What is an ethical dilemma?

An ethical dilemma arises when an individual is faced with a situation that involves a conflict between two or more ethical principles, making it difficult to determine the right course of action. In such situations, a choice must be made that could uphold one ethical value while undermining another. For example, a healthcare professional may struggle between the principles of patient confidentiality and the necessity of reporting harmful behavior to authorities. This conflicting nature of ethical principles requires careful consideration and often leads to difficult decision-making processes.

The other choices, while they may describe various business or organizational scenarios, do not encapsulate the essence of an ethical dilemma. An opportunity for profit maximization is focused solely on financial gain, team building emphasizes collaboration and relationship development without ethical conflict, and challenges in resource allocation pertain to logistical or management issues rather than conflicting ethical principles. Understanding the concept of an ethical dilemma is crucial in recognizing the complexities of ethical decision-making in professional environments.