This seems to misunderstand the definition of heroic responsibility in the first place. It doesn't require that you're better, smarter, luckier, or anything else than the average person. All that matters is the probability that you can beat the status quo, whether through focused actions to help one person, or systematic changes. If swimmer had strong enough priors that the doctor was neglecting their duty, swimmer would be justified in doing the stereotypically heroic thing. She didn't, so she had to follow the doctors lead.
This seems to misunderstand the definition of heroic responsibility in the first place. It doesn't require that you're better, smarter, luckier, or anything else than the average person. All that matters is the probability that you can beat the status quo, whether through focused actions to help one person, or systematic changes. If swimmer had strong enough priors that the doctor was neglecting their duty, swimmer would be justified in doing the stereotypically heroic thing. She didn't, so she had to follow the doctors lead.
If everyone else cares deeply a... (read more)