, and the DM will be suspended for sure.
Reply

Arjun

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Arjun

Ethics Case Study 22 | INSIGHTS

October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 2 :3 3 pm
regarding y our second para doctors can help to take a decision that who is in m ore critical situation and for whom lesser
tim e would be taken for operation and surgery .i feel it is not possible to assess the criticality of the m edical [Link]
it is a hum an body . tim e taken for assessing the extent of dam age m ay be as good as perform ing the surgery itself.
Reply

Himanshu
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 :00 pm
Friends the key giv en in the question is the hospital superintendent hinted y ou that the other m ay succum b to his
injuries during the next 3 hours of operation. Based on this m edical opinion,the decision m aking can be [Link]
things if occur like v iolence,unrest,fam ily condition of the laborer(in case he dies) will be dealt with the adm inistrativ e
power and tools.
This what i think would be rational,irrespectiv e of em otion,political influence and [Link] go through m y answer and
com m ent.
Reply

Arjun
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 2 :1 8 pm
here the decision is of giv ing priority in operation at the hospital and in accordance with the standard established protocols and
VVIP status that priority should be of the m [Link] is also worth m entioning that this distinction has not been giv en by the
District Magistrate but the state and he is m erely acting according to these dictum s.. sav ing the life of the m inister m ore
im portant because he being the leader of m asses also holds a constitutional authority .
We should not forget that hom e m inister is already prov ided a security cordon which is not there for ordinary citizen
em phasizing his relativ e im portance in the v iew of STATE v is a v is com m on m [Link] should also keep in m ind that his death due
to non av ailability of Medical facilities (OT in this case) can be used as a political tool to incite v iolence in his constituency
resulting in m any m ore deaths of ordinary citizen and create trouble for adm inistration as well.
m eanwhile we can pray for the life of the labour and prov ide him basic healthcare facility .in the unfortunate incident of his
death his fam ily should be giv en relief m easures as adm issible..
i would once again em phasize the point that i hav e decided ov er priority of operation and nothing bey ond that.

suggestions and criticism s welcom e.

best regards
Reply

neeraj
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 2 :2 9 pm
This problem presents us with a m oral dillem a. Life in itself is v ery precioius and om e cannot distinguish between sanctity of
both liv es.
We will hav e to weigh our options. As a DM m y duty is to ensure the well being of m y people. i cannot let com m unal m atters
deteriorate. Life of dem ocratically elected leader is also v ery im portant. But for the greater good of m any one m ust wait.
i will direct the doctor to operate on the labour asap and then operate on m inister. I m ust at least try to sav e the m inister as well.
Som etim es m iracle do happen
Reply

Himanshu
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 2 :52 pm
The situation here requires m edical attention, that too with lim ited resources. Since for m inister all options for VIP treatm ent
cannot be av ailed right now, choice is left on with the local hospital treatm ent only . As per the m edical inform ation, the other
fellow m ay succum b to his injuries during the next 3 hours of operation. So, here the success rate of operation will decide, which
case should be proceeded. Success of the operation would be decided with the expert knowledge, proper and quick m edical
analy sis by the av ailable doctors. Since, a v iew already has been prov ided in this regard, i will ask them to proceed with the
hom e m inister. After treating m inister, the laborer would be taken care, m ay be that would be helpful. To control the possibility
of clashes, i will call the police adm inistration to rem ain alert and take all the precautionary m easures in adv ance. In case the

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laborer dies; i will prov ide the fam ily m em bers all the instant relief from em otional to financial and other future reliefs like
education, PDS, health benefits, etc using m y adm inistrativ e power within m y lim itations.
Reply

