What is an ethical dilemma?

An ethical dilemma arises when an individual is faced with a situation where they must choose between two or more competing ethical principles or values. This often involves a conflict where adhering to one ethical standard could lead to violating another, creating a scenario in which the individual must carefully weigh their options before making a decision.

For example, a healthcare professional might encounter a situation where they must decide whether to respect a patient’s autonomy by honoring their treatment wishes, which may contradict the principle of beneficence, or acting in what they believe is the patient's best interest without their consent. This balancing act highlights the complexity of ethical dilemmas and the importance of critical thinking and ethical reasoning in navigating them.

In contrast, choices that involve personal benefit alone lack the complexity of moral reasoning that characterizes an ethical dilemma. An irrelevant conflict fails to represent the gravity of moral decisions, while a clear decision aligning with universal morals does not embody the essence of an ethical dilemma, which inherently involves ambiguity and conflict.