personal moral dilemma essay examples

28 Ethical Dilemma Examples

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Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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An ethical dilemma is a situation where two or more moral principles conflict, forcing the individual to choose between them.

The conflict between these principles often makes people struggle with deciding which one to follow and which one to compromise.

A common social dilemma example is when a physician has to choose between breaking a patient’s confidentiality or preventing harm to another person.

Ethical dilemmas go beyond being just ideas on paper (Barrett, 2018). They have a direct impact on the decisions people make in the real world.

Think about how business leaders have to balance making money and being responsible to society (Reynolds, 2014). Also, consider how journalists have to balance giving the public information and respecting people’s privacy (Plaisance, 2017).

Types of Ethical Dilemmas

Rushworth Kidder, an author and ethicist, introduced a framework outlining four types of ethical dilemmas—truth vs. loyalty, individual vs. community, short-term vs. long-term, and justice vs. mercy (Kidder, 2010).

Understanding these classifications aids in dissecting complex moral quandaries and enables effective decision-making .

Below is each type:

• Truth vs Loyalty: This type of ethical dilemma arises when one is caught between absolute honesty and allegiance to individuals or groups (Kidder, 2015). For instance, consider an employee who discovers fraudulent activities in their company. If they disclose this information, they remain truthful but might violate their loyalty to the company and colleagues (real-world example of whistleblowing).
• Individual vs. Community: Individual vs. community dilemmas involve discrepancies between personal interests and collective benefits (Kidder, 2010). A pandemic situation offers an apt example—individuals might resist wearing masks for personal comfort, but this stands contrary to the community’s need for public safety (this is a contemporary real-world example).
• Short-term vs. Long-term: This type of ethical dilemma compels one to choose between immediate benefits or long-term consequences (Kidder, 2015). For instance, a business might opt to cut corners and make profits now, despite the potential long-term detriment to its reputation and customer trust (real-world example of businesses taking shortcuts).
• Justice vs Mercy: Lastly, justice vs. mercy dilemmas highlight the tension between fair consequences and compassion (Kidder, 2010). In the courtroom, for example, a judge might struggle with issuing a strict sentence (justice) or leniency (mercy), particularly in extenuating circumstances such as the accused being a first-time offender (real-world example from the legal system).

Throughout these categories, Kidder advocated for thoughtful analysis and dialogue to navigate the complexities accompanying ethical dilemmas. His work illuminates the intricacies of moral decision-making, underscoring ethics as a dynamic and challenging field.

Examples of Ethical Dilemmas

Truth vs loyalty.

1. Conflict of Interest This occurs when your loyalty to one party undermines your ability to be truthful or impartial to another. For instance, an auditor reviewing the accounts of a company where a relative is an executive officer faces a truth versus loyalty dilemma.

2. Whistleblowing This situation evolves when an employee uncovers illegal or unethical practices within an organization. The employee must choose between loyalty to the organization and telling the truth by exposing the wrongdoing.

3. Professional Secrecy When professionals like doctors or lawyers have information about a client that could harm others––like a patient revealing they intend to harm someone, they face a truth versus loyalty debate about whether to break confidentiality.

4. Journalism Confidentiality Reporters often deal with the dilemma when protecting a source’s anonymity may protect wrongdoing or cause harm. They must weigh their loyalty to the source against their commitment to truth and public interest.

5. Employee Favoritism Managers might face dilemmas when choosing between treating all employees fairly (truth) and giving preferential treatment to friends or family in the workplace (loyalty).

6. Client Representation Lawyers often grapple with representing a client faithfully––even when the client is guilty of a crime and denying it in court. This dilemma pits their loyalty to the client against their commitment to the truth.

7. Academic Cheating A student who is aware of another student’s academic dishonesty faces the problem of loyalty to a friend versus the truthful reporting of misconduct.

Individual vs Community

Also known as: Social Dilemma

8. Vaccination Debates Individuals may resist getting vaccinated for personal health beliefs, conflicting with the community’s wellbeing, which benefits from herd immunity. 

9. Resource Allocation Communities may require certain resources for the common good , which may limit an individual’s access to these resources for personal use.

10. Zoning Disputes A city’s decision to allow commercial developments in residential areas could harm the quality of life for individual residents while promoting the economic growth of the community.

11. Public Health Measures During a pandemic, individuals may disagree with measures like lockdowns that limit their personal freedoms, even if these measures are beneficial to the community as a whole.

12. Education Policy Changes Policies like school consolidation can affect individual children who prefer smaller, neighborhood schools over larger institutions preferable for budgetary and educational reasons. 

13. Environmental Regulations Regulations that protect the environment often restrict individual liberties by limiting options for property development or resource use.

14. Freedom of Speech A person’s right to express potentially harmful or offensive ideas can conflict with a community’s desire for safety and respect.

Short-term vs Long-term

15. Financial Investments Deciding to spend money now (short-term) for immediate comforts or investing it for future gains (long-term) is a classic short-term vs long-term dilemma.

16. Career Advancement You may face the dilemma of taking an appealing job now versus pursuing education or training that may open better opportunities in the long run.

17. Environmental Considerations A company might face a choice between using cheap, environmentally damaging production methods (short-term) or investing in sustainable practices that may bring future reputation boost and savings (long-term). 

18. Health Choices An individual may need to decide between enjoying unhealthy habits, like junk food or smoking, now versus considering the long-term health implications.

19. Business Growth Entrepreneurs confront this dilemma when deciding whether to reinvest earnings into the company for long-term growth or take more profits in the short term.

20. Public Policy Politicians often have to choose between pursuing policies with immediate benefits that voters will notice or focusing on the long-term, slower solutions like infrastructure development.

21. Technology Upgrades A company might have to decide between sticking to older, cheaper technology now or investing in a costly, cutting-edge technology that promises improved efficiency and profitability in the future.

Justice vs Mercy

22. Leniency for First-Time Offenders A judge might choose to give a strict sentence to a first-time offender to uphold justice. Conversely, mercy would suggest a more lenient sentence or rehabilitation effort, given that it’s the offender’s first mistake.

23. Pardon of a Death Row Inmate A governor may face an ethical dilemma where they have to decide between granting a pardon to a remorseful death row inmate (mercy), and upholding the court’s decision to execute, based on the gravity of the crime committed (justice). 

24. Hate Crime Retribution A victim of a hate crime could be torn between wanting justice done – seeing the offenders punished to the full extent of the law – and showing mercy, hoping that education and awareness could change the offenders’ prejudices.

25. Academic Misconduct A professor who catches a student plagiarizing could provide a second chance, valuing mercy to allow for learning and growth, or they could issue immediate punishment (like failing the student) to uphold academic integrity and justice.

26. Role of Advisors in Financial Crisis Companies may seek to punish advisors implicated in a financial crisis to preserve justice, but showing mercy, reprimanding and educating them instead of outright firing, may be more constructive and prevent recurrence.

27. War Crimes Dilemma Post-war scenarios often involve a decision between seeking justice by prosecuting war criminals, or demonstrating mercy by forgiving and focusing on national healing and reconciliation.

28. Social Welfare Decisions Policymakers might struggle between enforcing strict eligibility criteria to ensure that only those truly deserving get social benefits (justice), versus being flexible in applying rules to avoid denying assistance to those in dire need (mercy).

Navigating an ethical or moral dilemma is no easy task, and often there is no clear right or wrong answer. Yet, understanding the principles and theories underlying ethical decision making can guide you in evaluating potential actions and their consequences (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2018). It should help in choosing the least harmful or most beneficial course of action.

Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2018). Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases (12th ed.). Boston: Cengage.

Barrett, C. (2018). Everyday ethics for practicing planners . London: Routledge.

Plaisance, P-L. (2017). Media Ethics: Key Principles for Responsible Practice (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.

Reynolds, G. (2014). Ethics in Information Technology (4th ed.). New York: Cengage Learning.

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 10 Reasons you’re Perpetually Single
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 20 Montessori Toddler Bedrooms (Design Inspiration)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 21 Montessori Homeschool Setups
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15 Ethical Dilemma Examples You See in the Real-World

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In your everyday life, and especially at work, have you faced ethical dilemmas that challenge your personal morals? If so, considering common ethical dilemma examples can go a long way to resolving your own.

