Ethical Dilemmas Ethics = the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group Dilemma = state of uncertainty or perplexity, especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options Ethical Dilemma = a situation that will often involve an apparent conflict between moral imperatives (some duty that is essential and urgent), in which to obey one would result in transgressing another (the action of going beyond or overstepping some boundary or limit)

PrincipleDefinitionFor example… Autonomy Beneficence (do good) Non- maleficence (do no harm) Justice Strict Utilitarianism Universal Ethical Principles

PrincipleDefinitionFor example… Autonomy The duty to maximize the individual's right to make his or her own decisions Parent respecting the privacy of child’s bedroom Beneficence (do good) Non- maleficence (do no harm) Justice

Universal Ethical Principles PrincipleDefinitionFor example… Autonomy The duty to maximize the individual's right to make his or her own decisions Parent respecting the privacy of child’s bedroom Beneficence (do good) The duty to do good both for the individual and for all Parent helping child with homework Non- maleficence (do no harm) Justice

Universal Ethical Principles PrincipleDefinitionFor example… Autonomy The duty to maximize the individual's right to make his or her own decisions Parent respecting the privacy of child’s bedroom Beneficence (do good) The duty to do good both for the individual and for all Parent helping child with homework Non- maleficence (do no harm) The duty to cause no harm, both for the individual and for all Parent refraining from belittling a child out of anger Justice

Universal Ethical Principles PrincipleDefinitionFor example… Autonomy The duty to maximize the individual's right to make his or her own decisions Parent respecting the privacy of child’s bedroom Beneficence (do good) The duty to do good both for the individual and for all Parent helping child with homework Non- maleficence (do no harm) The duty to cause no harm, both for the individual and for all Parent refraining from belittling a child out of anger Justice The duty to treat all fairly, distributing the risks and benefits equally Parent being fair between siblings

What is the ‘right’ thing to do in the following cases? 1.You are waiting with a few people to board a bus. The bus pulls up and before you can board the driver gets out and goes into the convenience store to get coffee. You are the last to get on the bus. Do you pay your fare? 2. As a nurse, you are the last person to see Mr. Doe before he dies in the hospital. You believe he has become mentally incompetent in the last few hours and in that time he has rewritten his will. In the new will he viciously attacks each member of his family. He then cuts every family member out of the will, leaving his entire fortune to the Psychic Hotline. Mr. Doe asks you to make sure the new will gets to his lawyer. The document will most likely be thrown out of court, but not before the damage to the family is done. Do you carry out Mr. Doe’s last request?

Ethical Decision Making Framework The issue: Should the wealthier members of society be forced to pay through taxation for the poorer members? If so, how much? Relevant Facts : Stakeholders Primary concerns Reasons you should…Reasons you shouldn’t … The best decision is…. because…

Use the ethical decision making framework to determine the ‘right’ thing to do in one more scenario:  A man in a small southern town is guarding the courthouse against a mob that is about to storm it by force, in order to capture a murdering prisoner and kill him even before trial. If the mob is frustrated, many people may be killed in the ensuing riot. Should the sheriff deliver the prisoner to the courthouse?