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Cool Tool: Ethical Decision Making Framework
Type: Activity
Topic: Making well-reasoned ethical decisions about a variety of topics
Grade Level: High school, middle school, elementary
Contributor: Peggy OíNeill Skinner
School: The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Purpose: To provide students with a step-by-step method for making well-reasoned decisions about complex ethical issues.
References: 1) Ethics Module of the High School Human Genome Program (http://hshgp.genome.washington.edu); 2) The Hastings Centerís high school module on bioethics, New Choices, New Responsibilities: Ethical Issues in the Life Sciences (Jennings, B., K. Nolan, C. Campbell, S. Donnelley, E. Parens, L. Turner, E. DeVaro, 1997).
Materials: Template for Decision Making (based on the Hastings Model)
| Identify the ethical question(s) raised by the case. | List all the relevant facts of the case. | Identify the stakeholders in the case. | Identify the values that play a role in the case. | List several possible solutions to resolve the conflict. (What could you do?) | Choose the best solution(s) and justify. (What should you do?) |
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Methods: Many issues in genetics are complex and controversial and can result in situations that require complex ethical decisions. This decision-making model is used most effectively in conjunction with a case scenario that focuses on an ethical issue. For example, in the ethics module of the High School Human Genome Program, the focus is presymptomatic testing for Huntingtonís disease. The students are engaged in the topic through a scenario about a family of five siblings whose father has died of Huntingtonís disease and who are each considering presymptomatic testing. This decision-making model can also be applied to ethical questions based on topics other than genetics.
What is an ethical issue? It is an issue that involves a conflict of interests or values of different individuals or organizations. An ethical question asks what "should" or "ought" to be done in a particular situation so that the moral values of society and/or the individuals involved are maintained while their needs are met.
The decision-making template defines six steps for making ethical decisions. The first step involves defining the ethical question being posed. This is a "should" question, and it contains an element of controversy or conflict. The next step involves identifying the relevant facts of the case, including scientific information, legalities, etc. Next comes identification of the stakeholders in the caseóthose individuals, organizations, or entities that are directly affected by the outcome of the decision being made. Step four involves considerations of the moral values that apply to the case. These can include a wide variety of qualities, such as fairness to the various shareholders, privacy, freedom of choice, respect for life or property, etc. In the fifth step, all of the possible solutions to the dilemma are considered. Finally, the best solution is identified by determining which of the possible solutions is most consistent with the facts, values, and stakeholders identified.
Classroom Use: The decision-making template can be used in any grade in conjunction with an ethical issue that is appropriate to that level. For example, at earlier grade levels, young children could discuss whether their classroom should play a game of musical chairs if one of the students in the class is deaf.
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last updated 06/15/04