Coming Clean on a Child’s Death

Ethical Educator

Scenario:

A few years ago, the son of an assistant superintendent died from an accidental overdose when he took a fentanyl-laced pill. Upon receiving the autopsy report, the administrator’s ex-wife wanted to keep the cause of his death a secret. Jointly, they lied and said his death was due to a bad heart. Having now seen the many reports of teenagers dying from fentanyl, the administrator believes educators are morally obligated to speak out, even if belatedly, because it may save another family from tragedy. Ashamed it has taken this long, he wonders if he can ethically go public with the real cause of his son’s death when the mother is against it.