25+ Moral Dilemma Examples, Questions, and Scenarios

25+ Moral Dilemma Examples, Questions, and Scenarios · They blame you for causing them to be late even though it was their fault. · What if a ... Skiptocontent Menu Menu Moraldilemmasoccuralltoofrequentlyineverydaylife.Thesearesituationsinwhichthereisadifficultdecisiontobemadebetweentwoormoreoptions. Herearemoraldilemmaexamples,questions,andscenariostoseehowyoumighthandlethesedifficultsituations. TableofContentsDrugtestingandpregnantwomenThewhistleblowerdilemmaCharacteristicbehaviorsLyingonaresumeHealthcareoptionsMoraldilemmasinvolvedwithduringhuman-machineinteractionMybossiswrong.ShouldIbringituporquestionhimonit?Theft Dr.HollyWilson ChairoftheDepartmentofArts,EnglishandHumanities&ProfessorofPhilosophy,LouisianaStateUniversityAlexandria Drugtestingandpregnantwomen SincetheSupremeCourtdecisionin1999,itisnolongerpermissibletodrugtestpregnantwomenwithouttheirconsent.Thetestingwithoutconsentcouldnotbejustifiedbyreferencetothe“specialneeds”ofthecommunityforgettingwomenintotreatmentforthesakeofthepregnancy. Today,therearestillreasonstobeconcernedaboutthewell-beingofpregnantwomenandtheirchildrensincesubstanceabuseisontherise. Thedilemmaisthatpregnancyclinicswouldliketotestpregnantwomenbutthewomenareafraidofbeingprosecuted.Healthcareproviderswanttotestwomentobeabletoprovideinterventioninthecaseofsubstanceabuse. Insomestates,thereare,however,“fetalassault”lawsthatmakeitillegaltouseopiatesduringpregnancy.Tennessee,Alabama,andSouthCarolinahavesuch“fetalassault”lawswhichcreateadisincentiveforpregnantwomentoseekhelpfortheirpregnancies. Pregnantwomendonotwanttofaceprisontimeandlosingtheirchildrensothereisadisincentivetoseekhelpwiththepregnancy.Yet,withouttheinterventionofthehealthcarefacility,thechildislikelytosuffermoreandhavelastinghealthissues. Iscriminalizingsubstanceabuseforpregnantmothersthebestwaytotreattheproblemofsubstanceabuseandfetalprotection?Arethereothersolutionsthatmaybemoreinthebestinterestofwomenandchildren? TheSupremeCourtaffirmedwomen’srighttoinformedconsentanddeniedthetestingbecausethepurposeofthetestingatthattimewasaimedatlawenforcementratherthansavinglives. Iscriminalizingpregnantwomenreallygoingtosavemorelives?Isthisaneffectivewaytostopsubstanceabuseandsavechildren’slives?Childrenofprosecutedwomenmustgrowupwithouttheirmothers.Isthisinthebestinterestofchildren? Shouldweratherputtheemphasisontreatingwomenwhoabuseopiatesratherthanprosecutethem?Wouldthisnotsaveboththemotherandthechild? Prof.CraigB.Barkacs ProfessorofBusinessLawandEthicsintheMaster’sinExecutiveLeadershipandMBAPrograms,UniversityofSanDiegoSchoolofBusiness Thewhistleblowerdilemma