You'll learn you must analyze the risks, rely on your convictions, and trust your instincts. Stepping back and removing yourself from the situation can help you gain a perspective that will aid in making your best decisions.

It's also important to be sure you act after thinking the situation through and not before. To help with this, take a look at our article, “7 Ways to Live Consciously in an Unconscious World.”

Drawing on the experience of others may empower you to navigate your struggle and arrive at the best decision.

This process exercises your critical thinking skills and the decisions you make can help you become respected as a person and a professional. Therefore, looking at ways that others have navigated those difficult moral decisions may be an excellent way to help you should you ever face similar circumstances.

In this article, you’ll learn about specific ethical dilemma examples that will help you understand the difficulty of making decisions that go against moral principles… which may make it less troublesome to make a decision when facing your next ethical dilemma.

Table of Contents

What Are Ethical Dilemmas?

Ethical dilemmas are all about difficulty in choosing between two courses of action, in which either choice involves disobeying a moral principle.

For instance, if you’re facing an ethical dilemma, it can affect you emotionally as you may struggle between what you consider to be right against what you consider to be necessary for a certain situation.

An ethical dilemma occurs when your moral principles are challenged. Some instances of the moral tenets are honesty, abstaining from and not promoting violence, caring for others, respecting the privacy of others, aiding people in trouble, and not harming others, whether humans or animals.

You may have heard of ethical dilemma examples called moral dilemmas or ethical paradoxes. In some instances, any choice you make is wrong in some sense.

In each ethical dilemma, the options are at odds with each other; they conflict with each other, causing a contradiction or paradox.

There are situations where you might have two choices; if you choose one, it would be impossible to choose the other.

Real-World Ethical Dilemma Examples

Often, the best way to mitigate ethical dilemmas is to learn about and seek understanding with real-world examples. Here are 15 examples of real-world ethical dilemmas we trust you’ll find useful. 

1. Monitoring Teens on Social Media.

Should a teenager using Snapchat, Instagram, or TikTok have their social media use monitored? This is an ethical dilemma many parents of teens face as teenagers spend many hours engaging in online activities daily. For some parents, the question may be: Do I trust my child to use social media responsibly or not?

For others, they may be asking themselves: From a safety standpoint as a parent, should I monitor my teenager’s online activities, or are they old enough to use social media responsibly?

Whichever ethical dilemma they are facing, a parent’s fear of cyberbullying and safety for their children is not unfounded. According to 2018 Pew Research , 21% of 13-15-year-olds, 16% of 16-17-year-olds, and 12% of 18-20-year-olds experienced cyberbullying.

While anyone utilizing the Internet risks cyberbullying, teens are ill-equipped to deal with such treatment as their brains are not yet fully developed. Therefore, it is a parent’s duty to protect their child from online attacks.

However, since the close monitoring of a teenager’s activities, online or otherwise, may be construed as a lack of trust toward the teen, it can potentially damage or at least put a strain on the parent-child relationship. Therein lies the ethical dilemma and the choices each parent must make.

One father of two teenaged girls chose to monitor their activities, sharing that, above all, “The devices belong to me and my wife, and we are entitled to see anything and everything on them.”

A good way to build trust with your teens may be to spend time playing games or asking “would you rather” questions ; trust will help them know that whether you monitor their online activity, you care.  

2. Ghosting.

This is when you end a relationship by not responding to the other person at all, by just ignoring them, rather than telling them you would like to end the relationship. While ghosting someone is not the nicest of ways to end a relationship, is it morally wrong?

If you believe in kindness, you may struggle as to whether you can live with your decision to ghost someone. Ghosting seems like the easy way out for the one ghosting, but it's hard for the one being ghosted to find closure and move on.

Someone may choose to ghost their soon-to-be ex because they want to avoid conflict. Or maybe they are afraid the other person might lash out and become violent. For whatever reason, facing that person is uncomfortable that they consider ghosting.

If you consider ghosting someone, think about how that could make them feel. Is that really who you are? Getting a fresh and honest perspective may make you think differently if you're considering ghosting someone.

If you've been ghosted, you find some benefit in reading our “ 55 Survival Quotes to Make You Tough in 2023 .”

3. Intentionally Misinterpreting Data.

There are several instances you may find yourself in where you’re tempted to fudge the numbers. Maybe you’re in the corporate world and are tempted or encouraged to share the data in such a way that will cause stockholders to believe their investments are more secure than they are.

Your ethical dilemma may be whether you misinterpret the data and secure your career or share the true numbers and risk losing your job.

An ethical dilemma example of misinterpreting or outright lying about data is the FTX scandal where investors lost billions of dollars on the digital currency platform after being misled  by founder Sam Bankman-Fried. 

4. Selling a Car Without Disclosing All Known Negative Details.

Let's say you're selling your car to upgrade to a newer model. Nothing much is wrong with it, so you fail to disclose the fact that it has trouble starting from time to time; or, that it was involved in an accident.

Should you disclose whatever is wrong with it to potential buyers or do you consider purchasing a used car to be a ‘buyer beware' situation? Uphold your moral standards and make sure you aren’t the subject of someone’s used car sales gone bad story.

5. Cheat on Your Significant Other.

Your relationship has gone south but you're still considered a couple. You meet someone that, well, if you weren't married… But you are; and you stood before an entire congregation of people promising fidelity “til death do us part'.

A few years have passed and you just don't have the same romantic feelings anymore. Whether he's changed or you've changed or you've both changed, you can't quite put your finger on it. Now, you feel like you'd rather get out than stay in.

Since the relationship is rocky, can you justify starting a new relationship? Or, should you stay faithful and risk letting the potential new love of your life get away? Sometimes a person will cheat on their significant other as an act of revenge when they are mad at each other. And sometimes, the decision to cheat ends badly.

If you've made the decision not to cheat, try solidifying your relationship with our advice on relationships. 

6. Should You Lie to a Sick Loved One?

Usually, if someone considers lying, whether they do it or not, it goes against their belief system and in their heart they know that it's wrong. However, whenever the truth would hurt someone you love, it often presents a gray area or a moral dilemma.

There have been instances where family members have either lied or withheld the truth in order to spare the feelings of a sick loved one, particularly in cases of Alzheimer's patients.

If an Alzheimer's patient asks about a loved one, and that loved one is deceased, finding out about their death all over again can cause them pain. Because of that, some family members will lie to spare their loved one's feelings. Is it ever compassionate to withhold information from your loved one with Alzheimer's?

This may be a dilemma you should discuss with your family members to help make your own personal decision. However, make sure you follow your own moral compass rather than doing what others wish you to do .

7. To Share or Not to Share Political Leanings.

Have you noticed how passionate people are about politics? If you choose to share your political leanings online or in person, you would lose followers, friends, and/or family members.

Some people weigh the options and decide it's not worth it to speak what's on your mind and lose the close contact of others.

Some say it's best to be real, to be authentic, and share any and all beliefs, loud and proud. Before choosing either option, weigh your options. Which choice can you live with? Which one could you not live with?

No matter what you decide, take time to consider the consequences of each choice before firmly making your decision. Then, be prepared to live with those consequences. 

8. Whether to Report an Accident.

If you're in a rush and you pass by and an accident, would you report it? Or would you not, knowing that the next person that passes by most likely would call the authorities?

The moral dilemma would be: risk getting to your meeting late, especially if you have to give an account of what happened to the police; or risk feeling guilty because you chose not to stop and help in a situation and caused the authorities to arrive sooner rather than later or even too late.

If you're struggling about whether you should report an accident as a witness, put yourself in the shoes of those affected by the accident to discover what you should do and how you can help. 

9. To Share or Not to Share Religious Beliefs.

It's been said to never discuss politics or religion. Yet there comes a time in close relationships where the question of whether to share what your beliefs are may come to mind, bringing you face to face with a moral dilemma.

If you know the person you'll be sharing with has beliefs that are different from yours, you may wonder if sharing your beliefs will push them away.

Withholding the information as you grow closer in a relationship may cause several problems: the other person in the relationship may feel you haven't been as open and honest as you should have been, or you may feel conflicted as you want to share but are hesitant to do so.

However, if you feel a kinship with a person on a spiritual level , you may consider sharing your religious views.

If the question of whether you should share your religious views at work arises, you may want to ask yourself why you would consider sharing.