Aditya Jha
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 :00 pm
As both the v ictim s are critical, choosing any one of them m ust lie on an analy sis of the consequences. In essence, a decision
m ust be taken taking into account the im pact on the society for both liv es are hum an liv es and equally v aluable.
The fam ilies of both would be affected em otionally equally but unequally on sev eral other counts such as liv elihood,
com pensation, pensions etc. Here clearly the fam ily of the m inister would suffer less than that of the labourer, ov erall.
Considering its im pact on personal and professional life: the death of the Minister, m y political boss, would am ount to
professional dereliction of duty . As an adm inistrator, professionally , the Minister should be m y first priority and any other
citizen second.
Howev er, as a hum an being i would be em otionally closer to the poor labourer giv en the irreparable dam age to his fam ily .
Considering its social im pact: The death of labourer m ay result in a com m unal riot giv en the flaring situation. But, with
suitable deploy m ent of forces the situation can be controlled m inim izing any dam age to life and property .
On the other hand, the death of the Minster m ay deal a sev ere blow to the sentim ents of the people. It m ay ev en result in social
upheav al for he is the elected leader of the people. His life is param ount to the [Link] disorder m ay also be controlled but
clearly the cost to people can not be.
Therefore, as an adm inistrator i should sav e the life of m inster first. While the death of the labourer would be a huge loss to his
fam ily , m e em otionally and m ay create com m unal flares; the situation m ay be controlled and the fam ily be suitably
com pensated. The com pensation should be exceptional giv en the exceptional case although it can not cov er the cost of the poor
labourers loss em otionally .
Reply

Naveen Shekhar
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 :2 9 pm
Agree,Adity a.
Good answer with good logics.
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 2 :1 6 pm
Adity a, y ou wrote As an adm inistrator, professionally , the Minister should be m y first priority and any other citizen
second. This statem ent practically m ay hold and has higher contem porary following as ev ident from the prev alent acts
in our sy stem . But principally it is wrong. For an adm inistrator citizen can not be second.
Your answer otherwise is im pressiv e.
Reply

Aditya Jha
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 2 :4 6 pm
Hi Prasoon,
First of all, a v ery good case study !
Secondly , about the answer : This is actually an ethical dilem m a Prasoon. The principle of Duty is clashing with
Altruism or public good. We hav e to chose one principle ov er the other. Choosing any would not be wrong,
justification m atters.
If i was a com m on m an i would hav e chosen the labourer, but giv en i am an adm inistrator, i can not shed m y duty
and official responsibility . It is not that the citizen is second, but the leader who represents so m any people m ust be
giv en priority here both rationally and em otionally .
Citizen is alway s first but the representativ e of the citizens, extending the sam e reason, is ev en m ore im portant. Ev en

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Citizen is alway s first but the representativ e of the citizens, extending the sam e reason, is ev en m ore im portant. Ev en
the m inister could hav e belonged to a poor labourers fam ily .
But, as y ou said it is difficult to choose between right and right.
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 2 :55 pm
Im pressiv e logic Adity a.
Reply

IAS Only..
Nov em ber 1 1 , 2 01 3 at 1 2 :4 0 am
gud one
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 :1 9 pm
Choosing between right and right is tough. The situation here is not sim ply about doing good without harm but it is m ore
about doing good with harm . In this case the DM requires an em otional stability and should be ready to face the consequences of
such decision there rem ains a larger possibility of guilt consciousness..
I will choose the laborer to be operated first despite the fact that two m en equally hav e their liv es at stake. This decision m ay
hav e grey areas of argum ents but in a dem ocracy it is the highest duty of the entire gov ernm ent m achinery that its action
alway s shows a people-centric approach. The death of labor m ay cause both labor outrage and com m unal riots. And this will
presum ably happen m ore im m ediately than the reaction ov er death of the m inister. Com m unal clashes m ay cause m ore deaths
and m ay cause social im pact that ld be non-ending. Insensitiv ity to the problem now, m ay render adm inistration skeptical to
the society ev er. The district cannot m oreov er handle m edical em ergencies in extrem e num bers. As the district is in a hill state
with poor infrastructure, a labor turm oil m ay further giv e a wrong im pression of states com m ercial abilities. Both the ev ents
definitely are politically unwanted as no gov ernm ent can afford such situation.
Meanwhile assum ing death of an elected leader wont cause deaths and outrage is seeing things in m ere black and white. But
upheav als in this case m ay be controlled with police alertness and conv incing people politically and through social engagem ent.
No political party can afford going against an act of public benefit at least publically . As the DM I ll brief the Hom e Secretary
and giv e him due explanation in writing. There rem ains im m ense possibility of suspension and career blockade but I finally owe
to the citizenry on behalf of the Gov ernm ent.
Reply

