An ethical question. If I let you die, am I responsible for your death? [View all]

[white_wolf]

I was reading a post on another forum between a Marxist and an anarcho-capitalist. The Marxist argued that when health insurance CEOs deny life saving coverage they were committing murder, since their actions caused people's death. He even argued that the doctor would be guilty, if he could have done something, but refused. The Capitalist disagreed saying that no one has any obligation to provide services for another person if they don't want to.

I jumped in briefly to point out that I think that if you have the ability to help someone you should, especially if it is life or death. My example was this: say you are on the edge of a cliff hanging to a weed and about to fall off, if I just let you fall, aren't I responsible for your death? I would say I am, perhaps not legally, but ethically.