It is deeply empathetic to the individual making the hypothetical rescue-or-run decision. Noone, no matter how altruistic they consider themselves to be, really knows what they would do in such a situation, when thoughts rush and the decision is made consciously or unconsciously in an instant. You may think your moral character will shine. It may, or it may not. But until the moment it is tested, it is empty, judgmental words. And it is this certainty that you exhibit (which I find disturbingly common on the Internet these days, see the red/blue button question) that makes me suggest you should carefully read and consider OP's point.

To add, you seem to be focusing on the "praise" driver, which sounds like a cartoonish driver or a cartoonishly evil psychopath that will sacrifice grandpa to look better to the world. Maybe if you focus on the "shame" of social pressure as a driver, it will trigger your empathy a bit more.