Anny Middha
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 3 :4 5 pm
y our reasoning is v ery good and effectiv e. but then there is one v alid argum ent against this: the death of leader will not only
lead to com m unal riots but also political instability .
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 3 :57 pm
Anny this situation is indeed tough. Choosing between two liv es can cause a hum an to sink under guilt and an
adm inistrator can also not escape this em otion. If thought practically then a senior also will leav e y ou to decide for y our
own. I hav e defended for a labor because in person I hav e seen police personnel and politicians running to sav e their liv es
when the laborers shout a m aaroooooooo... My experience m ade m e chose this. Adity a and Akand hav e also put
forward their arum ents and so hav e other candidates.
Here there can not be a perfect y ardstick to gauge the im plications.
Reply

Anjali
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 6 :57 pm

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Prasoon dont y ou think, y ou hav e not pondered ov er one aspect of case, superintendent hav e hinted labourar m ay die
next to three hours of operation. And if he dies afterword will y ou not feel double guilty of causing loss to both liv es?
Instead if y ou hav e gone other way at least y ou could hav e sav ed ones life.
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 8:09 pm
Actually I fav ored the laborer in m y answer Anjali
Reply

Anjali
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 1 2 :03 am
Prasoon, y ou hav e not got m y question, if inspite of operation labourar going to die then whats the m eaning of
operation and y our act of jeopardizing m inisters life for him . Its better to operate on m inister so atleast his life
will be sav ed.
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 1 :51 am
How can it be said that whether who will die? If labourer is sav ed we can av ert two m ajor troubles labour
unrest and com m unal clash. Labourers death will also be a reflection of adm inistrations lacunae in
prev enting this situation which was being m onitored early . Means the v ery accident of this labourer is an
adm inistrativ e failure. Ev en if he dies there will be lesser resentm ent and indignation and adm inistration
will hav e som e face sav ing. On the other hand this m inister has m et an accident. Though his life is
v aluable but present situations warrant things otherwise.
Let us top this way . Instead of a labourer there is DMs kin. What will he do then? See the answer to such a
situation is not easy . From an exam ination point of v iew we hav e to defend our reasons. But I will again say
as abov e that I hav e witnessed a few situations where labour unrest weighed heav ily and non dared
by passing it. No CM, No DM.
Sourabh has also written a conv incing answer below. You can see it.
Reply

Anjali
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 2 :1 7 am
Prasoon, Sourabh, has reflected m y v iews in better way . Thats what I said in m y answer, as
superintendent has hinted labourars condition is m ore critical so he m ay die next to three hours of
operation. So obv iously m inister to be operated upon.

Reply

Anjali
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 2 :1 9 am
Prasoon, I appreciate y ou for posting such a nice such case study .
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 2 :50 am
Anjali I am sorry if I am interpreting it wrong, but in the abov e case doctors are say ing that when
either of the two will be operated upon, the other risks his life. The two hav e sam e m agnitude of
com plication (clinically ).
Reply

Anjali
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Anjali

October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 5:1 0 pm
Prasoon, hospital superintendent hinted y ou that the other m ay succum b to his injuries during
the next 3 hours of operation. This sentence is not clear to m e, Kindly if y ou can m ake it clear
what it m eans. As y ou posted case study , y ou m ay better know it.
I assum ed as labourar m ay die during three hours of operation, it m eans he is m ore critical to
surv iv e ev en after operation so why to waste precious tim e.

Akand Sitra
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 :2 6 pm
Som eone is gonna throw stones at y ou the next day shouting THIS GUY MURDERED OUR LEADER TO SAVE A GUY FROM HIS
OWN COMMUNITY!!!"
No offence though.
I lov ed y our first two lines. Can I use them in the exam if I rem em ber?!
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 :3 7 pm
Brother such situations are alway s dem anding. By the way they are called CORNELIAN DILEMMA.
Reply

Nikku
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 3 :3 2 pm
Why not do a draw of lots?
It is dem ocracy and ev ery body is equal.
The situation is a sort of zero sum gam e, as irrespectiv e of what stand y ou take, there is going to be an equally negativ e
effect of it.
A draw of lot would bring an elem ent of fairness and objectiv ity to the situation, by rem ov ing the elem ent of discretion.
Discretion in this case would be open to m al-interpretations and is bound to flare up the already tense situation.
Also, nobody seem s to m ention about taking adv ice of a senior. This seem s to be a perfect case where y ou should be seeking
y our seniors help as s/he m ight hav e faced such a situation earlier and m ay act as a m oral guide.
In the end the decision would be y ours, but gaining a perspectiv e of a trusted senior m ight also be considered in the course
of action ..no?
Reply