Youencountersomeonedoingsomethingwrong. Doyouspeakup?Doyoureportit? AsaprofessorintheSchoolofBusinessattheUniversityofSanDiego,the“whistleblowerdilemma”istakenupintheBusinessEthicsclassesIteach.Pedagogicresearchsupportsanalyzingissuesinacontextclassmemberscanrelateto. Inkeepingwiththisprescribedapproachofmakingthecontextstudent-relevant,howtheparticularissueof“whistleblowing”isrolledoutinmybusinessethicsclasstendstoteaseoutcontradictionsandinconsistenciesthatarethehallmarkofcognitivedissonance. “Class,”Ibegin,“Whoherethinkscheatinginschoolisokay?”Yes,itisasoftballquestion.Afterall,whoisgoingtoraisetheirhandinanethicsclassandmakethecaseforaclearviolationofacademicintegrity? “Nextquestion,”Icontinue,“Sosinceweallagreethatcheatingiswrong,you’regoingtotellmewhensomeonecheats?” Silence. “No?Well,howaboutifIsweetenthepot?Sinceweallagreethatcheatingiswrong,ifyoucomeforwardandreportsuchaviolationofacademicintegrityIwillseethatyoureceivemaximumexposureandbegivenfullcreditinpublicforconscientiouslytryingtorightthiswrong.” Laughter. “Whyareyoulaughing?Youmeanyoudon’twantpeopletoknowthatyousteppedforwardtoexposecheating?Whynot?Wehavesomeunflatteringnamesforpeoplewhoreportwrongdoing,don’twe?Canyouthinkofafew?” Nowtheclasschimesinwiththelikesof,“tattletale,rat,Judas,traitor,squealer,stoolpigeon,stoolie,canary,nark,fink…etc.” Yes,itishardtobeawhistleblower.Iwillthenaskthemtoconsiderwhattheymightdounderthefollowingcircumstances: Scenario1:Imagineyouaredoingverypoorlyintheclass,andIstateasfollows. “Thisclassisnotjustabouttheory,butalsoaboutaction.Doyouhavethecourageofyourconvictions?AssumeIknowcheatinghastakenplace,butIneedthesupportofawitnesstomakethechargestick.Ifanyofyouhavethecouragetocomeforwardandconfirmthecheatingbyafellowstudentyoutooknowhascheated,Iwillgiveyouan“A”intheclass–youwillhaveearneditwithyouractions.” Scenario2:Imagineyouaredoingverywellintheclass,andIstateasfollows. “Thisclassisnotjustabouttheory,butalsoaboutaction.AssumeIknowcheatinghastakenplace,andIalsoknowthatyouknow(e.g.,Ioverheardyousayingasmuch)andcanbeamuch-neededcorroboratingwitness.Ineedthesupportofawitnesstomakethechargestick.Ifyoufailtocomeforwardandconfirmthecheatingbyafellowstudentyoutooknowhascheated,Iwillgiveyouan“F”intheclass–youwillhaveearneditwithyourcowardice.” Asonewouldimagine,boththecarrot(scenario#1)andthestick(scenario#2)tendtoencouragepeopletospeakupwhentheirownwell-beingisatstake.Dotheystill,however,wantconfidentiality?Absolutely. Yourgradeintheclassisnotaconsideration.Youaredeeplytroubled,however,bythecheatingofothers.Youwanttoreportitbecauseyourspindlecellsarefiringandyoubelieveit’stherightthingtodo.Theteacherpromisesconfidentiality,butyouwillalmostcertainlybefoundoutanywayastheonewhospokeup.Youwillbeostracized. Thediscussionbecomesmuchmoreintricateandinvolvedasvariousscenariosandcomplexitiesareintroduced,butevenatthisearlyjuncturetheconceptualfoundationofthewhistleblowerdilemmaisfirmlyestablished. Dr.StevenMintz RetiredProfessorEmeritus,CaliforniaPolytechnicStateUniversity|BusinessEthicsSpeaker|Author,“BeyondHappinessandMeaning:TransformingYourLifeThroughEthicalBehavior” Characteristicbehaviors