The Perilous Pick: Todd’s Turbulent Trilemma

In an idyllic haze of summer bliss, Todd, our protagonist with a penchant for the placid, plotted a holiday seasoned with thrills for his cherished girlfriend, Jenny, and his spirited mother, Martha. They ventured to the rapids, that tempestuous tapestry woven by nature’s own hand, where water churned with the ferocity of a thousand washing machines in overdrive.

The trio embarked upon their inflatable chariot, buoyant with the promise of shared laughter and the adrenaline of aquatic escapades. Todd, clad in a life jacket that squeezed him with the overzealousness of an aunt at Thanksgiving, played captain to his precious cargo.

However, as the rapids began to froth with the intensity of an overcaffeinated barista, their vessel, a rubber raft as sturdy as Todd’s resolve, met with a rogue wave—a watery wraith risen in rebellion against predictable paths. In a choreography of chaos, Jenny and Martha were sent spiraling into the aquatic abyss, the river ensnaring them in its brisk embrace.

Todd, wide-eyed, beheld the spectacle with the horror of one who has just realized he’s left his phone atop his car roof before entering the highway. There they were, the two halves of his heart, bobbing in the rapid’s ruthless waltz, and here he was, clutching the oar like a knight with a rubbery sword, confronted with a decision that would make even Solomon sweat.

Who to save? Could one quantify love and duty on the fly, as the current conspired to whisk his loved ones away? Jenny, with her eyes mirroring the depth of the river itself, and Martha, her will as indomitable as the currents that now challenged her son.

 

Law In A Minute

The currents of law, much like the rapids themselves, can be both clear and confounding.

If Todd neglects to save his mother, he potentially faces the grim specter of criminal charges, including intentional homicide, due to the dereliction of his legal duty to attempt her rescue. This duty arises from the recognized kinship and the obligations that society and certain legal frameworks impose upon such familial bonds.

On the other hand, as heartless as it may seem through the lens of love and devotion, there is no equivalent legal obligation compelling Todd to save his girlfriend. The lack of formal kinship means that, in the eyes of the law, his responsibility is not as clearly defined.

However, should the scenario be slightly altered, with Jenny as Todd’s wife rather than girlfriend, the legal landscape undergoes a seismic shift. Now, the bonds of matrimony intertwine with those of blood, creating a conundrum where saving either his wife or mother would likely shield him from legal repercussions. Marriage, much like blood relation, establishes a legal duty that would compel Todd to act.

 

Legal Basis

Civil Code

Article 26

Parents have the duty to support, educate, and protect their minor children.

Adult children have the duty to provide for, assist, and protect their parents.

Article 1059.1

Spouses have a mutual duty to support each other.