Prasoon Kaushik
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 4 :01 pm
Appreciate y our idea of contacting a senior..but a draw despite fairness appears less sensitiv e:(
others please suggest
Reply

Himanshu
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 5:2 2 pm
agreepractically here its only one person to take a [Link] or v oting helps when y ou hav e to take a
decision on consensus am ong m ore than one or [Link] senior is one good and practical option .
Reply

Anjali
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Anjali

Ethics Case Study 22 | INSIGHTS

October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 2 :4 8 pm
Here DM first inform ed about the com m unal clashes and hav e been asked to m onitor the situation. So if I were in that place, I
hav e sent im m ediately police force to disputed site so there m ight be the case that the attack on labourar m ay be prev ented at
first place.
As I com e to know there is casualty its m y duty to rush all prev etiv e m easures to the affected site, to further prev ent any such
thing.
Second if both are suffering sam e lev el of injury and doctor hinted that labourar m ay die inspite of operation so I would hav e
allowed Minister to be taken to OT.
But here I need to prepare the atm osphere and that is also quick in tim e. So I would hav e talked to the fam ilies of both the person
acquainted them of clear condition and ask their fav our to arriv e at quick decision. I would hav e told the fam ily of poor labourar
that superintendent hav e this v iew, he will die inspite of operation so its ethically correct to allow operation on m inister. I would
tell them they need not to worry about the financial difficulties, state would take care of it and hav e faith in god if he wishes that
person will not die as they are doing m orally v ery good job by allowing operation on m inister. God m ay bless them positiv ely .
Till the operation of m inister finishes, I would hav e tried m y lev el best to m ake av ailable all the care in that situation needed by
consulting som e specialist and m ore experienced doctor than the hospital staff outside the hospital v ia phone conference, to
explore any possibility to sav e that person.
If that person dies, definitely there will be som e law and order problem so to prev ent that I will already deploy police force in
place.
Reply

Sudha
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 6 :2 3 pm
Anjali,
Talking to the concerned fam ilies is a new dim ension am ong the answers. But I am not sure how m uch positiv e their response
would be. Concluding part on taking other m edical options to keep him aliv e at the best till the surgery is ov er is a good note.
Reply

Anjali
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 6 :4 8 pm
Sudha, y ou are right, there is uncertainty of response from fam ilies, as situation is grim , but I thought Its, better to take
them into confidence, than nothing.
Reply

Vinod
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 8:1 3 pm
@Anjali
when y ou will be DM ,i dont think y ou would ev er ask a com m on m an to help y ou to take decision in critical (or norm al )
situation (here y ou are asking a fav our from the fam ilies whose m em bers are going to die.).
how can a DM ask a poor fam ily let their poor patient be died without any treatm ent only because a doctor has a v iew that
patient m ay not surv iv e?
Reply

Anjali
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 1 2 :1 4 am
Vinod, brain storm ing question, thanks.
Here situation before m e is to sav e one life out of two, its not the m atter of m inister or labourar, sim ply assum e two liv es.
Here m y decision is clear to sav e the life which will be fruitful. Dont y ou think If I ll go for operation for labourar and still
he will die, and without operation m inister will also die, so it will be double tragedy .
I m not leav ing that patient without treatm ent, I am try ing m y lev el best to sav e him , by consulting m ore experienced
person.

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As regarding fam ilies its alway s better to take them into confidence, I am only gov ernm ent serv ant, but they are the
guardian of life of their fam ily m em ber and they hav e to face im plications of death. I do not left decision on them , I hav e
just asked their fav our to support m e in m y decision.
Reply

Sagar Hegde
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 6 :2 4 pm
Here the case shouldnt be treated as one of higher im portance and one of lower im portance, For m e as a DM its just two liv es at
stake and no m atter whoev er it is their life is at m ost im portant to them and their fam ily . I as a DM would treat it in sam e way
as any other case of two other liv es at stake. So i would concentrate how to solv e this problem rather than succum bing to societal
or political pressures.

