I don't see how that begs the question at all. If an algorithm exists to make such a decision it is a given that the code would exist to allow it to make that d

I don't see how that begs the question at all. If an algorithm exists to make such a decision it is a given that the code would exist to allow it to make that decision. Without the code a more simple scenario plays out. The car continues along its current trajectory and kills whichever pedestrian was in front of the vehicle, which could be both of them.