Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on our newest moral dilemma. After outlining the original dilemma and then adding a wrinkle to it later, we are now ready for an analysis of the dilemma from an expert in moral theology and ethics.

I’m beginning to think that these moral dilemmas are either too easy or else that the “Busted Halo” audience is exceptionally morally astute— perhaps it’s a bit of both! Fully 60% of the respondents suggested that Brianna ought to focus on her own migraine and getting well first and foremost. “Call the doctor immediately and try to explain the situation and ask for more drugs,” was the number one response. I agree!

Dealing with the missing or stolen Vicodin is not the first order of business here. Granted, the physician may have qualms about issuing a new prescription “just in case” it is Brianna who has misused, distributed, or even sold the prior bottle of pills. To forestall this concern, one thoughtful respondent suggested that she tell the doctor the whole story and offer, if the MD so chooses, to treat this migraine with another medication for now (possibly weaker or non-narcotic), until the missing drugs question gets better resolved. Not a bad idea—to ask the doctor for “something” to take care of the immediate debilitating pain, with a promise to deal with the “too much medicine in too short a time” question within the week.

Several commented that the story itself feels a bit racist or bigoted. Why suspect the Hispanic domestic worker so automatically? Why is Amy, the peer friend recovering from addictions, given more of a benefit of the doubt than Anna the maid? There is a certain reality to the fact that domestic help, whether foreign nationals or otherwise, are often suspected first when in-house items go missing. Other residents, relatives, and visitors are too often assumed to be trustworthy and beyond reproach. At least in this dilemma we discover Amy who, because of her recent recovery program, is also a viable suspect. There may be others.

Three Concerns

I would like to highlight three further related moral concerns in this case study:

1) Brianna has some moral issues within herself and her own lifestyle to deal with. The pace of her life seems a tad frenetic. She is prone to frequent migraines. Even after this one subsides, she is off and running again, too busy to deal with the “missing pills” issue in a timely fashion. The solutions that occur to her all seem rather peremptory and/or abrupt. The engagement scenario only serves to rev things up, quickening the pace of her life, her relationships, and her tendency to want to solve this with too little time, investigation, and personal input.

While migraines are chemically-related, affected by diet, certain foods, hormones, etc., it is also true that there can be stress, personality and lifestyle issues involved in triggering them and in their frequency and severity. Brianna owes it to herself to take a look at her own lifestyle and health. It’s not solely a moral issue, but it does have some moral dimensions.

2) Since it appears (following the wrinkle) that Anna is more likely to be the culprit than Amy, I agree with those commentators who suggested that Brianna not jump to conclusions or act precipitously. Please do not immediately alert the management or one’s neighbors. A ruined reputation, especially if falsely accused, is almost impossible to rehabilitate. In fairness to Anna this should be dealt with delicately, one-to-one (or including a neutral translator if needed), and in a spirit of compassion and help, not self-righteousness and mistrust. As one reader suggested, Anna herself might be sick and in pain—with migraines, gynecological issues, or some other chronic or debilitating condition. Or, she may have a sick child, close relative or friend for whom she is providing the pain meds. While “stealing” her employer’s pain pills to salve such a problem is not right or commendable, such situational circumstances would be far different than if the drugs were being taken for sale or profit.

So too, Brianna better thoroughly investigate who—in addition to Anna, Amy, and Tara—may have had access to the apartment and medicine cabinet. I’m not sure that assuming “the maid did it” might not be as flawed as the old “the butler did it” mystery shibboleth.

3) It does seem a bit negligent on Brianna’s part to have placed the replacement drugs in the exact same accessible location—almost tempting the culprit to strike again. It might have been wiser to better hide one’s expensive, addictive medicines for Brianna’s own private access and use. Similarly, I would not leave lots of cash, credit cards, or other valuables lying around to tempt fate or to tempt people who, for various legitimate reasons, find themselves in my private domain. There’s an old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Slow Down!

In summary, handle first things first—get medication and deal with the immediate migraine headache. Then, cover all the bases, discern all who had access to the missing medication and meet with each potential culprit caringly, one-on-one, and in a timely fashion. Deal with the theft incrementally, resorting to firing, exposure, etc. only as a last resort and if necessary. Learn from the experience at least two things: Don’t tempt fate by leaving valuables or exotic items in unsafe places. And, maybe most important of all, Brianna, “slow down, you’re movin’ too fast.” Let this incident be a wake-up call to reflect on your history of migraines, your present engagement and upcoming marriage, your lifestyle, and especially the pace of your life. Lots of good moral learning in this medicine cabinet dilemma!

Need to get up to speed with the first part of the dilemma or “The Wrinkle?” Read the original dilemma and then read the wrinkle and vote/comment on one or both before reading our moral theologian’s analysis.