Marywastoldbyherhusband,Tom,thathewouldaccompanyheronaweekendretreatforemployeesofhercompany.Whenthetimecametogo,Tomsaidheneveragreedtodoit.Marywonderswhethershehadimagineditorwastheremoreatplay. Thisisn’tthefirsttimeTompresentedadifferentviewofaneventandinsisteditisthetruth.Hehasrepeatedlysaid:“Ineversaidthat.”Onotheroccasions,TomhasaccusedMaryofmakingcommitmentswithoutaskinghim. Atothertimes,Maryagreedtomeethimonacertainday,butTominsistedshesaidadifferentday.Maryisconfused.SheisstartingtobelieveTomanddoesn’tknowwhattodo. Gaslightingoccurswhenapersonpresentsadifferentviewofaneventandinsistitisthetruth,inordertomakeyouquestionyourself. Itoccurswhensomeoneisconsistentlydoingthingstomakeyoudoubtyourself,wheretheobjectiveistohaveyouseriouslyquestionyourownsanity. Otherexamplesofgaslighting Theyblameyouforcausingthemtobelateeventhoughitwastheirfault.Theyaccuseyouofdoingsomethingyoudidnotdo.Theystartlyingtoyouaboutthingsthatbecomelargerandlargerovertime.Theycauseyoutodoubtyourperceptionsbyprovidingyouwithmisinformation.Theydenyconcretefactstotargetyoursenseofreality. WhatshouldMarydo? MaryshouldlookforothersituationswhereTomhadsaidsomethingthatdidn’tlineupwithhersenseofreality.Thiswillgiveheraclearerperspectiveofhismotivations. HasTomincreasinglyliedaboutthemosttrivialofthingswhenthetruthdoesn’thurtorharmher?Hashesaidsomethinglikeyouaremadorcrazy? Agaslighter’sultimatemotivationistocontrolanotherparty,Maryinthiscase..TomseekstopurposefullyconfuseMaryanddoubtherself.Beforelong,MaryiswillingtobelieveanythingTomsays. Maryshouldkeepajournaltobeclearonherthoughtsduringgaslighting.Bywritingdownherthoughtsandactionsshecanalwaysgobacktohernotestoverifyshewasn’twrong.ItalsohelpstoestablishapatternofbehaviorbyTom. Maryshouldspeaktoaclosefriendorfamilymembertogetanobjectiveviewofthesituationandhelpcraftherresponsetotheevents.Shemaywanttogotoatherapistforpsychologicalhelp.Meditatingisausefultooltoremaincalmduringtheordeal. ThebestwaytohandleTomisnottoplayhisgames.Maryshouldtrytoavoidthetemptationofreactingtohisstatementsbecausethatwillonlyencouragehimmore.Ifshecandetachfromhisstatements—showhimtheyaren’tcausinghertodoubtherself–thenhemaystopgaslightingovertime.Shecantakebackcontroloverherlife. Lyingonaresume Cherylhasbeenunemployedduringthecoronaviruspandemicforsixmonths.Herunemploymentbenefitsareabouttorunout.She’shavingdifficultyprovidingforherfamilysincesheistheonlybreadwinner. Thewholesituationiscreatingastraininthefamilydynamic.AddtothatthefactthathertwokidsaretryingtolearntheireducationallessonsonzoomandCherylisatherwit’send. Cheryldecidestotrythejobmarket.Sheshowsherresumetoherhusband,Bob,whosuggestsstretchingthedatessheworkedforaprioremployerbyoneyeartocover-upaone-yeargapinthedatesofemploymentwiththatemployer. Bobdoesn’tthinkaprospectiveemployerwouldrealizethedeceptionbecausenooneattheprioremployerislistedasareference. ShouldCherylstretchoutthedatesofemploymentwiththeprioremployer? WhatisTruth-telling? Therearetwoaspectsoftruth-telling,alsothoughtofashonesty.Oneistoneveromitinformationthatanotherpartyhasarighttoknow,oraliebyomission.Theotherisnottosayorwritesomethingthatmisleadordeceiveothers,alieofcommission. Truth-tellingisanessentialelementoftrust.WhywouldanemployerbelieveanythingCherylsaysifitbecameknownthatshehadliedonherresume? Peoplewhoobscurethetruthorshadeitareintentionallytryingtogetsomeonetotrustthem.ThepotentialbenefitforCherylisgettingthejob.Butisitworthlyingaboutherpreviousemploymentexperience? Cherylmaythinkdistortingthedatesofemploymentisjustifiable,especiallyinthetryingtimesofthepandemic.ThefactthatBobsuggesteditmaygiveCherylanaddedincentivetodothedeed. However,sheshouldaskherselfthefollowing: