When is it right to break a promise? - Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez episode artwork

EPISODE · May 24, 2026 · 6 MIN

When is it right to break a promise? - Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez

from TED-Ed · host TED-Ed

Puzzle through an ethical dilemma and decide: what responsibility do we have to honor the wishes of the dead?--For decades, Yvonne and Zaina have been happily married and co-leading a non-profit. One day the couple is involved in a car accident, and on her deathbed, Yvonne asks Zaina to promise her two things. First, to continue financially supporting their non-profit. And second, to never remarry. Should Zaina be beholden to these promises? Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez explore this ethical dilemma.Lesson by Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez, directed by Prashanti Aswani.This video made possible in collaboration with the Parr Center for EthicsLearn more about how TED-Ed partnerships work: https://bit.ly/TEDEdPartnerSupport Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-ethical-dilemma-of-deathbed-wishes-sarah-stroud-and-michael-vazquezDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-ethical-dilemma-of-deathbed-wishes-sarah-stroud-and-michael-vazquez/digdeeperAnimator's website: https://www.prashantiaswani.com----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Liz Candee, Ugur Doga Sezgin, Karmi Nguyen, John C. Vesey, Yelena Baykova, Nick Johnson, Carlos H. Costa, Jennifer Kurkoski, Ryan B Harvey, Akinola Emmanuel, Jose Arcadio Valdes Franco, Sebastiaan Vleugels, Karl Laius, JY Kang, Abhishek Goel, Heidi Stolt, Nicole Sund, Karlee Finch, Mario Mejia, Denise A Pitts, Doug Henry, Keven Webb, Mihai Sandu, Deepak Iyer, Javid Gozalov, Kyanta Yap, Rebecca Reineke, William Biersdorf, Patricia Alves Panagides, Yvette Mocete, Cyrus Garay, Samuel Barbas, LadyGeek, Marin Kovachev, Penelope Misquitta, Hans Peng, Gaurav Mathur, Erik Biemans, Tony, Michelle, Katie and Josh Pedretti, Hoai Nam Tran, Kack-Kyun Kim, Michael Braun-Boghos, zjweele13, Anna-Pitschna Kunz, Edla Paniguel, Thomas Mungavan, Jaron Blackburn, Venkat Venkatakrishnan, ReuniteKorea, and Aaron Henson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Puzzle through an ethical dilemma and decide: what responsibility do we have to honor the wishes of the dead?--For decades, Yvonne and Zaina have been happily married and co-leading a non-profit. One day the couple is involved in a car accident, and on her deathbed, Yvonne asks Zaina to promise her two things. First, to continue financially supporting their non-profit. And second, to never remarry. Should Zaina be beholden to these promises? Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez explore this ethical dilemma.Lesson by Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez, directed by Prashanti Aswani.This video made possible in collaboration with the Parr Center for EthicsLearn more about how TED-Ed partnerships work: https://bit.ly/TEDEdPartnerSupport Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-ethical-dilemma-of-deathbed-wishes-sarah-stroud-and-michael-vazquezDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-ethical-dilemma-of-deathbed-wishes-sarah-stroud-and-michael-vazquez/digdeeperAnimator's website: https://www.prashantiaswani.com----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Liz Candee, Ugur Doga Sezgin, Karmi Nguyen, John C. Vesey, Yelena Baykova, Nick Johnson, Carlos H. Costa, Jennifer Kurkoski, Ryan B Harvey, Akinola Emmanuel, Jose Arcadio Valdes Franco, Sebastiaan Vleugels, Karl Laius, JY Kang, Abhishek Goel, Heidi Stolt, Nicole Sund, Karlee Finch, Mario Mejia, Denise A Pitts, Doug Henry, Keven Webb, Mihai Sandu, Deepak Iyer, Javid Gozalov, Kyanta Yap, Rebecca Reineke, William Biersdorf, Patricia Alves Panagides, Yvette Mocete, Cyrus Garay, Samuel Barbas, LadyGeek, Marin Kovachev, Penelope Misquitta, Hans Peng, Gaurav Mathur, Erik Biemans, Tony, Michelle, Katie and Josh Pedretti, Hoai Nam Tran, Kack-Kyun Kim, Michael Braun-Boghos, zjweele13, Anna-Pitschna Kunz, Edla Paniguel, Thomas Mungavan, Jaron Blackburn, Venkat Venkatakrishnan, ReuniteKorea, and Aaron Henson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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When is it right to break a promise? - Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez

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This episode was published on May 24, 2026.

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Puzzle through an ethical dilemma and decide: what responsibility do we have to honor the wishes of the dead?--For decades, Yvonne and Zaina have been happily married and co-leading a non-profit. One day the couple is involved in a car accident, and...

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