While there are employment laws against discrimination of religion, you need to be careful not to proselytize, which is to try to convert someone, and would be frowned upon in the workplace. 

10. Should You Lie to Your Boss?

Being less than truthful with your boss can have repercussions, depending on the lie. The moral dilemma you may face may be whether you should lie about your experience and education, which could easily be verified. If the lie is less impactful, as in, you call in sick but aren't, you are less likely to get caught in the lie.

In employing your critical thinking skills you may find that you agree its fine to lie to your boss in certain situations. However, does lying to your boss on any level go against your personal moral beliefs? If so, that will create your moral dilemma. 

11. Recalling a Faulty Product.

Let's say you own a business, and it has come to your attention that the product you've shipped and sold has a faulty part.

What would you do? If the part's faultiness would cause harm to someone using the product, that's a serious consideration. If, however, the faultiness may not be noticed and would not cause harm, that may cause you to consider not recalling the product.

The moral dilemma is presented as you determine how you feel about not making the product right and looking out for the best interests of your customers. There is also the legal side of recalling a product.

12. Taking Credit for Your Coworker’s Work.

You've collaborated on a project at work. Your team members have given valuable input that has drawn attention from your management team. You know this recognition could move you closer to a promotion.

Although one of your teammates had the most eye-catching input, should you claim credit for it? After all, it was a team effort, and you'd really like that promotion.

The moral dilemma is doing what's right by giving your teammates the credit they deserve, which would preserve your working relationship or risk your working relationship by claiming the credit for yourself.

To help you make your decision ask yourself whether taking credit for someone else's work is ethical. It would be more beneficial to pursue your own path to promotion without detracting from someone else. 

13. Aborting a Child with Down Syndrome.

When you're expecting a baby, it's generally a joyous occasion. If you find out your baby will be living with life-changing challenges, such as Down syndrome, you may find you're facing a moral dilemma.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the life expectancy of babies with Down syndrome increased from 10-years-old in 1960 to 47-years-old in 2007.

While there are additional challenges associated with a child with Down syndrome, the dilemma basically comes down to the question: how does an abortion fit into your moral beliefs?

You may want to read this article showcasing three families struggling with the moral dilemma of aborting a Down syndrome child. 

14. Should You Tell Your Friend if Her Husband is Cheating?

It's a heavy burden to carry and keep a secret from a friend, especially if you feel that she will be hurt by finding out the truth. You may also be worried about how the information you're intending to share will be received.

If not received well, you could lose a friend. At best, it would likely be an emotional conversation.

Or your moral dilemma might be: should you speak to your friend about the situation or speak to her husband or just do nothing?

No matter what your choice is according to your moral beliefs, I think you can agree this is a sticky situation. If you do decide to tell your friend, do it with finesse.

15. Is It Okay to Take Supplies from Your Office?

Many people work in office settings and for their job functions to be fulfilled, their companies supply tools they need. These tools may be something as simple as paper clips to pens, notebooks, office chairs, and computers.

The moral dilemma becomes when you question whether you should take some of these office supplies home for your own personal use.

According to your belief system, would that be stealing from the company or would it be acceptable? Would it matter if the item you'd like to take is a small item or do you believe, right or wrong, any item would carry the same weight in your decision? 

Final Thoughts on Real-World Ethical Dilemmas

While ethical dilemma examples may go from two difficult choices, to almost impossible choices, I'm sure you and I can agree that it helps to arm yourself with the knowledge of how others have faced similar situations.

In reading through the ethical dilemma examples we've provided, you may have found a pathway to your own answers.

When making your choices, it's in your best interest to keep honesty, integrity, and morality paramount.  The ability to weigh each choice and try to objectively choose for the greater good is beneficial.

Your critical thinking skills will come into play and possibly be challenged when making difficult choices. As you can see from the examples we've provided in this article, some moral dilemmas are quite difficult and the answers are not always clear-cut choices. 

The bottom line is that the examples detailed in this article may help you in making decisions as they arise in your own life, especially when you find them challenging.

A good starting point is to get yourself in the right mindset , consider all the facts, then figure out whether you have the control to make the decision needed before moving forward. Having done that, once you've made your choice, you'll have the satisfaction that you've chosen wisely.

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101 Ethical Dilemma Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Ethical dilemmas are situations in which individuals are faced with conflicting moral choices. These dilemmas can arise in a variety of contexts, from personal relationships to professional settings. Writing an essay exploring ethical dilemmas can help you develop critical thinking skills and engage with complex moral issues.

To help you get started, here are 101 ethical dilemma essay topic ideas and examples:

• Should parents have the right to choose their child's gender?
• Is it ethical to use animals for scientific research?
• Should doctors be allowed to assist terminally ill patients in ending their lives?
• Is it ethical for companies to use data mining to target consumers with personalized ads?
• Should schools teach students about different religious beliefs?
• Is it ethical to use drones for military surveillance?
• Should athletes be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs?
• Is it ethical to genetically modify crops to increase yield?
• Should governments regulate the use of social media to prevent misinformation?
• Is it ethical to use sweatshop labor to produce cheap goods?
• Should companies be required to disclose the environmental impact of their products?
• Is it ethical to use algorithms to make hiring decisions?
• Should parents be allowed to track their children's online activity?
• Is it ethical to use artificial intelligence in criminal justice systems?
• Should doctors be allowed to prescribe placebos to patients?
• Is it ethical to use genetic testing to screen for diseases?
• Should schools monitor students' social media activity to prevent cyberbullying?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology for law enforcement purposes?
• Should companies be required to pay a living wage to their employees?
• Is it ethical to use virtual reality to simulate traumatic experiences for therapy?
• Should journalists be allowed to publish leaked government documents?
• Is it ethical to use animals for entertainment purposes, such as in circuses?
• Should governments regulate the use of AI in autonomous weapons?
• Is it ethical to use predictive policing algorithms to prevent crime?
• Should companies be required to provide paid parental leave to employees?
• Is it ethical to use gene editing technology to create designer babies?
• Should schools teach students about the ethical implications of climate change?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in public spaces?
• Should employers be allowed to monitor employees' internet usage?
• Is it ethical to use AI to create deepfake videos?
• Should doctors be allowed to perform cosmetic surgery on minors?
• Is it ethical to use drones for environmental monitoring?
• Should companies be required to disclose their political donations?
• Is it ethical to use social media algorithms to manipulate user behavior?
• Should governments regulate the use of biometric data for security purposes?
• Is it ethical to use gene editing technology to cure genetic diseases?
• Should schools teach students about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in schools?
• Should employers be allowed to use AI to make hiring decisions?
• Is it ethical to use predictive analytics to assess creditworthiness?
• Should companies be required to disclose the gender pay gap?
• Is it ethical to use AI to create personalized healthcare treatments?
• Should doctors be allowed to perform experimental treatments on patients?
• Is it ethical to use drones for wildlife conservation?
• Should governments regulate the use of AI in financial markets?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology for identity verification?
• Should employers be allowed to use AI to monitor employee productivity?
• Is it ethical to use gene editing technology to create new species?
• Should schools teach students about the ethical implications of genetic engineering?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in airports?
• Should companies be required to disclose their carbon footprint?
• Is it ethical to use AI to predict criminal behavior?
• Should doctors be allowed to prescribe psychedelics for mental health treatment?
• Is it ethical to use drones for disaster response?
• Should governments regulate the use of AI in healthcare?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in law enforcement?
• Should employers be allowed to use AI to monitor employee emotions?
• Is it ethical to use gene editing technology to create designer pets?
• Should schools teach students about the ethical implications of nanotechnology?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in retail stores?
• Should companies be required to disclose their use of data analytics?
• Is it ethical to use AI to predict job performance?
• Should doctors be allowed to assist patients in medical tourism?
• Is it ethical to use drones for agricultural monitoring?
• Should governments regulate the use of AI in transportation?
• Is it ethical to use facial recognition technology in public transportation?
• Should employers be allowed to use AI to monitor employee health? 68

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How to Write an Ethics Paper: Guide & Ethical Essay Examples

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An ethics essay is a type of academic writing that explores ethical issues and dilemmas. Students should evaluates them in terms of moral principles and values. The purpose of an ethics essay is to examine the moral implications of a particular issue, and provide a reasoned argument in support of an ethical perspective.

