Personal Ethics Assignment

Personal Ethics Assignment

Introduction

Ethical dilemmas involve moral situations in which an individual has to choose between two presenting cases. The individual is faced with a critical position in which he or she has to decide what is socially acceptable or that that which satisfies an individual moral guideline. The general assumptions provide that the individual would determine what is religiously and culturally acceptable in making the decisions. Personally, satisfying societal needs would be worthless if it means causing direct harm to an individual.

The moral dilemma

Being a medical practitioner, a young lady of about twenty years who is also a good friend and still in her university studies gives an individual approach that she is pregnant and doesn’t want to carry the pregnancy. She goes further by saying that if not helped abort the child, she would commit suicide, and no counseling would make her change her mind whatsoever. This is because her uncle, who is responsible for funding her education, would hear none of it.

She has been in hiding and says that if the information is leaked to anyone else, she will commit suicide too. Seemingly, the pregnancy is still not mature and could be carried out successfully. Though there are risk health risks that could occur, the young lady in case any complication arose in the process. Giving the fact that she is also a good friend makes the situation very complicated. To maintain friendship and prevent suicide or to help the innocent child.

The dilemma in this situation is quite tricky, and making the ultimate decision that is morally upright requires a lot of thinking. It is quite a problematic ethical defining situation personally faced as a medical practitioner. The most challenging part of the dilemma is that the suicide thoughts of the girl proved so intense that the counseling methods employed seemed not to be working. The problem ought to be solved on a particular day since failure to reach a decision would mean the girl’s fate when let out of the healthcare facility was apparent. societythe girl through with the abortion would mean having to kill even if nobody came to know of it. Refusing to help the girl and reporting the matter would result in suicide, and therefore it would mean letting the girl die. On the other hand, what if performing the act leads to complications, and everybody gets to know of the secretive action.

Application of deontological theory and six pillars of character in the situation

Drawing illustrations from Immanuel Kant deontological theory, actions have to be guided by specific set rules and principles in fewer regards to the outcomes. Holding onto the pillars of character, the approach helps a great deal in problem-solving since it depicts that some actions are wrong even if they lead to outcomes considered admirable. It means, therefore, that the judgments of the steps are done independently of their consequences. An act can be regarded as morally wrong but unintentionally give a good outcome. By duty, an individual is bound to act by the will, which gives the moral worth of action. Responsibility as a pillar of character requires that an individual does whatever he or she is supposed to do and to be disciplined in every undertaking. One has to be accountable for the deeds and set an excellent example for the others. Another critical pillar is fairness. In this, the individual has to be able to play by the rules and to offer fair treatment at every circumstance. Caring is also another pillar of character that requires one to help those in need and to be kind to those around. Maximum respect is also another virtue in the components of character that demands consideration of others’ feelings and in dealing with disagreements. The last but important pillar is trustworthiness. In this, the individual is required to show exemplary courage in accomplishing the promises and obligations. In the presenting situation, reporting the matter is the best solution was to report to higher professional colleagues even if it meant losing the friendship and saving the two lives. The six pillars of the character’s, therefore, demand that an individual has to put into consideration the overall outcomes that are acceptable before making a decision. It means that the individual has to trust their own morality in solving any presenting moral dilemma(Halleux,2016).

In conclusion, ethical morality involves rational thinking in which an individual has to make decisions according to achieving the desirable moral standings.