Law and Survival

This article was written on September 10, 2013

Author: Lü Jianfeng

I have no deep research on law; today I'm just speaking 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. Denzel's movie 'John Q' tells such a contradiction. Denzel plays a destitute father whose work hours are cut, income insufficient, car repossessed by the bank, and when it rains it pours: his son has heart problems and needs a transplant costing 250,000, but he can only raise 20,000. After seeking help from the news and 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 charge.

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 the son was saved, but the father is now in prison.

Everyone has the right to survival; that is the meaning of law. But when a son is seriously ill, can be saved but only lacks money, the hospital forces discharge, and all avenues of help are closed, the son's right to survival is gone. What do you do then? Once I saw a shocking comment on NetEase: "When society pushes 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?