Law and Survival

This article was written on September 10, 2013. Author: Lü Jianfeng. I have no deep research on law; today I just want to speak casually as an ordinary citizen. The fundamental purpose of law is fairness and justice, and all laws and regulations are based on this purpose. The most important among them is the protection of people's right to survival. Here comes the contradiction! Let's start with the fictional. The movie "John Q" starring Denzel Washington tells such a contradiction. Denzel plays a down-and-out father whose working hours are reduced, income insufficient, car repossessed by the bank, and misfortunes never come alone: his son has a heart problem and needs a heart transplant, costing 250,000, but he can only raise over 20,000. After seeking help from the news and the government in vain, he finally takes the hospital hostage. The movie has a happy ending: public opinion supports Denzel, the son is saved, and the father gets a minor offense. Now let's talk about the real-life version. Yesterday, Chen Mingcan was sentenced to three years and six months in prison. Chen is also a father who robbed a bank to pay for his dying son's medical treatment. I couldn't find out whether his son was saved, but the father was imprisoned. Everyone has the right to survival; that is the meaning of law. But when a son is seriously ill and can be saved only if money is available, the hospital refuses to treat and forces discharge, and all avenues for help are closed, the son's right to survival is gone. What should one do then? I once saw a shocking comment on NetEase: "When society forces you to the brink, there is still one road left—crime. Remember, it is not shameful!" Both fathers above chose crime, committing crimes to defend their sons' right to survival, thereby depriving others of their rights. I do not support crime, but I ask myself: if I were in such a situation, what would I choose? What about you?