The question posed to readers of National Underwriter for this column was provocative: “Is it ever ethical to be unethical?” The question, which also requested examples, is based on law that occasionally allows an individual the “right to do the wrong thing” under certain circumstances.

Some refer to this as a “privilege” based on the legal concept of malum prohibitum, or “crime for the greater good.”

The example cited in the question was speeding, which is clearly “wrong.” However, if a person is speeding to take a severely injured person to the emergency room, the illegal speeding may be legal–under those circumstances.