Ethics Case Studies
Six steps through an ethical dilemma
1 - Articulate the issue
Who does it affect , how and why?
What its the nature of the conflict of interest?
What specific personal, organisational and/or societal values (or ethics) are involved?
2 - What is the context?
Who is involved directly and indirectly?
Is this a new issue or an old one in a new guise?
What are your specific and general responsibilities?
Who has been consulted? Who needs to be consulted?
Is there a relevant code of conduct or guideline?
What is the general ethical climate here?
3 - What are the implications?
Who is involved directly and indirectly?
Is this a new issue or an old one in a new guise?
What are your specific and general responsibilities?
Who has been consulted? Who needs to be consulted?
Is there a relevant code of conduct or guideline?
What is the general ethical climate here?
4 - What other options or perspectives may be relevant?
What might you be avoiding acknowledging?
Who might provide a robust challenge to your thinking?
How can you make other people feel more comfortable about speaking up?
Have you genuinely sought and listened to dissenting views?
Is there a personal cost to you, that you might have missed?
5 - Balance the arguments
What would an impartial adviser see as fair?
What priorities should we apply to conflicting objectives and values?
What are the “zones of ethical acceptability” and what lies outside the?
6 - The final check
What decision-making biases might you be applying without realising?
How honest are you being with yourself? (How pure are your motives?)
Do you truly feel this is the right thing to do?
If you were to give this issue more time might you come to a different conclusion?
What steps are you now going to take?
To reduce the unknown factors?
To reduce your blind area?
To uncover what is hidden?
To help make a great decision?
Adapted from the UK NHS Reflexive Framework for Ethical Decision-Making in The Ethical Coaches’ Handbook (Passmore, Smith, Lai, Clutterbuck and Turner, 2023)