I can ask for splitting of Doctors and ask them to work sim ultaneously on both patients with m inim um requirem ents, this
usually happens in Em ergency room s of Hospitals when there is Major Hav oc like earthquake or exploding of bom b when
patients com ing with serious injuries increases to hundreds. By doing this they look into so that they dont loose them also they
arrange for further trav elling, if tim e perm its and any one from 2 becom es tough enough to trav el, will be taken by road to
district HQ or till then weather eases Helicopter can be called.
By doing this we m ight sav e both or loose both, but by doing this on a ethical basis i and m y team dint do any thing wrong or
injustice to any one of them at a sam e tim e ev en try ing to control riots by assuring that labor is being treated with equal term s
with Hom e Minister.
Reply

Anjali
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 6 :4 6 pm
Sagar, Helicopter option is closed, read case again and there is no possibility to take them away , both are not in that position,
If splitting of doctors possible then why doctors pushing on DM to take quick decision.
Reply

Sagar Hegde
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 1 0:02 pm
Ya, but in m y answer i hav e clearly m entioned after few hours if it perm its then helicopter can be [Link] s thanks
for feedback
Reply

Vinod
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 8:3 6 pm
@ sagar
what about pressure from gov t Hom e Secretary is closely m onitoring the situation?
what about the duty of DM to giv e protection priority to a constitutionally elected representativ e?
what about y our com m unity angle ?
by y our (DM) order m inister would die .
how will y ou face people who will be throwing stone at y ou next day or ev en in the sam e night outside hospital say ing this
abcdDM killed our leader to protect his abcd. bhai.
this is bloody senstiv e situation which m ay be lead to com m unal v iolance.
not only social and professional life of the DM is at stack ev en his personal life m ay com e under threat.
decision m ust be rational and logical and abov e all duty bound.
Reply

Varun Chaudary
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 1 :2 2 am
Its no where written or said to giv e priority to elected representativ [Link] m ay be elected today and m ay defeated

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Its no where written or said to giv e priority to elected representativ [Link] m ay be elected today and m ay defeated
tom orrow. And You Hom e secretary is Keenly watching,But we are not politicians to do in fav our with gov t Hom e
secretary .We are civ il serv ants to perform duty by side of civ iliants
Reply

zeeshah
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 6 :3 7 pm
life of both v ictim s is equally v aluable for their respectiv e fam ilies and the situation is equally em otionally intense for them .
sav ing m inister or a labour is equally ethical to the DM, as their is no other option to sav e the m inister, but now DM has to giv e
the weightage to the postiv e outcom e in sav ing any one. if he will sav e labour, then labour will serv e his fam ily only and at the
m ax. m ay perform som e social duties but if m inister is sav ed he will serv e the consituency which he is quite aware of. he is
choosed to serv e and is accountable for that. he has authority and will use that for serv ing and peacekeeping in the [Link] his
loss will hav e a m ajor im pact com pared to the loss of labour and thus DM shall choose to sav e him .
Reply

Sourabh
October 2 9 , 2 01 3 at 9 :2 1 pm
Right to life is basic natural right, which ev ery indiv idual hav e, whether a king or a worker. As giv en in the hy pothesis that
their is no other alternativ e for shifting patient to any other place and OT is m inim ally equipped and can serv e only a
indiv idual at a tim e.
Here, it is a critical dilem m a since i hav e to choose between two rights as both the patients hav e equal rights to be sav ed. I will
ask the superintended, that am ong the patient, which one has a better chance of surv iv ing after the operation, depending on the
age and other ailm ents.
On the feedback giv en, i will ask doctor to first operate the person, who will hav e a better chance of surv iv ing.
But it will jeopardize life of other [Link] will try to sav e the life of other with som e m easures. May ask the superintendent to
conv ert a ward into a sort of OT through whatev er av ailable m eans and resources we can gather. May also contact som e local
doctors, surgeons and retired personal to help in case of shortage of m anpower.
Will also take the help of hospital staff to crowd whatev er resources through local dispensaries and local shop of m edical
equipm ent. Will contact hospital in the capital and ask them the direction through which we can sav e the person, till the doctors
are busy in operating other person.
Also, m ay take the help of internet and through som e v ideos about care in such situation, will ask junior doctors and hospital
staff to take care of the patient. This m ay insure that both the patient is treated, but the first person will hav e a better chance to
surv iv e.
After, this incident will also ask for a rev iew of em ergency situation in the hospitals and will m ake it a point that hospitals
should be equipped well for handling em ergency .
Reply

