Chapter 3 Ethical Decision Making Ethical Theories Copyright

Chapter 3 Ethical Decision Making , Ethical Theories Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Making Ethical Decisions • Making good ethical decisions to solve Ethical Dilemma requires a trained sensitivity to ethical issues and a practiced method for exploring the ethical aspects of a decision. • Having a method for ethical decision making is absolutely essential. • Ethical decision should be based on ethical principles and codes rather than on emotions, thoughts, fixed policies. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Dilemma • Ethical dilemma: is a situation with uncertainty about what is right to do from a moral or ethical perspective. • For example, the manager of a company may be put in a position in which he must choose between the interests of his employees and his investors. Give more profits or increase the salary? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Two Types of Ethical Choices • Right vs wrong: Choosing right from wrong is the easiest. • Right vs right – Situation contains shades of gray i. e. all alternative have desirable and undesirable results. – Choosing “the lesser of two evils” – Objective: make a defensible decision. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Decision Models • Utilitarian Model: – An ethical decision is one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. • Moral Rights Model: – An ethical decision is one that best maintains and protects the fundamental rights and privileges of the people affected by it. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Decision Models • Justice Model: – An ethical decision is one that distributes benefits and harms among individuals in a fair, equitable, or impartial way. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Models Justice Utilitarian IDEAL Outcome Moral Rights Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Decision Making Framework The Framework Overview: • Step One: Describe the problem. • Step Two: Determine whethere is an ethical dilemma. • Step Three: Identify and rank the key values and principles. • Step Four: Gather your information. • Step Five: Review any applicable Code of Ethics. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Decision Making Framework • • Step Six: Determine the options. Step Seven: Select a course of action. Step Eight: Put your plan into action. Step Nine: Evaluate the results. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step One: Describe the problem. • You must first describe the problem and ensure that it’s actually a moral dilemma that needs to follow an ethical model. • Consider the nature of the problem and any signs of the problem and ensure that you’re attempting to solve the issue and not just it’s signs. • Circumstances affect the problem definition (for whom does the problem exist ? What is the surroundings? ) Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step Two: Determine whethere is an ethical dilemma. • Dilemma becomes ethical when the good or bad options seem to have a moral component. (e. g. privacy vs. avoidance of harm, freedom vs. safety). • Terms of an ethical dilemma must be ethical in nature, not legal. • If something is a law, you then have the ethical choice to follow the law or not. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step Three: Identify and rank the key values and principles. • What reasons can you provide for prioritizing one competing value over another? • Understand that a decision to a dilemma which goes against an individual’s personal set of values has very little chance of success. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step Four: Gather Your Information • Do you have all the known facts? • Do you understand the applicable laws or legalities? • Do you have all relevant policies available to review? • Are you clear about the individual’s views and personal values? * Don’t hesitate to seek out consultation. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step Five: Review Any Applicable Code of Ethics • Look for the following: -- mission statement -- values base of the organization -- ethical principles to guide practice -- ethical standards • Codes can be revised or updated as needed. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step Six: Determine the Options • List all possible actionable options. • Weigh the cost/benefits of each option. • Seek out additional points of view. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step Seven: Select a Course of Action 1) Remove the least desirable option. 2) Remove any which you can not put into action. 3) Remove any options which break the values systems of those affected. 4) Recognize that your final choice will be impacted by your personal values. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step Eight: Put your plan into action. • Think about the outcomes with a sense that you have truly approached this ethical dilemma with the best of intentions and to the best of your ability. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Step Nine: Evaluate the Results • Evaluate the cost for each person involved (client, family members, coworkers, agency, etc. ) • Consider submitting your most difficult cases to an ethics review board for feedback. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Dilemma • Example 2 : • A new technology is being launched which is good for the company as well as the customers. But, if this is brought into use, a less man-power is required for the organization. • The entrepreneur is now in an ethical dilemma whether he wants to satisfy his customers with good services or be loyal to his employees who have helped the company grow. • The unpleasantness of the situation arises when neither the customers nor the employees deserve to suffer and it is the entrepreneur’s call to take. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Theories • Different ethical theories exist and theories can be applied to different situations to inform our thinking and support decision making. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Theories 1. Consequentialism: • Consequentialist ethics holds the view that the correct moral response is related to the outcome, or consequence, of the act. • The central aim is the principle of 'maximising the greatest good for the greatest number'. • The 'good' referred to a variety of ways and may refer to values or 'utility' such as happiness, or another life enhancing outcome. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Theories 2. Deontology : • Deontology is based on duties and rights and respects individuals as ends in themselves. • It places value on the intentions of the individual (rather than the outcomes of any action) and focuses on rules, obligations and duties. • Deontology requires absolute adherence to these obligations and acting from duty is viewed as acting ethically. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethical Theories 3. Virtue Ethics : • The key difference between consequentialism deontology and virtue ethics is that the final emphasizes the moral character, or virtues of the individual. • Virtue ethics has emerged due to the perceived deficits in ethical theories such as consequentialism and deontology for healthcare. honesty and kindness. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

• The virtues are fixed character traits which are held to be societally valuable such as truthtelling, trustworthiness, • Practical wisdom relates to how the virtues are applied or performed. • Virtue ethics is about an individual of good character doing the right thing. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.