Writing an essay about ethics is a tough task for most students. The process involves creating an outline to guide your arguments about a topic and planning your ideas to convince the reader of your feelings about a difficult issue. If you still need assistance putting together your thoughts in composing a good paper, you have come to the right place. We have provided a series of steps and tips to show how you can achieve success in writing. This guide will tell you how to write an ethics paper using ethical essay examples to understand every step it takes to be proficient. In case you don’t have time for writing, get in touch with our professional essay writers for hire . Our experts work hard to supply students with excellent essays.

What Is an Ethics Essay?

An ethics essay uses moral theories to build arguments on an issue. You describe a controversial problem and examine it to determine how it affects individuals or society. Ethics papers analyze arguments on both sides of a possible dilemma, focusing on right and wrong. The analysis gained can be used to solve real-life cases. Before embarking on writing an ethical essay, keep in mind that most individuals follow moral principles. From a social context perspective, these rules define how a human behaves or acts towards another. Therefore, your theme essay on ethics needs to demonstrate how a person feels about these moral principles. More specifically, your task is to show how significant that issue is and discuss if you value or discredit it.

Purpose of an Essay on Ethics

The primary purpose of an ethics essay is to initiate an argument on a moral issue using reasoning and critical evidence. Instead of providing general information about a problem, you present solid arguments about how you view the moral concern and how it affects you or society. When writing an ethical paper, you demonstrate philosophical competence, using appropriate moral perspectives and principles.

Things to Write an Essay About Ethics On

Before you start to write ethics essays, consider a topic you can easily address. In most cases, an ethical issues essay analyzes right and wrong. This includes discussing ethics and morals and how they contribute to the right behaviors. You can also talk about work ethic, code of conduct, and how employees promote or disregard the need for change. However, you can explore other areas by asking yourself what ethics mean to you. Think about how a recent game you watched with friends started a controversial argument. Or maybe a newspaper that highlighted a story you felt was misunderstood or blown out of proportion. This way, you can come up with an excellent topic that resonates with your personal ethics and beliefs.

Ethics Paper Outline

Sometimes, you will be asked to submit an outline before writing an ethics paper. Creating an outline for an ethics paper is an essential step in creating a good essay. You can use it to arrange your points and supporting evidence before writing. It also helps organize your thoughts, enabling you to fill any gaps in your ideas. The outline for an essay should contain short and numbered sentences to cover the format and outline. Each section is structured to enable you to plan your work and include all sources in writing an ethics paper. An ethics essay outline is as follows:

• Background information
• Thesis statement
• Restate thesis statement
• Summarize key points
• Final thoughts on the topic

Using this outline will improve clarity and focus throughout your writing process.

Ethical Essay Structure

Ethics essays are similar to other essays based on their format, outline, and structure. An ethical essay should have a well-defined introduction, body, and conclusion section as its structure. When planning your ideas, make sure that the introduction and conclusion are around 20 percent of the paper, leaving the rest to the body. We will take a detailed look at what each part entails and give examples that are going to help you understand them better.  Refer to our essay structure examples to find a fitting way of organizing your writing.

Ethics Paper Introduction

An ethics essay introduction gives a synopsis of your main argument. One step on how to write an introduction for an ethics paper is telling about the topic and describing its background information. This paragraph should be brief and straight to the point. It informs readers what your position is on that issue. Start with an essay hook to generate interest from your audience. It can be a question you will address or a misunderstanding that leads up to your main argument. You can also add more perspectives to be discussed; this will inform readers on what to expect in the paper.

Ethics Essay Introduction Example

You can find many ethics essay introduction examples on the internet. In this guide, we have written an excellent extract to demonstrate how it should be structured. As you read, examine how it begins with a hook and then provides background information on an issue. 

Imagine living in a world where people only lie, and honesty is becoming a scarce commodity. Indeed, modern society is facing this reality as truth and deception can no longer be separated. Technology has facilitated a quick transmission of voluminous information, whereas it's hard separating facts from opinions.

In this example, the first sentence of the introduction makes a claim or uses a question to hook the reader.

Ethics Essay Thesis Statement

An ethics paper must contain a thesis statement in the first paragraph. Learning how to write a thesis statement for an ethics paper is necessary as readers often look at it to gauge whether the essay is worth their time.

When you deviate away from the thesis, your whole paper loses meaning. In ethics essays, your thesis statement is a roadmap in writing, stressing your position on the problem and giving reasons for taking that stance. It should focus on a specific element of the issue being discussed. When writing a thesis statement, ensure that you can easily make arguments for or against its stance.

Ethical Paper Thesis Example

Look at this example of an ethics paper thesis statement and examine how well it has been written to state a position and provide reasons for doing so:

The moral implications of dishonesty are far-reaching as they undermine trust, integrity, and other foundations of society, damaging personal and professional relationships. 

The above thesis statement example is clear and concise, indicating that this paper will highlight the effects of dishonesty in society. Moreover, it focuses on aspects of personal and professional relationships.

Ethics Essay Body

The body section is the heart of an ethics paper as it presents the author's main points. In an ethical essay, each body paragraph has several elements that should explain your main idea. These include:

• A topic sentence that is precise and reiterates your stance on the issue.
• Evidence supporting it.
• Examples that illustrate your argument.
• A thorough analysis showing how the evidence and examples relate to that issue.
• A transition sentence that connects one paragraph to another with the help of essay transitions .

When you write an ethics essay, adding relevant examples strengthens your main point and makes it easy for others to understand and comprehend your argument. 

Body Paragraph for Ethics Paper Example

A good body paragraph must have a well-defined topic sentence that makes a claim and includes evidence and examples to support it. Look at part of an example of ethics essay body paragraph below and see how its idea has been developed:

Honesty is an essential component of professional integrity. In many fields, trust and credibility are crucial for professionals to build relationships and success. For example, a doctor who is dishonest about a potential side effect of a medication is not only acting unethically but also putting the health and well-being of their patients at risk. Similarly, a dishonest businessman could achieve short-term benefits but will lose their client’s trust.

Ethics Essay Conclusion

A concluding paragraph shares the summary and overview of the author's main arguments. Many students need clarification on what should be included in the essay conclusion and how best to get a reader's attention. When writing an ethics paper conclusion, consider the following:

• Restate the thesis statement to emphasize your position.
• Summarize its main points and evidence.
• Final thoughts on the issue and any other considerations.

You can also reflect on the topic or acknowledge any possible challenges or questions that have not been answered. A closing statement should present a call to action on the problem based on your position.

Sample Ethics Paper Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph restates the thesis statement and summarizes the arguments presented in that paper. The sample conclusion for an ethical essay example below demonstrates how you should write a concluding statement.  

In conclusion, the implications of dishonesty and the importance of honesty in our lives cannot be overstated. Honesty builds solid relationships, effective communication, and better decision-making. This essay has explored how dishonesty impacts people and that we should value honesty. We hope this essay will help readers assess their behavior and work towards being more honest in their lives.

In the above extract, the writer gives final thoughts on the topic, urging readers to adopt honest behavior.

How to Write an Ethics Paper?

As you learn how to write an ethics essay, it is not advised to immediately choose a topic and begin writing. When you follow this method, you will get stuck or fail to present concrete ideas. A good writer understands the importance of planning. As a fact, you should organize your work and ensure it captures key elements that shed more light on your arguments. Hence, following the essay structure and creating an outline to guide your writing process is the best approach. In the following segment, we have highlighted step-by-step techniques on how to write a good ethics paper.

1. Pick a Topic

Before writing ethical papers, brainstorm to find ideal topics that can be easily debated. For starters, make a list, then select a title that presents a moral issue that may be explained and addressed from opposing sides. Make sure you choose one that interests you. Here are a few ideas to help you search for topics:

• Review current trends affecting people.
• Think about your personal experiences.
• Study different moral theories and principles.
• Examine classical moral dilemmas.

Once you find a suitable topic and are ready, start to write your ethics essay, conduct preliminary research, and ascertain that there are enough sources to support it.