Varun Chaudary
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 1 :2 6 am
Very good answer! Balanced approach..nice
Reply

NITIN
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 1 0:50 pm
Best ansTussi great ho jahanpanaa..
Reply

sher
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 1 :1 5 am
in m y v iew first i will consult with the doctor that how m uch tim e(approx) it will take to treat each of them ,after this first i will
suggest to take m inister in OT ,and as there is three hour still left for labor,t i will brief this, ov er phone to SP that y ou should

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beef up the security in area where riots m ake break out in the case of any ev entuality .Than i will be in contact with doctor and
try conv ey him the m essage that please try to handle the hom e m inister before 3 hour and if he will not be able to com plete the
operation before three hour try to m ake, that kind of arrangem ent that will extend the life of hom e m inister further so that in
m ean tim e treatm ent of labor can be started .And in during HM operation i will contact a hospital hav ing teleconferencing ,and
at the sam e tim e i will designate a person to arrange v ideo conferencing from our hospital so that we can sav e the deteriorating
health of labor by whatev er infrastructure we hav e in our hospital by the help of teleconferencing .so m y aim will be to sav e
both liv es with priority to [Link] death of HM will im pact m ore people ,because after his death there will be by election
which will be waste of resources and in election this further degrade the env ironm ent of city . so this will be the first hand
reaction to situation.
after this i will try to solv e the labor problem perm anently .
giv e suggestion to increase the OT
try to conv ince CM saheb to procure an all weather helicopter
Reply

Varun Chaudary
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 1 :3 0 am
i cant get y our answer.. how can y ou treat a patient using teleconference/v ideo conference? we hav e enough doctors but not
infrastructure.
Reply

ash07
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 2 :2 3 am
The case study inv olv es a test of fast decision m aking under pressure. As a DM, i hav e to ensure that m y decision hinges on
constitutional prov isions and takes into account possible fallout from the decision.
The first thing is conceding a dereliction on m y part to take control of com m unal clashes am ong labourers which resulted in a
casualty . Giv en the v arious resource constraints like single OT, bad weather to fly helicopter, equal criticality of injuries and
warning of succum bness within 3 hours, i hav e to necessarily decide on one against another on basis of following conditions:
Firstly , Although Art 2 1 does not discrim inate the right to life of any citizen, it is to be appreciated that an elected
representativ e of the people represents the spirit of the whole sum of parts and is a guardian and reflection of the collectiv e
conscience and hence shall be accorded m ore significance against an indiv idual. Secondly , news of Death of Hom e m inister for
lack of tim ely m edical care in state has a v ery real and dangerous fallout of sending a shock-wav e across the state and fuelling a
political instability and unrest of epidem ic proportions. Thirdly , considering m y own com m unity , sav ing the labourer at the
cost of m inisters life is fraught with flaring the com m unal v iolences ev en m ore on charges of fav ouritism and the political
agitation caused by the death of the m inister adding fuel to the fire and exploding into an unm anageable [Link]
prov isions for giv ing priority to the m inister for rushing into OT.
Next, i shall undertake two things to do the best in m y abilities to sav e the labourer. First, i shall im m ediately call up a hospital
in the capital and order for sending a m obile OT equipped am bulance towards m y town v ia the route on which the am bulance
carry ing labourer from here will m eet it on the way som ewhere in the m idpoint. Second, this would effectiv ely m ean the
labourer can be operated upon after 4 hours but our best chance lies on the probability of the labourer being operated within 3
hours, this will require radio announcem ents to alert people and public to clear the route so that the driv ers of both am bulances
can sav e at least one hour each to m ake it on tim e. This decision rests on the logic that distance is not m easured in hours
m eaning a 4 hour journey of am bulance can be com pleted in 3 hours with clear route and higher speed.
In the worst case if the labourer dies, the fallout of the news of Death of labourer despite best efforts m ay flare up com m unal
tensions to som e extent but with adequate reserv e police force and security safeguards it m ay be safely av [Link] m oral
responsibility of disbursing the ex-gratia to the next of kin to adequately sustain them for the rest of their liv es and scholarships
to his children m ay soothe the grief of labourers fam ilies.
Reply

