Stop and Think to Determine the Facts
Thinking! That is the key. What is thinking? Perhaps no one has ever asked you this. Thinking is known to be tied to memory. Without memory, you can not think. Our memories are strongly connected to our value system. Because of this, we are predisposed to perceive an ethical issue based on our own value system without regard for the values of those involved.
Identify Options
Identifying options in ethical dilemmas is not as easy as listing pros and cons. We will find that we base our options on our own ethical standards. Then we apply these ethical standards to the situations that we face. There are many studied ethical standards studied by philosophers and we often move between them depending on the dilemma. Whether your options identify with Utilitarian or superficiality, it is good to know you have options.
Consider Consequences for Yourself and Others
Self-Reflection, sympathy and empathy are essential to being able to consider consequences for yourself and others. It's important to go deeper when considering the impact your decision will have on others involved and also others who may not be directly involved with the ethical issue.
Make and Ethical Choice and Take Appropriate Action
The last step in this four step process is to choose the path that you can live with. The four step process shown here, is not a recipe for ethical decision making but algorithm, iteratively pursued, to come to the best possible outcome from the options available. You may be faced with choices you would not like but you will have choices nonetheless.
QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN
ETHICAL DECISION–MAKING
QEP FOCUS STATEMENT: Ethical Decision–Making is the ability to connect values and choices to actions and consequences.
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