Ethical Issues

1. Standing Up to Power Someone in power is asking you to do something unethical.

   • Do they have the right to ask this of me?
   • Are there others who agree with me?

2. Made a Promise and World Has Changed. You made a promise, but unexpected events have made it very hard to keep.

   • Can I still keep my promise, even if costly to me?
   • Does keeping this promise now make it harder to keep other promises?

3. Intervention. You see something that's wrong but face risks if you try to stop it.

   • Are you the right person to intervene or should you recruit help?
   • How can you create the least harm to everyone involved?

4. Conflict of Interests. Your personal interests and your work obligations are at cross purposes.

   • Who has a right to know the details and have I let them know?
   • Would my actions cause others to question my motives or character?
   • Are there any rules you should be following?

5. Suspicions Without Enough Evidence. You believe something wrong is going on, but you’re not sure.

   • What happens if I act on the allegations and they are false?
   • Who is accountable for solving the problem?

6. Playing Dirty. You could achieve justice by doing something that is normally considered unethical.

   • Would your action really bring about justice or the greatest good?
   • Does harming the other party help anyone besides yourself?

7. Skirting the Rules. To accomplish a worthy purpose, you have to go around the rules or break the law.

   • Would those with authority over the rules/law want you to break them in this case?
   • What are all the reasons the rule or law matters?

8. Dissemblance. Misrepresenting or concealing the truth could create a better outcome.

   • Do I have the authority to reveal the truth?
   • What are the real reasons I want to misrepresent the truth?

9. Loyalty. You are not sure how much to sacrifice to honor a relationship.

   • Have they shown loyalty to me?
   • Would they want your loyalty if they knew all the costs?

10. Sacrificing Personal Values or Relationships. Living true to your beliefs might impose a burden on others.

    • What costs am I willing to bear for my beliefs or relationships?
    • What burden am I placing on others by imposing my beliefs or relationships?

11. Unfair Advantage. You have the upper hand, but not in a way that you're sure is fair.

    • What makes the advantage unfair?
    • If I were the other party, how would I consider a person making my choice?

12. Repair. You made a mistake, but can get away with not fixing it.

    • Who should bear the cost for the mistake?
    • Did you act unethically when you made the mistake?

13. Showing Mercy. Someone has come asking for mercy, but granting it comes at a cost.

    • Is mercy mine to give?
    • Who bears the cost of showing mercy?