2. Conduct In-Depth Research

Once you choose a topic for your essay, the next step is gathering sufficient information about it. Conducting in-depth research entails looking through scholarly journals to find credible material. Ensure you note down all sources you found helpful to assist you on how to write your ethics paper. Use the following steps to help you conduct your research:

• Clearly state and define a problem you want to discuss.
• This will guide your research process.
• Develop keywords that match the topic.
• Begin searching from a wide perspective. This will allow you to collect more information, then narrow it down by using the identified words above.

3. Develop an Ethics Essay Outline

An outline will ease up your writing process when developing an ethic essay. As you develop a paper on ethics, jot down factual ideas that will build your paragraphs for each section. Include the following steps in your process:

• Review the topic and information gathered to write a thesis statement.
• Identify the main arguments you want to discuss and include their evidence.
• Group them into sections, each presenting a new idea that supports the thesis.
• Write an outline.
• Review and refine it.

Examples can also be included to support your main arguments. The structure should be sequential, coherent, and with a good flow from beginning to end. When you follow all steps, you can create an engaging and organized outline that will help you write a good essay.

4. Write an Ethics Essay

Once you have selected a topic, conducted research, and outlined your main points, you can begin writing an essay . Ensure you adhere to the ethics paper format you have chosen. Start an ethics paper with an overview of your topic to capture the readers' attention. Build upon your paper by avoiding ambiguous arguments and using the outline to help you write your essay on ethics. Finish the introduction paragraph with a thesis statement that explains your main position.  Expand on your thesis statement in all essay paragraphs. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence and provide evidence plus an example to solidify your argument, strengthen the main point, and let readers see the reasoning behind your stance. Finally, conclude the essay by restating your thesis statement and summarizing all key ideas. Your conclusion should engage the reader, posing questions or urging them to reflect on the issue and how it will impact them.

5. Proofread Your Ethics Essay

Proofreading your essay is the last step as you countercheck any grammatical or structural errors in your essay. When writing your ethic paper, typical mistakes you could encounter include the following:

• Spelling errors: e.g., there, they’re, their.
• Homophone words: such as new vs. knew.
• Inconsistencies: like mixing British and American words, e.g., color vs. color.
• Formatting issues: e.g., double spacing, different font types.

While proofreading your ethical issue essay, read it aloud to detect lexical errors or ambiguous phrases that distort its meaning. Verify your information and ensure it is relevant and up-to-date. You can ask your fellow student to read the essay and give feedback on its structure and quality.

Ethics Essay Examples

Writing an essay is challenging without the right steps. There are so many ethics paper examples on the internet, however, we have provided a list of free ethics essay examples below that are well-structured and have a solid argument to help you write your paper. Click on them and see how each writing step has been integrated. Ethics essay example 1

Ethics essay example 2

Ethics essay example 3

Ethics essay example 4

College ethics essay example 5

Ethics Essay Writing Tips

When writing papers on ethics, here are several tips to help you complete an excellent essay:

• Choose a narrow topic and avoid broad subjects, as it is easy to cover the topic in detail.
• Ensure you have background information. A good understanding of a topic can make it easy to apply all necessary moral theories and principles in writing your paper.
• State your position clearly. It is important to be sure about your stance as it will allow you to draft your arguments accordingly.
• When writing ethics essays, be mindful of your audience. Provide arguments that they can understand.
• Integrate solid examples into your essay. Morality can be hard to understand; therefore, using them will help a reader grasp these concepts.

Bottom Line on Writing an Ethics Paper

Creating this essay is a common exercise in academics that allows students to build critical skills. When you begin writing, state your stance on an issue and provide arguments to support your position. This guide gives information on how to write an ethics essay as well as examples of ethics papers. Remember to follow these points in your writing:

• Create an outline highlighting your main points.
• Write an effective introduction and provide background information on an issue.
• Include a thesis statement.
• Develop concrete arguments and their counterarguments, and use examples.
• Sum up all your key points in your conclusion and restate your thesis statement.

Contact our academic writing platform and have your challenge solved. Here, you can order essays and papers on any topic and enjoy top quality. 

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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• Ethical Dilemma Essay

TOOLS FOR WRITING – THE ETHICAL DILEMMA ESSAY

Table of contents, defining an ethical dilemma, ethical dilemma essay topics, how to write an ethical dilemma essay, ethical dilemma essay examples.

We all have a sense of ethics – moral principles that are a part of who we are . Some people are fully opposed to the death penalty; others are opposed to abortion; some support mercy killing, or the “right to die.” But what happens when our moral principles are put to the test through an ethical dilemma?

Basically, an ethical dilemma is facing a decision that, in making that decision, violates a moral principle in order to follow another one . Either decision will mean violating one of your moral principles. 

An ethical dilemma is facing a decision that, in making that decision, violates a moral principle in order to follow another one

A simple and often used example of a moral dilemma is this: You are on a ship that is sinking, and you must get into a lifeboat. That lifeboat can only hold 10 people without sinking, and there are 11 of you that need to get into it. Your moral principle is the preservation of life at all costs. How do you determine who does not get into that lifeboat? Or do you put all 11 in the lifeboat which will kill all of you? Any decision you make will compromise your principle of preserving life at all costs. 

If you are assigned an ethical dilemma essay, chances are you are given a question or a prompt for that essay, but if not you can always search for a write my paper help on our web-site

Sample Ethical Dilemma Essay

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Writer144311 has a background in marketing, technology, and business intelligence. S/he enjoys writing about data science, BI, new marketing trends and branding strategies. On TrustMyPaper s/he shares her practical experience through academic writing.

Have you ever faced an ethical dilemma? Write a personal ethical dilemma essay about one such dilemma and how you handled it. It will be in the first person and will not have to follow the formal writing rules of academic writing .

Here are several potential topics of an ethical dilemma essay. You will note that most provide scenarios in which a person will have to make a decision.

Best ethical dilemma essay topics:

• You are a nurse who is committed to providing the best possible care according to the protocols that have been established. You have a patient who is dying. He is in extreme pain. You are charged with administering pain medication on a set schedule, but the patient remains in extreme pain and is asking for more pain medication on a shorter schedule. Do you follow your moral principle of relieving pain or the protocols that have been established?
• You are the spouse of a woman who has gone into labor. There are complications. The doctor has informed you that you must make a decision to save the life or your wife or your as yet unborn child. What is your decision-making process, and how does either decision compromise your moral principles of the sanctity of life? Do you abort the child and condemn it to death or do you preserve the life of your wife?
• You have witnessed your best friend cheating on an exam. Do you let loyalty to your friend prevail and not report this, or do you abide by your sense of what is right and report the incident to your instructor?
• You are an animal rights advocate, believing that all life is sacred. A biological research company is conducting research using animals as subjects. The goal of this research is to eliminate a horrible disease that is afflicting many people all over the world., but animals will suffer even die, in the process. Can you reconcile your advocacy of animal rights with the greater good of saving human lives?

While your essay will follow the standard format – introduction, body, and conclusion – it may be of different types. You may be writing a narrative of personal experience; you may be writing a more academic piece on an ethical dilemma in a conceptual way; you may be writing an argumentative piece on a specific ethical dilemma. And some of these types of essays may require some research.

Once you have completed your mind map, and consolidated the items into specific points that you want to make, you are ready to craft at least a rough outline of the body paragraphs you will compose.

Develop your thesis statement based upon your points. What is it that you are trying to “prove” to your audience? What do you want your reader to take away from this essay? Your answer to these questions will help you to form your thesis statement.

Write your body paragraphs first. These must be well-formed, with topic sentences and lots of detail to support them. 

One the body paragraphs are constructed, you are ready to craft your introduction – a part of your essay that will introduce the topic and provide your thesis for the essay. Work to create a “hook” for your reader – something that will pique their interest and motivate them to read on. This might be a startling statistic, a quote from a famous person, or a short anecdote to which they can relate. 

Carefully think about your conclusion. You will want to re-state your thesis , of course, but you also may need to encourage those who are dealing with moral dilemmas , as they struggle with their own.

There are plenty of ethical dilemma essay examples out there on the web. And they will give you great ideas about structure and format. But understand this: your essay must be uniquely yours. You must insert your own style, your own ideas, your own style into your essay, or it won’t be compelling or engaging to your reader. Take the ideas; take the points. But make the essay yours alone.

