Student Sample Paper Assignment 1 With Revisions

Student Sample Paper Assignment 1 With Revisions Recently I Wa

Recently, I was faced with a moral and ethical dilemma which forced me to choose between honesty and loyalty. I hope that the result of that choice will guide me in future decisions. At the time of the incident, I was working as a pharmacy technician in ________. The dilemma involved a fellow technician who was hired at the same time as me, and we had become close friends during our employment.

My friend was obsessed with bodybuilding and was willing to steal intravenous steroids from the pharmacy. As a friend, I tried to warn him of the dangers of steroids and to persuade him to stop stealing. Despite my efforts, he repeatedly ignored my advice, likely because he was successful in his thefts. Eventually, he began falsifying stock records by using a pharmacist’s login ID and password. I became increasingly concerned and requested shift changes so I would not witness his actions, trying to distance myself from the unethical behavior.

If my friend had asked why I was changing shifts, I would have lied, claiming conflicts with school commitments. Consequently, I was not only withholding the truth from my employer but also lying to my friend. When suspicions arose, the manager questioned me, hinting at firing both of us if we did not confess. I was then confronted with a choice: remain loyal to my friend or uphold honesty with my employer.

I decided to inform the manager about my friend's actions. I am uncertain whether my choice was correct, and this decision still haunts me. At the time, I believed I was doing what was right and honest, a value I learned from childhood. Nonetheless, I questioned whether my primary duty was merely to perform my job responsibly or to protect my friend at all costs.

Over time, I have come to believe that the employer had a right to be aware of theft within its organization. While loyalty to friends is an important value, honesty and integrity must often take precedence, especially when others are harmed. Theft in the pharmacy impacted not only the business but also the community it served, risking the safety and trust of customers, and damaging relationships with colleagues and owners.

Furthermore, I hold the view that aiding a friend in committing an unethical act is itself unethical. Protecting a friend’s misconduct can indirectly perpetuate harm and undermine professional standards. Reflecting on my decision, I recognize that fear played a significant role—fear of losing my job, fear of damaging my friendship, and fear of confrontation. These emotions clouded my moral judgment, influencing me to prioritize loyalty over correctness.

This experience has taught me that living according to a strict moral code is challenging but essential. In future situations of similar gravity, I aim to make decisions that reflect my core values—honesty, integrity, and responsibility—rather than succumbing to emotional pressures or loyalty that conflicts with ethical principles. Ultimately, my conscience is the benchmark for my actions, and I must live with the consequences of my choices.

Paper For Above instruction

The ethical dilemma I faced in the pharmacy setting centered around the conflict between loyalty to a friend and honesty to my employer. As a pharmacy technician, I was aware of my responsibilities to maintain integrity and uphold the trust placed in me by the organization. The dilemma arose when a close friend and colleague was caught stealing steroids, risking the pharmacy's reputation and safety. The decision to report or conceal the theft involved complex moral considerations rooted in professional ethics, personal loyalty, and societal responsibilities.

In analyzing this situation, it was crucial to consider the principles of ethical decision-making frameworks such as deontology and consequentialism. Deontologically, honesty and integrity are categorical imperatives—unconditional moral duties—that render concealment or complicity unacceptable. From a consequentialist perspective, the potential harm resulting from theft—damaging trust, risking legal actions, and endangering customer safety—far outweighs the loyalty owed to friends.

The decision to report my friend's theft aligns with professional ethical standards outlined by the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) and other regulatory bodies that emphasize honesty, integrity, and safeguarding public health. For instance, the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists explicitly states that pharmacists and technicians must act with honesty and uphold standards that protect the well-being of patients and society (FIP, 2018). Neglecting these principles to cover for a friend is ethically unjustifiable and potentially criminal.

This case demonstrates the importance of balancing multiple moral obligations, including professional responsibilities and personal values. According to Trevino and Nelson (2006), ethical decision-making involves recognizing the conflict, evaluating the options objectively, and choosing actions that uphold moral standards. In my case, adherence to these principles compelled me to disclose the theft, despite the emotional difficulty and concern about damaging the friendship.

My choice was reinforced by the recognition that failing to act could facilitate future unethical behavior, undermine the integrity of the pharmacy, and endanger public trust. Moreover, it could set a precedent that unethical conduct can be tolerated, which contradicts the core values of healthcare professionalism. As a result, my actions contributed to reinforcing a culture of honesty and accountability, ultimately benefiting the organization and its stakeholders.

Reflecting on this experience highlights the significance of personal integrity and the role of moral courage in professional practice. Upholding honesty, even when difficult, ensures the credibility of healthcare providers and supports the ethical foundations of the pharmacy profession. It also underscores the importance of clear ethical policies and ongoing ethics education within healthcare teams, enabling practitioners to navigate complex dilemmas effectively (Fitzpatrick, 2019).

In conclusion, confronting moral and ethical dilemmas requires careful deliberation grounded in professional standards and personal integrity. While loyalty is a valued virtue, it cannot supersede the obligation to protect public interest and uphold ethical principles. This experience has strengthened my resolve to prioritize honesty and accountability, ensuring that my future decisions reflect my core values and commitment to ethical practice.

References

• Fitzpatrick, A. (2019). Healthcare ethics: Critical issues for the 21st century. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• FIP (2018). International Pharmaceutical Federation Code of Ethics. FIP Publications.
• Trevino, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2006). Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk about How to Do It Right. John Wiley & Sons.
• American Pharmacists Association (APhA). (2020). Code of Ethics of the Pharmacist. Retrieved from https://www.aphanet.org/advocacy-career-services/ethics-guidelines
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Cain, M. (2018). Ethical issues in pharmacy practice. Pharmacy Practice Journal, 15(3), 45-52.
• Gautam, A., & Kumar, P. (2020). Professional ethics and responsibilities of healthcare workers. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 13(2), 123–130.
• Hoffman, A. J. (2019). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision-Making & Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Lewis, P. (2021). Ethics and professionalism in pharmacy. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 34(1), 15-20.
• Pellegrino, E. D. (2015). The virtues in medical practice. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 40(2), 131-143.