LOTUS
October 3 0, 2 01 3 at 5:2 5 pm
I WILL REQUEST THE TEAM OF DOCTORS AND TECHNICIANS TO ARRANGE OPERATION FOR BOTH OF THEM , EVEN
THOUGH IT OF HIGHER RISK I WILL ASK THE TEAM OF DOCTORS TO EITHER DIVIDE INTO TWO OR ONE BUT TRY TO
ARRANGE ALTERNATE EQUIPMENT LIKE LIGHT AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS WITH AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY AND
RESOURCE, POSSIBLE INSTRUMENTS. I WILL EXPLAIN THE DOCTORS ITS VERY IMP TO SAVE TWO LIVES .MEANWHILE I
WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH HELICOPTER OFFICIALS TO BRING ALL THE EQUIPMENT PRESCRIBED BY THE DOCTORS
EITHER MEDICINES OR INSTRUMENTS. AT THE SAME TIME I WILL TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE OFFICIALS IF THEY
CAN DO ANYTHING REGARDING THIS SITUATION.
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Reply

vani
October 3 1 , 2 01 3 at 1 1 :2 5 am
As a DM, i will look for the possibility of sav ing both the liv es. Life is extrem ely im portant whether it is of a m inister or of a
laborer. And m ore, belonging to the m inority com m unity should nowhere influence the decision.
First of all, i will talk to the Doctors about the situation. Som etim es, fearing any casualties, as this case inv olv es m inister and a
laborer from a disputed m inority com m unity , they m ay feel reluctant to take a decision. So, i will ensure them that i will take
responsibility if any unforeseen incident occurs. I will ask them about the equipm ent, m edicine, blood etc which are there in the
hospital and ask them to treat the person for whom enough equipm ent is av ailable with them . Also, i will ask whether there is a
possibility of taking care of one person while operating on the other, as there are a team of doctors. In the m ean tim e, i will
contact concerned authority in the capital to arrange for the required specialists, m edicine, equipm ent, blood etc through any
speedy transport. I will contact whether there is av ailability of m ilitary helicopters which can fly in such weather to transport
these required things.
In the m ean tim e, i will assign an official to brief the m edia, Hom e secretary and Gov ernm ent about the health record of the
m inister. Also, an official to brief the fam ily m em bers, com m unity leaders of the laborer about his health record. The attack had
happened that night and i will im m ediately assign work to concerned police officials to inv estigate about the perpetrators.
In case, if still any casualty happens, I m ay hav e to face an inquiry . I hav e m aintained enough transparency in m y dealing
with the situation, so, i will once again explain all the efforts taken and lim itations faced. This m ay av oid any question on m y
neutrality .
As further steps, i will contact the com m unity leaders and take their help to sm ooth-en the com m unity clashes. I will ensure
them that proper action will be taken against the actual perpetrators of these clashes. Also, i will call for a m eeting of the
concerned Gov t officials to draw a plan for infrastructure building like roads, hospitals etc. in the district.
So, the DM should be transparent, neutral, im partial, fair in approach, to deal with these kind of situations.
Reply

Jaspreet Singh
Nov em ber 1 , 2 01 3 at 1 :3 9 pm
Facts of the Case During a clash between two labor groups due to som e unknown com m unal reason, one labor has been
brutally injured. The m inister also has m et with an accident. The superintendent of the hospital opines that both hav e suffered
the sam e m agnitude of injury . Only one of them can be operated upon. Both m ay succum b to their injuries during the next 3
hrs if not operated upon. Helicopter serv ice is unav ailable due to bad weather. It will take 8 hours to reach state capital by road.
Adjacent District headquarters cant be accessed by road till m orning. The town has no other priv ate or gov ernm ent hospital to
carry out such critical operation.

