Please View The List Of Ethical Dilemmas Attached And Choose
Please View The List Of Ethical Dilemmas Attached And Choose Three
Please view the list of ethical dilemmas (attached) and choose three (3) that you want to respond to. Within your response, each consisting of two or more paragraphs, please state what you would do followed by what makes your decision ethically and/or morally righteous. Please also include what ethical theory defends your stance on each dilemma and why. Your submission must be in proper APA format and include three groups of two or more paragraphs depending on the dilemmas that you chose. Please do not summarize the dilemma in your answer, just title your dilemma with the given title.
Paper For Above instruction
Ethical dilemmas are complex situations that challenge individuals to choose between conflicting moral principles or values. In this paper, I will select three ethical dilemmas from the attached list and provide a detailed response to each, discussing my chosen course of action, the ethical rationale behind it, and the relevant ethical theory supporting my stance.
The first dilemma I chose is "Confidentiality vs. Public Safety." In this scenario, I would prioritize public safety when a colleague reveals to me sensitive information indicating they are planning to harm others. I believe that my duty to protect potential victims outweighs the obligation to maintain confidentiality in this case. Ensuring the safety of others takes precedence over strict confidentiality because, in the event of imminent harm, moral responsibility overrides privacy concerns.
From an ethical standpoint, this decision aligns with the principle of utilitarianism, which advocates for actions that maximize overall well-being and reduce harm. By disclosing the threat, I believe I am acting to prevent a greater harm, thereby promoting the greatest good for the greatest number (Singer, 2011). This approach fosters the moral obligation to prevent harm and prioritize safety, even if it means breaching confidentiality.
The second dilemma is "Honesty vs. Loyalty." Here, I face a situation where a close colleague has asked me to cover for them during an unethical act at work. I would choose to be honest and refuse to lie or cover up because integrity is fundamental to my moral principles. I also believe that hiding misconduct can enable ongoing unethical behavior, ultimately harming the organization and its stakeholders.
The ethical theory that supports my stance is Kantian ethics, which emphasizes duty-based morality and acting according to principles that can be universally applied (Kant, 1785). According to Kant, honesty is a moral duty regardless of the consequences because it respects the dignity and autonomy of others. Upholding honesty maintains the moral fabric of society and aligns with my intrinsic values of integrity and truthfulness.
The third dilemma I selected is "Resource Allocation in Healthcare." In this case, I would advocate for equitable distribution of limited healthcare resources, prioritizing patients with the greatest need and potential benefit. I believe that fairness and compassion should guide resource allocation decisions, especially in scenarios where scarcity forces difficult choices.
This decision is supported by the ethical theory of justice as fairness, originally articulated by John Rawls (Rawls, 1971). Rawls’ theory advocates for principles of justice that ensure fairness and equality, especially for the most vulnerable populations. By applying these principles, I aim to promote social equity and ensure that vulnerable patients are not disadvantaged due to resource scarcity.
References
- Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals.
- Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
- Singer, P. (2011). Practical Ethics. Cambridge University Press.