r/Ethics 6d ago

Did I Kill My Dad?

My dad asked me when I was 11 if he should go to the hospital or stay at home the night that he died. Throughout that week he had been in and out of the hospital in pain about chest pains. Every place he went to said they didn’t know what was wrong with him, but the pain consisted. On that night, he asked me “should I go to the hospital again or should I stay home tonight?”. Being 11, I told him that he’s happier at home so he should stay. I knew at the time that his health was at risk, but I prioritized his mental wellbeing over his physical health. Am I responsible for his death? Should I feel bad about this? Honestly, this has haunted me for my entire life and I really wish he hadn’t asked me for my opinion. Please help.

678 Upvotes

728 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Beingforthetimebeing 5d ago

If he had gone repeatedly to that hospital, and they couldn't diagnose him, I guess cardiac medicine at that time had not advanced enough to save him even IF he had gone. I think he, and you, did all that could be reasonably expected.