Gaca 1

Sylwia Gaca

English 101

Prof. Cydney Topping

12/3/2014

Infections and Americans' Moral Behavior

Believe it or not, most people in the United States are selfish when it comes to being sick. They do not care if they are spreading infections to the public or not. Gostin claims, “America has gotten so focused on rued individualism and the autonomy of the person that we forget we have wider ethical responsibilities to our families and communities and our country” (qtd. in Murphy). I agree with the statement above. Americans forget about their moral responsibilities to the community due to their egoism. People in the United States have a tendency to focus only on their needs and going to the public while not being in a healthy condition may cause other individuals get sick.

Every day we see coughing people on the streets, in the markets, on the bus and at schools. We often don’t pay attention to sick people anymore, because it became a regular thing to fall into ill people on the streets. Americans live very exhausting and busy lifestyle. Many people have too much responsibilities and when they catch a cold they rarely take sick days at work. In the article Kate Murphy writes, “Americans also value toughness and the ability to work through physical adversity without thinking how they might end up weakening other members of the team” (Murphy). Adults are likely to push limits when it comes to their health, as long they can stand on their feet they will go to work. They think only about themselves and how to survive the day in work. Americans don’t consider the fact that they might end up making other people sick.

Few weeks ago my coworker was complaining about stomach pain and tiredness. When I advised her to go home and rest she said she needs some extra hours at work. The next day she came to work pale like a wall with dark circles under her eyes. She said she was throwing up all morning, and after two hours she went home, because she couldn’t work. In next couple of days more and more of my coworkers became sick. It turned out that it was a stomach flu, and it is very infectious. Being in the same place as infected person can make you sick. The girl that started the stomach flu at my work didn’t care about coworkers. The only thing that she was interested in, was being able to work through the entire shift.

In the 21^st century in the United States it’s very common to see both parents having jobs. Usually when parents go to work their children go to school. The problem begins when children get sick and nobody can take care of them. Parents are forced to choose between staying home with kids and going to work. Those adults who can’t afford to take off at work, they have no other choice but send their children to school. Kids interact with each other playing games and staying in class. Many children are exposed to the virus and sooner or later they get sick too. I remember attending elementary school in Poland, when the flu season started. My best friend carried a pack of tissue, because of her runny nose. She would keep on sneezing next to me in class. Next thing I remember is lying in bed and taking medicine due to flu. Parents should feel obligated to stay home with their kids while they are sick. Americans should be mindful that their children can pass the virus on other kids in school.

Americans don’t feel any need to show other people when they are sick, unlike in Asian countries. In Asian nations people who are sick wear surgical masks. Murphy writes, “Tellingly, Americans tend to assume this is to prevent the mask wearer from getting sick. But it’s actually more often the reverse: The wearer is sick and the mask serves not only to prevent passing germs to others but also to alert people that the wearer is unwell and they should keep their distance” (Murphy). Wearing surgical masks it’s a really good way to show public when somebody is sick. People in Asian countries seem to care about community, and they want to maintain somebody’s healthy conditions. Americans should feel responsible to inform people around about their sickness to prevent the spreading of infections. People in United States should consider the fact that ways to alter public about their sick state exist, and they should try to develop these ways to communicate.

Individuals in United States do not show ethical behavior when they are sick. They prior their jobs over their health. The outcome of their action might result in spreading infections to their coworkers. Americans’ selfishness does not make them realize that staying home while being sick can bring advantages for both sides, getting well sooner and preventing public from getting sick. Parents in United States tend to send their sick children to school, even though they should not. They seem not to care about the fact that their kids can make other children sick. In Asian countries people wear surgical mask to alter public about their sickness. It informs other people to keep their distance. In my opinion people in United States should think about wearing surgical masks in public, while being sick.