Ethical Dilemmas

Ethical dilemmas are situations that require ethical judgment calls. Often, there is more than one right answer and no win-win solution in which we get everything we want.

A FEW TERMS TO KNOW ABOUT ETHICS IN HEALTH CARE

Medical ethics—also called bioethics—is the study of right and wrong in the medical field. Medical ethics was first defined by the Greek Hippocratic Oath which physicians still take today when they first become doctors. It requires them, above all, to “do no harm” to their patients.

Values: What we believe to be of worth and importance in life. We generally learn values at home (from our family) but we can also be influenced by friends, school, church, and overall society.

Morals: The way we decide what is right or wrong, good or bad. Morals are shaped by our values.

Ethics: There are several definitions for “ethics.” Here are a few:

The decisions, choices, and actions we make that reflect and enact our values and morals.
The study of good and right behavior and how people make those judgments.
The core values that guide our decisions and actions.

HOW DO YOU MAKE A DECISION IN AN ETHICAL DILEMMA?

It would be easy to make an ethical decision if there was only one right answer, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, the reason a situation becomes an ethical dilemma is because there is more than one acceptable course of action. While there are no set rules for how to make an ethical decision, there are some useful guidelines:

Define the problem: Be sure you have the facts!
List your choices: Think of as many alternatives as you can for how you might solve the problem.
Narrow it down: Decide which choices are acceptable.
Seek guidance: Ask for help if needed.
Consider the consequences: Make your ethical decision by picking the best course of action.
Act on your decision: Tell yourself: “It’s not enough to think about what’s right...I have to do what’s right.”
Reflect on your decision: Try to look back and see if your decision was really best.