Action that m ay be taken

1 ) I can order the superintendent to operate upon the m inister and send the laborer in an am bulance to the state capital, hoping
that he m ay surv iv e till then.
2 ) I can order the superintendent to operate upon the laborer and send the m inister in an am bulance to the state capital, hoping
that he m ay surv iv e till then.
The Dilem m a If I follow action-1 , then it m ay be possible that the laborer m ay succum b to his injuries on the way . As he is the
lone bread earner of his fam ily , the dam age done to his fam ily will be im m ense. It m ay also spark labor unrest. But if I follow
action-2 , the m inister m ay die and it m ay cause political and professional upheav al.
The Decision The life of laborer is no less im portant than a m inister but the m inister is the elected representativ e of the m asses
as well. He is the leadership of that district. At such tim es of com m unal clashes and labor infighting, his leadership is all the
m ore required. If he dies than it will create leadership v acuum . Loss of laborers life m ay affect only his fam ily but loss of
m inisters life will not only affect his fam ily but the whole district as well. Hence, I will choose action-1 , and hope that the
laborer m akes it to the capital aliv e. If in case he dies, I will recom m end an ex-gratia com pensation to his fam ily and a job for an
adult m em ber of his fam ily .
(3 6 0 words ho gay e) Suggest what to cut to m ake it 3 00-3 2 0 words.
Reply

Rahul
Nov em ber 1 1 , 2 01 3 at 1 1 :4 9 pm
You do not need to m ention the facts of the case as it is already giv en. You can add a bit m ore to the analy sis of consequences
of two actions.
Som e pointers.

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1 . Analy ze the lifetim e v alue contribution of two indiv iduals to the nation and society . Rem em ber that in exceptional
circum stances, an indiv idual can be sacrificed in the larger interest of the nation.
2 . Im pact on indiv iduals fam ilies and their ability to get through the dev astationto dem onstrate to the exam iner that
y ou hav e an em otional quotient as well
3 . Im pact on y our own career and how it is subserv ient to the larger public interest
Reply

Anurag Thakur
Nov em ber 1 2 , 2 01 3 at 4 :3 1 pm
well Prasoon, y ou hav e really slam -dunked it this tim e, where are y ou com ing up with these from ,
well honestly (or holly wood-ishly ), I feel a butterfly effect with any of m y decisions here.
I would ask the doctors to go ahead with the operation of the labourer, further asking them to arrange appropriate life support or
attending staff for the VIP ( ev en Superitendent also isnt sure, he m ay y y y y y y y y y die, what if he doesnt, bingo )
My decision is based on v ery candid and practical reasons. The issue isnt confined to the four walls of hospital, neither does it end
within it after sav ing one and losing other. Professionally , m y self, along with the Hom e Minister sahab are duty bound towards
the people, so that poor labour should be m y preference ( trust m e, ev en if the m inister was preferred and sav ed, on waking up,
he would hav e fired y ou giv ing y ou sam e adv ice, not only on the funny part but if he was a good leader too ).
How can deny ing that labour the preferential m edical attention be considered prudent, if I am a resident of an area, m eeting an
accident, later denied the required treatm ent in the neighbourhood hospital because a VVIP ( elected by m e for m y serv ice) was
preferred ov er m e. Had their been no weatherly disturbances, would hav e it happened that m inister was operated there and I (
poor labour) was air-lifted to other hospital.
In m y opinion, the reasons of riots are alway s localized. And it is 1 00% pakka, that the possible riots occurred after death of that
labourer would hav e definitely cost m e m y job ( plenty of exam ples from UP), ev en if it was Prim e Minister who was sav ed in
place of that hom e m inister.
Another exam ple, Sri V C Shukla, Congress MP and form er MEA, was m urdered by Naxals in Chattisgarh in an am bush along
with other MLAs an all. I dont rem em ber any upheav al in Parliam ent ov er that. They didnt send any Arm y to av enge that (
m ight hav e been different in case of US som e cool Nav y SEAL or Delta Force action, plot for another superb Holly wood m ov ie).
But the truth is, there was no option with political class. When y ou are in gov ernance, ev ery thing in return is repercussion of
y our act. The ruling party acknowledged that fateful ev ent under colum n of failed Gov ernance. Sim ilarly , if the VIP would hav e
passed away in the abov e case, the gov ernm ent m ight hav e accepted it under incapable m edical facility , and m ight hav e
worked to im prov e it.
@ Prasoon, please rev iew m y thought process, Ill m ake it in 3 00 words.
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