To be ethical means to follow the
professional standards, legal obligations, and expectations at
workplace, as well as, following one's own values and principles
relevant to situation while carrying out responsibilities at work
place.
The two ethical dilemmas are:
- The "absolute" or "pure" ethical
dilemma: This type of ethical dilemma occur when the professionals
have to choose between two equally important ethical situation, and
choice of neither of them gives complete solution to the problem.
For example- As an educator working in a rural area with limited
resources causes absolute ethical dilemma, when the resources fall
short to bring optimal level of learning among the children. The
educator has to choose between the limited resources and effective
teaching learning strategies. The limited resources prevent an
optimal learning.
- "Approximate" or "relative" ethical
dilemma: This type of ethical dilemma occurs when the personal
values of the professionals clashes with the legal, or ethical
codes of the profession. For example- A doctor who is a staunch
supporter of anti-abortion has carry out abortion out of a critical
medical condition, otherwise fetus that has least chance of
survival would definitely cause a serious threat to woman's
life.