The Ethical Process in Solving an Ethical Dilemma - Assignment Example

The Ethical Process in Solving an Ethical Dilemma The ethical process is a step by step procedure that is used to solve ethical issues, make sound judgments and solves conflicts that may arise in our day in day out lives and also in the environment that we are in with our colleagues (Brown 6). The first key step in solving an ethical dilemma or issue is to first identify what the problem is. Once the problem has been identified and selected, it makes it easy to make a judgment. According to the scenario described, the ethical issue that arose was the fact that the neighbor’s car was taken without consent. That according to ethics is wrong. The other challenging bit is the fact that, the reason was to save the life of someone else. The second ethical step is to know what or why it happened, that is getting to realize that what happened was wrong and trying to get the story straight as to why it happened. This also involves getting relevant evidence that may have caused the car to be broken into. For this matter, the car was taken for the purpose of saving the life of another human being by rushing them to hospital. It can be argued that, if that intent was not carried out, then the life of another individual would be put at risk and it would have been much worse than taking the car in the first place. Supporting document as to why the car was taken would have been the hospital documents such as receipts, hospital card that show that the patient was really taken to the hospital. The third step is to verify whether the ethical issue is a regulatory issue or a process issue. This relates to why it was carried out. For this case, the car was taken because there were no other possible options at the moment that could have been implemented. It was the only car in the vicinity that could have been used. The fourth step would be to review and compare whether the ethical issue has a rule that is tied to it. This can be referred to a variety of resources such as the ASHA's Code of Ethics. For this case, after the car was taken so as to take someone to hospital. It would have been procedural to look up the ethical dilemma in the Code of Ethics and find a sound action to incorporate so as to make the situation better or both parties, including the owner of the car. The fifth step in reviewing the ethical process is to know who is in charge and has the control in the situation. For example, the car was taken and the individual in charge was the driver. This is the ideal person who will be able to explain what came along and why he/she had to do it and come up with a sound judgment based on the story line. The sixth step would be to identify the resources utilized. Before coming up with a solution to an ethical dilemma, it is sound to consult different sources so as to acknowledge with them and get their advice as to what they did when they were in the same situation, from this perspective, making a sound choice is far much better that making a judgment with closed eyes. The next step is to draft a list of possible actions to undertake and their positive and negative consequences. This may include confronting the agencies involved such as the police so as to make a statement of what went down. The next step would be to come up with a comprehensive plan that can be used to defend the action that was done. For example, the car was taken for a just cause. The next implementation of this step is to analyze all possible ways that can be used to defend the action and the ways to defend the actions should be ethically viable. For this case, the viable answer was that it was taken so as to save a life and not to harm any life. The last step is to take action and evaluate and analyze the plan that has been taken as the best choice. After that, other steps may follow up such as, in the event the car was subjected to damages, then it would be viable to take action steps to cater for the costs associated with repairing the car. The apparent conclusion to this ethical dilemma issue is that the crime was committed by a known intent but the aftermath was for the reason of saving a life. Seeking to solve an ethical dilemma using the law is a great approach as compared to using Christianity. This eliminates prejudgments with religious leaders. Taking someone’s property without their consent or knowledge is termed as stealing. In the event the car was taken without notice of the owner, then it was stolen. So if stealing violates the law of a particular jurisdiction then it is declared wrong independent of any religious beliefs or disbeliefs and legal enforcements have to be carried out independently of the religious beliefs (Tavani 42). Another approach would be to use the philosophical system of ethics and accepting that the crime committed was wrong and agreeing to it that it’s wrong. In addition to that consequences are outlined and any forms of punishment are given so as to prevent the occurrence of the crime next time (Tavani 42). Works cited Brown, Martin. The Ethical Process: An Approach to Disagreements and Controversial Issues. (3rd ed). New Jersey: Publisher: Pearson, 2002. Print. Tavani, Herman. Ethics and Technology: Controversies, Questions, and Strategies for Ethical Computing. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Print. Pp 41-42 Read More