Ethical Question

[Nish]

There are too many variables in this particular equation to say one way or the other. My best friend could call me at 3 am and tell me he murdered someone and i'd respond "i'll get the acid and the hacksaw." Certain individuals are my friends because i trust them. While they have committed acts in which i may deem as heinous, if they are comfortable in their actions, then i will simple express my discontent and that will be the end of it. Should these actions continually repeat, then a brief incarceration may be needed to straighten a person out. But in an instance where i am the sole person who would determine whether or not they go to prison, i would have to admit that i would keep my mouth shut. Having good friends is just like having a relationship, you need to be there to support each other for the good and bad times. personal disprovals should be kept between you and the offending individual, and if these occurrences continue, then it may be time to find new friends.

 

[electric_warrior]

it all depends on the circumstances, if it was unprovoked an extreme then yes. if it was a standard fight that my friend won, then no. how good friends they are shouldn't matter

 

[messy]

Context context context.

You can't just say 'what would you do if...'

You need to know how long you've known your friend. Your best friend
What they've done. well that's in the first post (they assaulted someone and left them in hospital)
Why they did it. the questions more interested in the moral implications of disobeying written law for an actual one, but just so I can answer you're question it wasn't a "just" assault
If it hurt anyone and if so, how much? the victim is in hospital
What was the person who got hurt like? they weren't a "bad" person no moral justification for the attack
Does your friend realise you saw them? once again this shouldn't matter since its a question of morals. But yes they know
Why do you like your friend? well they're your friends
How long ago was it? yesterday

And that's just the tip of the iceburg.

Then you have to take into account personal life experiences and ideology.

Essentially, every decision takes into account more than what the question asks.

I'm beginning to think you didn't read the OP very carefully because I explain a few things, and the original question is concerned with is it ethically right to protect a friend from the law and I personally don't think the specifics matter with some as clean cut as the law. I.e if its bad you should be punished

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

Depends on who the victim is and why. But probably yes, just to be mean. There really are only two people i would cover for. One i has been my best friend for years, the other i love

 

[Jharry5]

I'd have to take into account why they did it, which of my friends did it and whether the person they beat up was going to suffer for the rest of their life because of it (ie. because of mental or physical damage).
Unless I knew all about those things, I don't know what my answer would be...

 

[DoctorWhat]

For me, although this goes against absolutism, it rather depends on the severity crime committed. If it has drastically affected someone's life, then yes I shall. If it hasn't, chances are I won't.
I'm a very subjective, hypocritical person. Bite me~<3

This. Including the "Bite Me"

 

[Zersy]

Depends on which of my friends comitted the crime. For three of my mates the answer is no for the rest the answer is yes.

For me it would depend how much he/she gonna pay me after i stop their ass ending up in jail

hehehe

 

[Fragged_Templar]

I hate these kinds of questions. They lack details, without which the ethical dilemma becomes pointless.
Is it a true friend or just an aquaintance?
why did your friend do it?
do you know the victim at all?
would you done the same as your friend, under the same circumstances?
if convicted how severe would the sentence be?

to answer the question...
I'd probably talk to my friend first and tell him or her to confess, before testifying against him or her... but to be honest i just don't see any of my friends commiting unprovoked assault

 

[Bofus Teefus]

I have given evidence. Actually, there was no evidence of the crime itself that I could give, so I gave a bunch of other helpful info that had his sick ass thrown in prison for a good long while.

 

[TelHybrid]

It depends on the motive.

If the victim who's in hospital is there because my friend was purely fighting in self defense and it was a really rough fight, or my friend was stopping someone from mugging someone or something like that, I think my friend has every right to hospitalize them.

Hence I wouldn't give evidence.

 

[Agent Larkin]

I would give the evidence but thats because i have rather strict morals.

 

[Corpse XxX]

I would not tell the Police anything, but would ask my friend to go tell the Police himself..

Well you stated the victim is in the hospital, so we can assume it was a severe crime.

So would I turn them in?
I'd probably talk to them first to try to get the to turn themselves in.
Failing that? I'm not sure. If the police came to me I wouldn't lie.
I probably would turn them in, in time.

Being my friend doesn't matter if they are committing violent, hospital inducing crimes. Being my friend doesn't exempt them from the law. What about the victims friends? What if they got revenge? Wouldn't my friend's family and such want those people to be brought to justice?

No, I would turn them in if they didn't turn themselves in.

Pretty much this..

 

[Skeleon]

His crime was severe enough to get his victim into the hospital?
Yeah, in that case I'd tell the truth.
If he just stole something or whatever, I wouldn't, though.
It's all about the severity of the damage he caused.

 

[Prince Rhys]

If a buddy of mine put someone in the hospital out of sheer violence and no real reason then his ass isn't my friend anymore. I try not to consort with idiots and hoodlums.

This sums up my feelings pretty accurately as well. I wouldn't be actively going to the police with it, but if they pulled me in, yeah, I'd tell them.

That $1000 from crime stoppers would be pretty tempting though.

 

[Chinchama]

I plead the 5th!

 

[bloob]

Well i have known this to happen, someone i know was caught drink driving and he asked to be taken down to the police station for a blood test, to give the alcohol a chance to leave his system. Turns out he knew the guy doing the blood test who then waited long enough before doing the test for it come out clear.

Reassuring to know that the police will let their friends off

 

[Spirultima]

Well personally, i have very few friends, i have "friends" though, if it was one the "friends" no problem, but if its a minor offence no, major i will.

If its one of the few REAL friends i have, i would say nothing, but ask the person to tell the truth.

Again if it the assault wasn't provoked, i would have more of a mind to tell the truth, if it was provoked, and was hilarious the no.

 

[Son of Makuta]

Personally, if a friend did something like that it'd sour the friendship anyway to some extent, so possibly.