The Duties of Friendship

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At the Center

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009

The death in December of an 18-year-old Cal Poly student, who suffered respiratory arrest due to alcohol poisoning, highlights a problem facing campuses across the country. One aspect of that problem is the responsibility of roommates or others who suspect that drinking may have gone too far but don't want to create problems for their friends. Center student worker Rebecca Fox-Bivona created this case to encourage discussion of the issue:

It had been a long second week of freshman year. Roommates Sally and Morgan were ready for the weekend. It was Friday night and they had heard about an upcoming party, so they decided to check it out. The girls went to the party where there was a plentiful amount of beer available. As the night progressed, Morgan started to feel sick and so the girls went back to their dorm. When they got back, Morgan passed out next to the sink…

Sally wasn’t sure of what she should do. She had heard that there were EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technicians) on campus to help in this situation, but she’d also heard that when you called the EMT’s you got fined and “written up.” She didn’t want to get Morgan in trouble but she thought her friend might be really sick.

Should Sally call the EMT’s and risk Morgan being angry that she has to pay a fine? Or should she opt for saving her friend from the fine at the risk of her getting sicker?

Posted by Miriam Schulman

Comments

Mary said on Oct 29, 2009: being a friend is very hard. so if sally really cares for her friend, she should know what to do.
Nabiha said on Nov 3, 2009: Being a friend isnt that difficult if u also keep the human and moral aspect alive. A friend is a person who tells u that u are wrong, knowing fully well that you might not talk to him/her for a certain time. Its our moral responsibility to help them when in need, esp. if they are going down a lane that will hurt them in the long run. Worrying abt the short-run trouble that Morgan 'might' get into and giving it preference over her health isn't sane. And its most definitely not friendship. Its plain Cowardice. When one is really friends with someone, one does everything in one's power to keep that person safe, even if it means becoming the bad guy, on and off...
Paul said on Nov 4, 2009: I'd say she shouldn't call the EMT's. They should like a bitch of a problem to deal with. Sally should take "passed out" Morgan back to their dorm room and let her rest it out. If it's just alcohol, then Morgan will be fine is she just got some rest. To me, this situation doesn't sound like an emergency and it can be taken care of manually with a little care and patience.
Brittany said on Jan 20, 2010: I think that she should call the EMT's, because what if she does not wake up. There could be something wrong with her, it doesn't matter if it was just "Beer" people at the party could have done something to the drink. She died from it, and if the friend would have been a friend she would have called the EMT's. She would be alive today.
mahroon said on Mar 8, 2010: she has done what she thought was right and any body in her place should have done that .
Tina said on Apr 2, 2010: People don't realize just how far they are going when drinking. At parties, you have no idea what was put into the alcohol you are consuming. Alcohol poisoning is a very real illness. Bing drinking is a very big problem. You have to deide what is more important in situations like this, possibly losing a friend, but saving their life. Or doing nothing, losing the friend anyway, and then living with the consequences of your acts. Maybe we need to have discussions with our friends, in case the scenario comes to life. You could save their life.
Lynn said on Jun 7, 2010: Look it up if you don't know what it means. These types of situations are real. That person lying there unconscious cannot speak for themselves or maybe they cannot breath for themselves or think for themselves. If a person can't breathe, breathe for them, if a person can't think, think for them, and if you can't think or breathe well you out of luck. Take it from a person who has had EMT training. You are not trained to diagnose, nor are you trained to assess the actual cause or situation of why the person has passed out. Friends or no friends call 911. If a person is not Alert and Oriented x3 that is times three meaning when you ask them 3 questions that they have to answer more than yes or no to like: Who is the President of the United States? Where are you at right now? What city are you in? Any hesitation or inability to answer at all should be a cause for alarm if they are disoriented or unconscious. Call 911 stay on the phone with them until help arrives. Charges for neglect may occur one way or another. Isn't it a problem if you or your friends or anyone drinks to such an excess that their behavior change is so irrational and you don't know what to do? Call the police, call 911 and feel good about yourself for helping someone.
LaTyla said on Jan 22, 2011: I feel that the friend should have called the EMT"s instead of worrying about a fine, A fine is something that you can pay and that's the end of it. Your life is something that once it's gone it's gone you can't come back. And like some of thee others said she might not wake up she might need serious medical attention in order to wake up, so if the girl was a real friend she would have called 911. Who cares how made the girl maybe after the fact the bottom line is she was past out unconscious and a friend who cares and loves their friend would have done the right thing and called for help.

Santa Clara University

At the Center

The Duties of Friendship

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009

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