University of Phoenix Material
Ethical Dilemma Worksheet
Incident Review
1. What is the ethical issue or problem? Identify the issue succinctly.
2. What are the most important facts? Which facts have the most bearing on the ethical decision presented? Include any important potential economic, social, or political pressures, and exclude inconsequential facts.
3. Identify each claimant (key actor) who has an interest in the outcome of this ethical issue. From the perspective of the moral agent—the individual contemplating an ethical course of action—what obligation is owed to the claimant? Why?
Claimant
(key actor) Obligation (owed to the claimant) Perspective (What does the claimant hope will happen?)
Evaluating Alternatives
4. What are two alternatives for the scenario? One alternative can be a wild card that you ordinarily may not consider an option because of potential implications. Both should be within free will and control of the same moral agent.
Alternative A Alternative B
5. Respond to the following questions based on your developed alternatives.
Alternative A Alternative B
What are the best- and worst-case scenarios if you choose this alternative?
Will anyone be harmed if this alternative is chosen? If so, how will they be harmed? Consider families and derivative effects.
Would honoring an idea or value—such as personal, professional, or religious—make the alternative invalid?
Are there any rules, laws, or principles that support the alternative? Are there rules, laws, or principles that make the alternative invalid? State the rule or principle and indicate if it invalidates or supports the alternative.
Applying Ethical Guidelines
6. Consider each ethical guideline and explain whether it would support or reject your alternative.
Guidelines based on the action itself Alternative A Alternative B
Should this alternative become a rule or policy that everyone in this situation should follow in similar situations in the future? (Kant)
Does this alternative result in using any person as a means to an end without consideration for his or her basic integrity? (Kant)
Is the intent of this action free from vested interest or ulterior motive? (Kant’s good will)
Does this alternative demonstrate a genuine concern for others affected by the decision, and is the moral agency responding to a perceived need?
Guidelines based on consequences Alternative A Alternative B
Is the good that results from this alternative outweighed by the potential harm that might be done to others? (Mill’s harm principle)
Is any harm brought about by anyone other than the moral agent? (causal harm)
Will anyone be harmed who can be said to be defenseless? (paternalism)
To what degree is this alternative based on the moral agent’s own best interest? (ethical egoism)
Which alternative will generate the greatest benefit—or the least amount of harm—for the greatest number of people? Select only one alternative. (utilitarianism)
Ethical Decision Making
7. Choose to proceed with either Alternative A or Alternative B and explain the reasons for your decision.
University of Phoenix Material
Prosecutors Scenario
Ethical Issue: Prosecutors
Officers Nixon and Rook decided to arrest the husband for driving under the influence. He is taken to the station for processing. During processing, the husband is visibly agitated. He keeps mumbling to himself and rocking back and forth in his chair. His wife comes to the station and reports that her husband had some bad experiences while in Somalia. She requests that he be allowed to return home with her after processing. The police officers, already at the end of their shift, readily agree.
Officer Rook is designated to write the report and deliver it to the prosecutor’s office. P. Ross Acute is the issuing deputy district attorney. He is reviewing this police report to decide whether to file charges against the husband. The report accurately depicts the facts. While he is reviewing the report, Officer Nixon comes into his office.
Officer Nixon tells the prosecutor that the police report had been mistakenly dropped off before being signed off by a supervisor, which is required under city policy and procedures. Officer Nixon swaps the previous report for a new report, explaining that the new report was signed off by a supervisor and is more complete.
D.D.A. Acute notes that the main difference between the old and new reports is that it states that the officers observed the husband driving and then parking the blue station wagon as the patrol car pulled up at the residence.
What should the prosecutor do?
