Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.
— Potter Stewart
Have you ever faced a situation where you had to make a decision that didn’t seem to have any clear-cut answer? Consider these scenarios. You want to invite friends to go to the movies and you only have two extra tickets, but you have three best friends! Who would you ask? You’re about to take a test in science class, and the teacher inadvertently leaves the answer sheet on her desk where many students can see. Would you quickly copy the answers like many other students do or would you go take the without looking at the answers? You buy a new sweatshirt and the cashier mistakenly charges you $2.70 instead of $27. Do you point out the mistake?
These situations and others like them can involve an ethical dilemma.
Ethics is defined as moral values or ideas that govern someone’s decisions or actions. When we make decisions based on our ethics, we use our personal or shared values as a framework to determine what is good and/or bad. This process often requires moral reflection as we make evaluations and judgments about responsibilities, rights, duties, values, and principles.
Although ethical questions involve or imply the words 'ought' or 'should,’ but the answer could involve moral conflicts with several possible outcomes.
For example: Should individuals who donate kidneys be allowed to choose who their organs should go to?
You probably have opinions on this question, based on your experience, ideas, or principles. But there is not a clear-cut right or wrong answer. Most ethical questions do not have a clear-cut right or wrong answer. That is, it is often a Right vs. Right (As opposed to Right vs. Wrong) Decision.
What are some of the values that we apply to making ethical decisions? Think about a person that you really admire! Someone you look up to because of their actions, the way they treat other people, and the choices they make in their life. Take a minute to reflect on some of the adjectives you would use to describe this person. Maybe they include such words as honest, friendly, fair, safe, responsible, and independent. These characteristics might be important to you as they reflect your values. What are some other values you might have?
Importance of authority, respect for privacy, courage, kindness, cooperation, loyalty, service to others could be other examples.
Choose a couple of your values for further reflection. Write a sentence or two about your top values.
For example: Honesty is important to me. I have had a couple of experiences in my life where people weren’t fully honest! Things didn’t always turn out so well! So it’s very important to me to be honest and have other people be that way, too!
Making a decision based on values can be challenging.
Here are some steps to follow that are helpful when considering an ethical question:
1. Study and understand the situation.
2. Identify the dilemma, right versus right.
3. Identify values on all sides of the question.
4. Reflect on your values and make a decision that reflects those.
5. Communicate your decision citing facts, values that inform your position, and listening respectfully to other points of view reflecting different values.
Example:
Study and understand the situation: One of your friends has been talking to you about how they are ashamed of their body and how they are considering taking non-prescription medication to help them lose weight. This is a really good friend and they have asked you to please not tell anyone about their plans. You know they have kept some secrets for you. What do you do? Some facts may want to consider is whether the medication has been proven dangerous. Find out what research your friend has done to make their decision. Is their decision informed?
Identify the dilemma, right vs. right: Support your friend by keeping their secret or tell someone about the danger you feel is beyond your control to help.
Identify values on all sides of the question: Keeping the secret is associated with values of friendship, honesty and trustworthiness. Telling an adult in order to seek help is associated with values of safety or health as well as concern for others or perhaps respect for authority.
Reflect on your values and choose a position that reflects those: Try removing yourself from the question and focus on your personal values. Look back at the values listed in #3 and decide what’s most important to you.
Communicate your decision citing facts, values that inform your position, and listening respectfully to other points of view reflecting different values: In the end, you might make a decision to talk with your friend about your concerns and about the values behind feeling the way you do. Listen to their response as well and maybe together come to a decision that works for both of you. You might decide that you will keep in close touch and your friend will let you know if they feel things are not going well, you might decide that you will choose a trusted adult to talk to together, or you might decide you need to let someone know even though your friend might not be happy with your decision.
Every day we encounter situations that require us to make decisions and solve problems based on our values and beliefs. Also, we are required to form opinions about things happening around us in the world based on these values and beliefs. Questions surrounding us might include: Should immigrants be detained at the border or admitted into our country? Should women receive equal pay as men for equal work? Should abortion be legal? All of these questions require close investigation of personal and community values.
Currently, we are in a very unique historical time of trying to manage a global pandemic and ethical dilemmas arise every day.
Choose one (or more!) of the articles below that discusses a current ethical dilemma. Do the 5-step process for each article to practice ethical decision making based on the value framework we’ve outlined above.
Whose lives should be saved? This LATimes article discusses the new realities health care workers face as they fight the virus with limited supplies.
When should the country be re-opened? Panelists in this New York Times article weigh the economic impacts against the nation’s health.
Questions to guide you through the 5-step framework:
In your own words, what are the facts involved?
What is the ethical dilemma — the right vs. right question?
Why is each outcome potentially right? What are the values associated with each side?
What is your position? Think about what values you hold that might influence this position.
Make a plan to communicate your decision. Try writing a short opinion piece on what you would do and why!