External links

How to Mind Map with Tony Buzan. (2015). [YouTube Video]. In  YouTube . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Y4pIsXTV0

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Ethical Dilemma

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Ethical dilemmas present challenging situations where individuals must choose between conflicting moral principles. These scenarios often arise in various fields, from medicine to business, and compel individuals to weigh the consequences of their decisions. In an ethical dilemma, there is no clear right or wrong answer, making the resolution process complex and deeply personal. This article explores the nature of ethical dilemmas, examines notable examples, and provides frameworks for navigating these tough choices with integrity and thoughtfulness.

What is Ethical Dilemma? – Definition

An ethical dilemma is a problem that occurs in a person’s decision-making process, which has decisions that have large consequences for the people involved in the problem. These types of problems are often confusing and difficult to answer due to the complexity of the situation. The person has to take note and understand various elements , themes , and tones that contribute to the overall context of the ethical situation.

Ethical Dilemmas Examples

• Medical Decision-Making : A doctor must decide whether to respect a terminally ill patient’s wish to refuse treatment or to intervene to save their life.
• Confidentiality vs. Safety : A therapist learns that a client plans to harm someone but has sworn confidentiality.
• Whistleblowing : An employee discovers illegal activities within their company but fears losing their job if they report it.
• Use of Force : A police officer must decide whether to use force in a situation where a suspect appears threatening but unarmed.
• Academic Integrity : A student finds a way to cheat on an important exam and must choose between honesty and a better grade.
• Resource Allocation : A hospital must decide how to allocate limited resources like ventilators during a pandemic.
• Animal Testing : A researcher must balance the potential human benefits of their work against the ethical concerns of using animals for testing.
• Advertising Ethics : A marketing professional must decide whether to use potentially misleading claims to boost sales.
• Conflict of Interest : A journalist has a financial interest in a company they are assigned to cover.
• Environmental Responsibility : A company must choose between cost-saving measures that harm the environment and more expensive, eco-friendly alternatives.
• Cultural Sensitivity : A business must decide whether to respect local customs that conflict with its ethical standards.
• Data Privacy : A tech company must choose between collecting user data for profit and respecting users’ privacy rights.
• Euthanasia : A family must decide whether to support a terminally ill loved one’s wish for assisted suicide.
• Genetic Engineering : Scientists debate the ethical implications of editing human genes to prevent diseases.
• Charity Allocation : A nonprofit organization must decide which causes to fund with its limited resources.
• Freedom of Speech : A social media platform must balance the need for open discourse with the responsibility to prevent hate speech.
• End-of-Life Care : A family must decide whether to continue life support for a loved one in a vegetative state.
• Employee Surveillance : A company must decide whether to monitor employees’ activities to prevent theft or respect their privacy.
• Artificial Intelligence : Developers must consider the ethical implications of creating AI systems that could replace human jobs.
• Corporate Social Responsibility : A business must choose between maximizing profits and contributing to social causes.
• Journalistic Ethics : A reporter must decide whether to publish a story that could harm someone’s reputation but serves the public interest.
• Patient Autonomy : A doctor must decide whether to honor a patient’s request for an unproven treatment.
• Military Decisions : A soldier must choose between following orders and protecting innocent civilians.
• Privacy vs. Security : Governments must balance the need for surveillance to ensure national security with the right to individual privacy.
• Research Ethics : A scientist must decide whether to manipulate data to achieve desirable results.
• Corporate Governance : Board members must choose between actions that benefit shareholders and those that benefit employees and the community.
• Financial Reporting : An accountant must decide whether to report financial irregularities that could damage their company.
• Medical Research : Researchers must decide whether to continue a study that shows promising results but also serious side effects.
• Cultural Relativism : An international NGO must decide whether to intervene in local practices that violate human rights.
• Public Health vs. Individual Rights : Health officials must decide whether to impose quarantines to prevent disease spread, infringing on individual freedoms.

Real Life Examples of Ethical Dilemmas

• End-of-Life Care: A doctor might face an ethical dilemma when deciding whether to continue life-sustaining treatment for a terminally ill patient who is suffering and has little chance of recovery.
• Allocation of Resources: During a health crisis, such as a pandemic, healthcare professionals may need to decide who receives limited resources like ventilators or ICU beds.
• Whistleblowing: An employee discovers their company is engaging in illegal or unethical practices. They must decide whether to report it, potentially risking their job and personal well-being, or stay silent.
• Fair Labor Practices: A company must choose between outsourcing production to a country with cheaper labor but poor working conditions and keeping production local but at a higher cost.
• Defending the Guilty: A defense attorney knows their client is guilty but must still provide the best possible defense, as everyone has a right to legal representation.
• Sentencing: A judge must decide between a lenient sentence that might help rehabilitate a young offender and a harsher one that could serve as a deterrent to others.
• Development vs. Conservation: A community must decide whether to allow a new development project that could bring economic benefits but would harm the local environment and wildlife.
• Pollution: A company must choose between cheaper manufacturing processes that pollute the environment and more expensive, environmentally friendly options.
• Loyalty vs. Honesty: A friend discovers another friend’s spouse is cheating. They must decide whether to tell their friend, which could cause pain, or keep the secret to avoid hurting them.
• Family Obligations: An individual must choose between pursuing a career opportunity in another city or staying close to home to care for an aging parent.
• Data Privacy: A tech company must decide whether to sell user data to advertisers to generate revenue or protect users’ privacy at the expense of potential profits.
• AI and Automation: A company must choose between adopting automation, which could increase efficiency but lead to significant job losses, or maintaining current employment levels.
• Standardized Testing: An educator might face the dilemma of teaching to the test to ensure high scores, which can benefit the school and students’ futures, or providing a more well-rounded education that might not directly improve test scores.
• Grading Fairness: A teacher must decide whether to give a struggling student a passing grade out of sympathy or hold them to the same standards as other students.

Ethical Dilemma Examples for Students

• You studied hard for a math test, but your best friend, who didn’t study, asks to copy your answers during the test. Do you help them or not?
• You find a wallet with $50 on the school playground. Inside the wallet, there is also a student ID card. Do you keep the money or try to return it to the owner?
• You have a big project due tomorrow and you haven’t started it. You find a perfect essay online. Do you submit it as your own work?
• You see a popular student at your school posting mean comments about another student on social media. Do you report it, confront the bully, or ignore it?
• Your friend tells you that they are going to cheat on a major exam. If you tell a teacher, your friend might get into serious trouble. If you don’t, your friend’s actions could unfairly impact others. What do you do?
• Your friends pressure you to skip class and hang out at a local park. If you don’t go, they might stop inviting you to hang out with them. Do you go with them or attend your classes?
• At a party, someone offers you alcohol or drugs. You know it’s illegal and dangerous, but you don’t want to seem uncool. How do you handle the situation?
• You accidentally discover the password to a classmate’s social media account. Do you log in and snoop around, change the password to lock them out, or tell them about it?
• You notice that the school cafeteria uses a lot of single-use plastics. Do you organize a campaign to encourage more sustainable practices, or do you stay silent?
• In a group project, one member isn’t contributing at all, but they expect to get the same grade as everyone else. Do you talk to the teacher about it or let it slide?
• Your friend did something against school rules and the principal is investigating. Your friend asks you to lie to cover for them. Do you lie or tell the truth?
• Your group of friends decides to exclude a classmate who wants to join your lunch table. Do you stand up for the excluded student or go along with your friends?
• A friend confides in you about a personal problem, but you think they might need professional help. Do you keep their secret or tell an adult who can help?
• You have a big sports game on the same day as a family event. Your coach expects you to play, but your parents want you at the family event. How do you decide where to go?
• In a class discussion, a student expresses an opinion that you strongly disagree with. Do you challenge their opinion respectfully, ignore it, or get into an argument?

Ethical dilemma in business

An ethical dilemma in business occurs when a company or individual faces a situation where there are conflicting moral principles or ethical obligations, making it difficult to determine the right course of action. These dilemmas often involve decisions that can impact stakeholders such as employees, customers, shareholders, and the community. The challenge lies in balancing profitability and competitiveness with ethical considerations such as fairness, transparency, and social responsibility.

Examples of Ethical dilemma in business

Employee Privacy vs. Employer’s Right to Monitor

• Scenario : A company wants to monitor employees’ computer usage to ensure productivity and prevent misuse of company resources. However, employees feel this invades their privacy.
• Dilemma : Balancing the need for security and productivity with respecting employee privacy.