Whatifaprospectiveemployerfindsoutaboutthelieaftershehasbeenhired?Willshebedemoted,losepay,orbefiredforcause?Whatiftheprospectiveemployerdecidestocontacttheprioremployer?Whatwillshedothen? LyingonherresumeputsCherylinthepositionofslidingdowntheproverbial“ethicalslipperyslope”whereonelieleadstoanotherandsoonenoughshewouldbeinapositionofcoveringheractionsthroughdeception. WhatShouldCheryldo? AddinganextrayeartoCheryl’semploymentrecordandjustifyingitaspartofthegameistantamounttorationalizinganunethicalact.ItreflectsanendjustifiesthemeansapproachtoethicaldecisionmakingbecauseCheryliswillingtodowhateverittakestogetthehigh-payingjob. Shecanrationalizethatfeedingherfamilymustcomefirstandforemost.Thetryingtimesduringthepandemicjustifiesaddingtheextrayear.Afterall,shemayhaveestablishedagoodperformancerecordwithotheremployerswhoshecanaskforarecommendation. IfCherylstretchesthedatesofemploymentshewillbelyingbyomissionanditmaybefollowedupbyalieofcommissionifsheisaskedaboutthatprioremploymentexperience.Aprospectiveemployerhasanethicalrighttoexpectpotentialemployeestobehonestontheirresume. Cherylhasamoralduty,tobehonestwithanyprospectiveemployerandshouldnotstartanemploymentrelationshipwithalie. Sheshouldimagineifeveryoneliedontheirresumeaboutdatesofemployment,addingajobtheydidn’thave,orembellishingtheirexperience.ThiswouldputCherylinaweakerpositioningettingthejob. CherylshouldexplaintoBobthatthepotentialharmsoflyingonherresumeoutweighthebenefitsofgettingthejob.Shestillmaygetthejobevenwithaone-yeargapinheremployment. Theremaybeagoodreasonforit,suchasraisingherkids.Evenso,therewillbeotherjobopportunitiesthatcomealong.It’sbesttowaitandbehonestfromthestarttodevelopatrustingemploymentrelationship. Related:16Real-LifeExamplesofEthicalDilemmas SanketShah ClinicalAssistantProfessorforBiomedicalandHealthInformationSciences,UniversityofIllinois,Chicago|Author,“HealthcareAnalytics101:AComprehensiveGuide” Healthcareoptions Irecentlyexperiencedanankleinjurythatrequiredavisittoanimmediatecarefacility.Duringthevisit,anx-raywastakenandthephysicianon-callaskedmetosetupanappointmentwiththeirorthopedicsunitthefollowingday. Thenextday,theorthopedicspecialistcouldnotdeterminetheextentofmyinjuryandaskedmetosetupanappointmentforanMRIattheirimagingcenterdownstairs.Ididsoandhadmyfollow-upvisitwiththephysicianwhosaidhethoughtIwasokayanditwasnotabreak. However,tobesure,hewantedmetogotothehospitalsystemandgetaCTscanjustincase.Ididsoandreceivedacallattheendoftheweeksayingeverythingwasfineandtojustrestup. ThatgreatnewswasovershadowedwhenIreceivedmyheftybillwhichwasmostlyrelatedtoalloftheimagingworkIhadundergone. Mostofushavebeenaccustomedtovisitingourphysicianandfollowinghisorherrecommendationtoensurethebestpossiblehealthoutcomes.Theterminthehealthcareindustryisreferredtoas“MedicalAdherence”. Notfollowingorderscanincludestoppingmedicationasprescribed,engaginginalifestyleactivitythatcontinuestoputoneatrisk,orsimplynotcontinuingyourtreatmentplanasdirected.Theconsequencesofmedicalnon-adherencecanbeverydetrimentaltoone’shealth. Thehealthcareindustryismulti-faceted,complex,andoftenconfusingforthecommonpatient. Whatweaspatientsmaynotrealize,isincertaincircumstances,wedohavechoicesthatcanbemadethatareinourbestinterest. Theseoptionsarerarelydiscussedbetweenpatientandphysicianasrecommendedservicesandtreatmentoptionsarealmostalwayskeptwithintheiremployedhealthsystem. Thiswouldmakesensefromaconvenienceperspectivebutalsofromafinancialperspectiveaspatientsarekeptwithinthesamehealthcareecosystem.Morevisitsandservicesultimatelyleadtomorerevenue. IsharedmyexperienceabovebecauseitisaprimeexampleofhowhealthcarecostscontinuetoballoonfortheUnitedStates. Inmysituation,IcouldhavetakenboththeMRIandCTatafree-standingimagingcenter.Thefunctionandprocesswouldhavebeenidentical.Iarrive,Igetscanned,andtheresultsaresenttomyphysician.Goingthereinsteadofgoingtomyprovider’simagingcenterwouldhavesavedmehundredsofdollars. Mostofussimplyjustdon’tknowhowtoasktherightquestions,butbydoingso,youmaybeabletosavehundredsorthousandsinmedicalexpenses. Hereareafewtipstoconsiderthatmaybeworthresearchingoraskingyourphysiciantobetterunderstandyouroptions: Ifyouneedimagingdone,canitbedoneatanearbyfree-standingclinic?Ifyouhaveaplannedprocedure,canitbeconductedinalowercostsettingsuchasanoutpatientfacilityorambulatorysurgicalcenter?Ifyouhavelabworkthatneedstobedone,canitbedoneataclinicallabfacility?Ifyouarebeingprescribedmedication,isthereagenericequivalentavailable?Ifyouthinkyouneedtogototheemergencyroom,isitreallyanemergency,orcanyougotoanurgentcarecenter? Thesearejustsomeexamplesofwhatapatientshouldbeawareoftohelpcontrolsomeoftheirout-of-pocketcostswhenitcomestomedicalcare. Youshouldalwaysfollowyourdoctor’sorders,butaskingquestionsandconductingyourownresearchwillprovideyouwithinformationsothatyouandyourphysiciancanmakethemostinformeddecisions. CatherineNeubauer,Ph.D. Professor,OnlineMasterofScienceinAppliedPsychologyProgramattheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia|ResearchPsychologist,ArmyResearchLab Moraldilemmasinvolvedwithduringhuman-machineinteraction Asautonomoustechnologiesandartificialintelligence(AI)continuetoadvanceandbecomemoreubiquitouswitheverydayhumanuse,thereareseveralconcernsdesigners,researchersandusersshouldbeconcernedwith(oratleastawareof). Initialconcernsmaycenterarounddevelopinginfrastructuretosupportsuchtechnologiesaswellasaccompanyingcost-prohibitivecomponents;however,amorecomplicatedconcernrevolvesaroundthemoraldilemmasthatmayemergeashumansandmachinesinteract,work,orteamwithoneanother. Forexample,takeautonomouscarsandadangerousdrivingscenariowhereeitherthepassengersinthecarorthepedestrianswalkingalongthesideoftheroadcouldbehurtorinjured.Iftheautonomouscarisinfullcontrol,itwillexecutedecisionsandbehaviorsthathavebeenpre-programmedtotakeplace,givenasetofenvironmentalconstraints. Thedilemmathenarisesastohowhumanswillprogramtheactionstobetakenandhowmachinesshouldexecutethem,especiallyinuncertain,highstressorriskysituations. Currently,researchersareworkingonprogrammingbasichumandecision-makingcomponentsintothesesystems;however,moralityisamuchmorecomplexprocessthatevenhumansstruggletoengageineffectively. Inthesecases,itisdifficultforhumanstomakeaccuratedecisions,therefore,itwillbeevenmorecomplicatedtobuildmachinesthatengageinthiskindofdecision-makingaswell. Additionally,furtherquestionsandconcernscenteraround1)therightsofAIorautonomousagents(e.g.,asAIabilitiesincrease,willtheybecomemoreself-awareandhencedeservevariouscivilrights),2)thelevelofcontroltheywillhaveorthepositionsandrolestheywillbeabletohold(e.g.,ateamleaderwithultimateauthorityorateammemberwhosimplyexecutescommands)and3)howmachineswillweighmoraldilemmasandthesafetyofthehumanstheyarebuilttoassistwhenthefutureoutcomesarenotimmediatelyclear. Inotherwords,willmachineshavetheabilitytoascertainthenuancesandsubtletiesofanuncertainscenariointhesamewaythathumansdo? Althoughcurrentworkisbeingdoneonthesubject,itisverydifficultformachinestopredictfutureoutcomes;therefore,howcanmoraldecision-makinginmachinesoccurwhenoutcomesarenotimmediatelyclear? Wecanprogramscenariosthatamachinewillfollow,butwilltheseprogrammingconstraintsbetoorestrictiveandgiveuswhatweaskedfor,butnotwhatweactuallywant? Inthereal-worldhumansneedtobeflexibleandadaptableduringuncertainsituationsandmoraldilemmas,itisnotalwaysaone-casefitallscenario. JackChoros CMO,IronMonkSolutions Mybossiswrong.ShouldIbringituporquestionhimonit? Ifyou’vebeenworkingforlongenoughchancesareyoumight’vehadabadbossortwoinyourcareer.Thismoraldilemmaisatoughone. Ontheonehand,yourbosssignsyourchecks,soyoudowhattheytellyoutodo.Ontheotherhand,ifthey’rewrongandit’scausingyouunduestress,youwanttobeabletospeakup. Sowhatdoyoudo? Isayyoutryasmuchaspossibletoleanonfactsandnotpersonalizeyourissueswithyourboss.Thiswayyoucanstillshowthemyoucareaboutwhat’shappeningwithouthavingthemgetupset. Sometimesyoumayevenbesoinvestedinchallengingyourbossthatyoumightthinkmakingthemalittlebitupsetisokay.Still,unlessyouhaveanexitstrategyforgettinganewjob,youprobablydon’twanttorileuptoomanyfeathers. Evenifyou’reonyourwayout,youstillwanttobeprofessionalandcourteous,andaboveallelse,showyoucareaboutthecompany. PetraOdak ChiefMarketingOfficer,BetterProposals WhenIwasinmyteenageyears,IspentalotoftimeinaparkclosetomyhouseandIsawdifferentkindsofpeople. Theft Onetime,Isawabeggarwhowalkedoutofthesupermarket–heboughtaloafofbreadbutactuallyhadlotsmorefoodhiddeninhisclotheswhichhemanagedtosteal.IsawhimwalkingoutandtakingoutthestolenitemsinfrontofmeandIhadtwochoices. Icouldreporthimtothesupermarket,theywouldtaketheitemsandcallthepolice,orIcouldlethimgounpunishedbecausehecouldn’taffordfoodanyways. Idecidednottoreporthim,butIknewthathewouldjustdoitagain.ItoldhimthatIsawhimandthatwhathe’sdoingiswrongandgavehimsomemoneytobuyfoodthenexttimearound. Idon’tthinkanyonewinsinthissituationandthat’sfrequentlythecasewithmoraldilemmas. 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