Please read the Case Study below. Grading will be based on your responses to the questions and your written communication.

In $2011,$ James Smith fell $30$ feet from a waterfall and broke his back. He was employed by a small business and had no medical insurance. His lifetime friend, Benny Mulligan was with him when the fall occurred. Benny took James to the emergency room. Moved by his friend's severe injuries and pain and suffering and realizing that James did not have insurance, Benny switched IDs with James in the hospital emergency room. James required surgery to fuse his back to avoid what doctors said would have been certain paralysis. The cost of the surgery and hospitalization was $$91,107\mathrm{.}35.$ Neither James, employed as a mechanic, nor could Benny, employed as a painter, could have paid for the surgery and follow up care. Benny's employers' insurance paid for the surgery because the hospital took the information from Benny's ID found in James pocket.

While Benny was contemplating telling his employer, someone notified the insurance company of the switch. Benny, James, and Benny's wife Tammy Mulligan were charged and convicted of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. Tammy, because of the Mulligans three young daughters, is serving her sentence through home confinement. Benny is serving $9$ months and James is serving $7$ months. All three will serve three years probation and pay restitution.

Benny states, "I know what I did was wrong. But, I look back on it$,$ and I feel that I had to do it at the time. I do not feel like I am a criminal in the sense of rapers, muggers, and murderers." Benny said he did not understand, that a hospital has an obligation to treat someone who is dying. Friends testified that as they were racing James to the hospital they told Benny that hospitals in the area had routinely refused to provide medical treatment.

Benny said he wanted to tell his employer, but he was afraid he would be fired and then be stuck with the bill. Tammy adds that the government is right to demand restitution but wrong to imprison them. James asked the judge if he could go to prison for all three of them. "I would be lost without my friendship with Benny. I probably would be dead."

Is there a moral and$/$or ethical issue with this scenario? If so$,$ what is it$.$ If not, why?

What actions could have been taken?

Who is affected by the actions taken?

What should the course of action $($punishment$)$ be$,$ if any?