Prompt
Your 84-year-old grandfather lives alone in a small town with no public transit, 30 minutes from the nearest grocery store. Last month he drove the wrong way down a one-way street, and last week he scraped a parked car without noticing until a neighbor told him. He has told you many times that his car is what keeps him independent, and that he would rather die than move into a care home. You are visiting him for the weekend, and your mother asks you to take his car keys while he sleeps, because he listens to you and will not listen to her. What would you do?
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After you practice: what this question tests and how to approach it
What this question tests
- Ethical reasoning
- Empathy and compassion
- Communication
How to approach this question
This MMI station tests how you weigh your grandfather's independence and dignity against his safety and the safety of other people on the road, when you're asked to act behind his back. Name everyone involved: your grandfather, your mother, his neighbors and other drivers. Weigh taking the keys while he sleeps, which removes his choice and may cost you his trust, against a direct and honest conversation with him. Explore options that protect his independence, such as grocery deliveries, rides from family or neighbors, or an independent driving assessment. Decide what you'd do this weekend and what you'd say to your mother. If the station brings a new confidence from your grandfather, think about how to honor his trust while keeping everyone safe.
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