2. Product Safety vs. Profit

• Scenario : A company discovers that a product has a minor defect that could potentially harm a small percentage of users. The cost of recalling and fixing the product is substantial.
• Dilemma : Choosing between prioritizing customer safety and incurring significant financial losses.

3. Environmental Responsibility vs. Economic Gain

• Scenario : A manufacturing company can save costs by disposing of waste in a less environmentally friendly manner.
• Dilemma : Deciding between higher profits and committing to environmentally sustainable practices.

4. Transparency vs. Competitive Advantage

• Scenario : A company has developed a groundbreaking technology but keeping the details secret could give it a significant market advantage.
• Dilemma : Choosing between being transparent about practices and protecting competitive interests.

5. Fair Trade vs. Low Costs

• Scenario : Sourcing materials from suppliers that exploit cheap labor but keep costs low versus using fair trade suppliers that are more expensive.
• Dilemma : Balancing cost management with ethical sourcing practices.

6. Conflict of Interest

• Scenario : An executive has a significant financial interest in a supplier company that the business is considering for a major contract.
• Dilemma : Ensuring unbiased decision-making while managing personal financial interests.

7. Whistleblowing

• Scenario : An employee discovers that their company is engaging in illegal or unethical practices. Reporting this could lead to personal repercussions and harm the company’s reputation.
• Dilemma : Balancing the moral obligation to expose wrongdoing with the potential personal and professional risks.

8. Pricing Strategies

• Scenario : A pharmaceutical company has a life-saving drug and is debating how much to charge for it. Higher prices could make the drug unaffordable for many, but lower prices could limit the company’s ability to fund future research.
• Dilemma : Setting prices that balance profitability and accessibility.

9. Cultural Sensitivity vs. Market Expansion

• Scenario : A company wants to expand into a new international market but faces cultural practices that conflict with its ethical standards.
• Dilemma : Deciding whether to adapt to local customs that may be ethically questionable or maintaining company values, potentially losing business.

10. Advertising Ethics

• Scenario : A company considers using exaggerated claims in advertising to boost sales.
• Dilemma : Weighing the benefits of increased sales against the potential for misleading consumers and damaging trust.

Ethical Dilemma Examples in the Workplace

• You are involved in hiring a new team member, and one of the applicants is a close friend. Do you disclose this relationship and step back from the decision-making process, or do you keep it to yourself?
• You discover that your company is engaging in illegal activities, such as falsifying financial records. Do you report this to the authorities, risking your job, or stay silent to protect your position?
• Your manager shows obvious favoritism towards a colleague, giving them the best projects and promotions. Do you confront your manager, talk to HR, or accept the situation?
• You have limited resources and must decide between two projects: one that benefits the company’s profits and another that benefits employee welfare. Which do you prioritize?
• You make a mistake on a project that could have significant negative consequences. Do you own up to the mistake immediately or try to fix it quietly without informing anyone?
• You have an idea that could greatly benefit your company, but it wasn’t developed during work hours. Do you present it to your employer or keep it for a personal venture?
• You find out that a colleague is going through a personal crisis, which is affecting their performance. Do you inform your manager to explain the performance issues, or respect your colleague’s privacy?
• A vendor offers you an expensive gift during the holiday season. Accepting it could be seen as a bribe. Do you accept the gift, decline it, or report it?
• You have access to personal data of clients that could be useful for a side project you’re working on. Do you use the data, risking privacy breaches, or refrain from using it?
• You witness a colleague being harassed by another employee. Do you intervene directly, report it to HR, or stay out of it?
• A colleague frequently leaves work early or takes extended breaks without adjusting their timesheets. Do you report this behavior, confront them, or ignore it?
• You notice that your company’s hiring practices seem to overlook qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. Do you bring this up with HR or assume it’s not your place?
• You notice a colleague frequently making errors that could jeopardize a project. Do you report their mistakes to a supervisor, discuss it with them first, or let it go?
• Your company is offered a lucrative contract from a client with a questionable reputation regarding environmental practices. Do you advise against taking the contract or go along with the company’s decision?
• You’re responsible for conducting performance reviews. A friend at work is underperforming. Do you give an honest review that could harm their career or a favorable one to maintain your friendship?

Ethical Dilemma in Nursing and healthcare

An ethical dilemma in nursing and healthcare arises when a healthcare professional encounters a situation where there are conflicting moral principles or ethical obligations, making it difficult to determine the right course of action. These dilemmas often involve situations where there is no clear right or wrong answer, and the decision can have significant consequences for patients, families, and healthcare providers.

Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing and Healthcare

• End-of-Life Care: A nurse must decide whether to honor a patient’s DNR order despite the family’s insistence on resuscitation.
• Informed Consent: A patient refuses a life-saving treatment, and the nurse must balance respecting the patient’s autonomy with the duty to advocate for their health.
• Resource Allocation: During a pandemic, nurses must decide which patients receive limited life-saving treatments like ventilators.
• Patient Privacy vs. Public Safety: A nurse must choose between maintaining patient confidentiality and informing public health authorities about a contagious disease.
• Mandatory Reporting: A nurse suspects child abuse but lacks concrete evidence and must decide whether to report it based on suspicion alone.
• Cultural Sensitivity: A nurse must respect a patient’s cultural beliefs that conflict with recommended medical treatments.
• Confidentiality vs. Family Involvement: A nurse must decide whether to share sensitive patient information with family members who are desperate for details.
• Pain Management: A nurse must decide whether to administer additional pain medication to a patient in severe pain despite potential addiction concerns.
• Vaccination Refusal: A nurse faces a dilemma when parents refuse to vaccinate their child, balancing respect for parental rights with public health concerns.
• Experimental Treatment: A nurse must decide whether to support a patient’s wish to try an unapproved experimental treatment.
• Healthcare Access: A nurse must decide how to provide the best care to uninsured patients with limited resources.
• Professional Boundaries: A nurse develops a close relationship with a patient and must navigate maintaining professional boundaries.
• Moral Distress: A nurse feels morally distressed when forced to participate in procedures that conflict with personal ethical beliefs.
• Conflict of Interest: A nurse must decide whether to recommend a particular treatment when aware of a potential financial benefit to the healthcare facility.
• Whistleblowing: A nurse discovers unethical practices in the workplace and must decide whether to report them, risking job security.

How to Solve Ethical Dilemma

Identify the problem.

• Clearly define the ethical issue.
• Determine who is affected by the dilemma.

2. Gather Information

• Collect all relevant facts.
• Understand the context and background of the dilemma.
• Identify the stakeholders involved.

3. Consider the Principles

• Reflect on ethical principles such as honesty, fairness, justice, and respect for others.
• Consider relevant laws and professional guidelines.

4. Evaluate the Options

• Generate a list of possible actions.
• Assess each option by considering the potential consequences for all stakeholders.
• Think about the long-term vs. short-term impact.

5. Seek Advice

• Consult with trusted colleagues, mentors, or ethical committees.
• Seek diverse perspectives to avoid personal bias.

6. Make a Decision

• Choose the option that aligns best with ethical principles and has the most favorable balance of outcomes.
• Ensure the decision is practical and feasible.

7. Implement the Decision

• Put the chosen course of action into practice.
• Communicate the decision clearly to all affected parties.

8. Reflect and Review

• After implementation, review the outcomes of the decision.
• Reflect on what was learned and how the process can be improved for future dilemmas.

Types of Ethical Dilemma

Here are some common types of ethical dilemmas

• Description : This occurs when a person or organization has multiple interests, and serving one interest might work against another. For example, a doctor who owns a stake in a pharmaceutical company might face a conflict between prescribing the best medication for a patient and promoting the company’s drugs.
• Example : A financial advisor who receives a commission for selling certain investment products may face a dilemma between recommending the best option for the client and promoting the product that earns them the highest commission.
• Description : This dilemma involves a conflict between telling the truth and being loyal to a person or organization. For instance, an employee might know about unethical practices in their company but feel loyal to their employer or colleagues.
• Example : An employee discovers that their close friend and coworker is falsifying expense reports. Reporting the friend would be truthful but could damage their relationship.
• Description : This type of dilemma arises when the needs or rights of an individual conflict with the needs or rights of a larger group. For example, quarantine measures during a pandemic protect public health but restrict individual freedoms.
• Example : A public health official must decide whether to disclose the identity of a person with a contagious disease to protect the community, potentially violating the individual’s privacy.
• Description : This dilemma involves making a choice between immediate benefits and long-term consequences. For instance, using non-renewable resources might provide short-term economic benefits but have negative long-term environmental impacts.
• Example : A company considers cutting costs by reducing its environmental safeguards, which would boost short-term profits but could lead to long-term environmental damage.
• Description : This dilemma occurs when there is a conflict between fairness and compassion. For example, a judge might face a decision between enforcing a strict punishment (justice) and showing leniency due to extenuating circumstances (mercy).
• Example : A manager must decide whether to terminate an underperforming employee who is struggling due to personal issues, balancing the need for workplace efficiency with compassion for the employee’s situation.
• Description : This dilemma arises when professional duties conflict with personal values or ethics. For example, a lawyer might have to defend a client they personally believe is guilty.
• Example : A journalist is assigned to cover a story that conflicts with their personal beliefs or values, challenging their professional responsibility to remain unbiased.
• Description : This type of dilemma involves balancing the right to privacy with the need for safety and security. For instance, surveillance measures can enhance security but may infringe on individuals’ privacy rights.
• Example : A government considers implementing widespread surveillance to prevent terrorist attacks, raising concerns about citizens’ privacy.
• Description : This dilemma arises when there is a conflict between respecting an individual’s autonomy and making decisions for their own good (paternalism). For instance, a doctor might face a decision between respecting a patient’s refusal of treatment and intervening to save their life.
• Example : A parent must decide whether to allow their teenager to make their own choices about school and career, respecting their autonomy, or to intervene to guide them toward what the parent believes is best.

How to Act and Answer an Ethical Dilemma in One’s Life

Ethical dilemmas sometimes appear in one’s life and cause the receiver to experience large amounts of stress the ethical dilemma creates. Not only that but the person will be at risk of cognitive dissonance when a person solves an ethical dilemma, which is highly dependent on the outcome conflicting with the person’s objectives , goals , ethics , and core values . If you want to learn more and understand various ethical dilemmas, you may use the various ethical dilemma examples in nursing, ethical dilemma examples in learning, and more on the links above.

Step 1: Analyze the Situation

Begin by analyzing the ethical dilemma. This means that you must try to deconstruct the dilemma you are in and take into account the various elements in play. You must determine if the dilemma is an ethical dilemma or a moral dilemma, as these have various observable connotations.

Step 2: List Out the Benefits and Consequences of Each Choice

If you have the time, you should try and list out the benefits and consequences each choice brings into play. This will help bring into perspective what each choice can bring to the table.

Step 3: Try to Create or Generate More Alternatives

If possible, you can brainstorm or conduct an introspective to try and generate or create more choices to answer the ethical dilemma. There might be possible alternatives that might not present themselves unless one thinks deeply about them.

Step 4a: Use the Value-Centered Approach

One of the best ways to answer an ethical dilemma is through the value-centered approach. This approach focuses more on the choice that creates the most value or benefits for the person making the said choice.

Step 4b: Choose the Choice that Brings the Least Amount of Consequences

Another way to answer an ethical dilemma is by choosing a choice that will bring the least amount of consequences to the people involved and affected by the ethical dilemma. This will require the person to weigh the benefits or consequences incurred by the choices.

Existence of ethical dilemmas

Ethical dilemmas are situations in which there is a conflict between two or more moral principles, making it challenging to decide on the right course of action. These dilemmas often arise in various aspects of life, including personal decisions, professional conduct, and societal issues. Here are a few examples illustrating the existence of ethical dilemmas:

• Medical Decisions : Healthcare professionals often face ethical dilemmas when deciding between treatments that might save a life but cause significant suffering, or when resources are limited and they must choose which patient to prioritize.
• Business Practices : Companies might encounter ethical dilemmas when balancing profit with social responsibility. For example, a business may need to decide whether to cut costs by outsourcing labor to countries with lower wages and poorer working conditions.
• Legal and Criminal Justice : Lawyers and judges may face ethical dilemmas in cases where the law conflicts with personal moral beliefs or when defending a client they know to be guilty.
• Environmental Issues : Ethical dilemmas arise when considering the trade-off between economic development and environmental conservation, such as deciding whether to support industries that provide jobs but also cause pollution.
• Personal Relationships : Individuals might encounter ethical dilemmas in their personal lives, such as choosing between telling the truth and sparing someone’s feelings or deciding whether to intervene in a friend’s harmful behavior.

What is an ethical dilemma?

An ethical dilemma is a situation where a person must choose between conflicting moral principles, making it challenging to determine the right course of action.

Why are ethical dilemmas significant?

Ethical dilemmas highlight the complexity of moral decision-making, helping individuals and organizations reflect on their values and responsibilities.

How do you resolve an ethical dilemma?

Resolving an ethical dilemma involves evaluating the consequences, considering ethical principles, and seeking advice from trusted sources.

Can ethical dilemmas be avoided?

Ethical dilemmas are often unavoidable but can be managed with clear guidelines, ethical training, and a strong moral framework.

What are common examples of ethical dilemmas?

How do ethical dilemmas impact businesses.

Ethical dilemmas can affect a business’s reputation, legal standing, and employee morale, highlighting the importance of ethical decision-making in corporate governance.

What role do personal values play in ethical dilemmas?

Personal values significantly influence how individuals perceive and resolve ethical dilemmas, shaping their ethical judgments and actions.

How do cultural differences influence ethical dilemmas?

Cultural differences can lead to varying interpretations of what constitutes an ethical dilemma, impacting decision-making processes in diverse environments.

Are there tools to help navigate ethical dilemmas?

Yes, tools like ethical frameworks, decision-making models, and professional guidelines can assist in navigating ethical dilemmas.

Why is it important to discuss ethical dilemmas?

Discussing ethical dilemmas fosters critical thinking, promotes ethical awareness, and prepares individuals to handle complex moral issues effectively.

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Ethical Dilemma Essay Examples

The death penalty debate: weighing the pros and cons.

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Death Penalty - Whether It's an Effective Sanction

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The Death Penalty Debate: an Argumentative Analysis

The topic of the death penalty or capital punishment has been one of controversy for a very long time now. The practice, which began many centuries ago, has seen various societies execute criminals for different capital offenses or crimes. In those countries where the death...

Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work - Personal Experience

This is one of the ethical dilemmas in social work essays where I will explore some ethical dilemmas I had during placement. I will be highlighting on a case that I dealt with as a form of my learning and development. I will be working...

The Heinz Dilemma: Moral Complexity in Everyday Life

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Ethical Dilemma: Ways to Solve It

To start ethical dilemma essay lets understand the terminology of this phrase. Ethical dilemma is a basically a problem in a decision-making process between possible options. These options can be approved from an ethical view, this can be extremely challenging for companies or employers. Ethical...

Endless Dilemma: Should Abortion Be Legal Or Illegal

One of the most debated topics in bioethics is abortion. This debate might not ever come to an agreement whether to legalize or illegalize abortion, but it’s very important that we, as a country, try. The problem with the debates in bioethics on abortion is...

A Fetus is not a Person: the Concept of Self-ownership

The United States was founded upon the notion that all persons are born with “inalienable rights.” However, even to this day, “life, liberty, and happiness” are not guaranteed to citizens of this nation, especially its women. America has allowed patriarchal and sexist influences to contaminate...

Abortion: the Role of Contraception and Religious Belief

Abortion ends a pregnancy before the fetus or the unborn child can live independently outside the mother. This issue happens approximately before 24 weeks of pregnancy. This essay considers that an abortion is a crime. Even if it is a fetus, it is still a...

Ethical Dilemma in Nursing: Chemically Impaired Nurses

Chemically impaired nurse on duty is the ethical dilemma in nursing that I will be writing about in the essay. It can be easy for a nurse to want to be chemically impaired due to stress of trying to keep someone alive and getting them...

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About Ethical Dilemma

An ethical dilemma describes a conflict between two morally correct courses of action, it takes place in a decision-making context where any of the available options requires the agent to violate or compromise on their ethical standards.

Truth vs loyalty, short-term vs long-term, individual vs community, and justice vs mercy.

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