Eight-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model

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The eight-step ethical decision making model was created with the objective of assisting professionals to make wiser decisions when facing possible ethical dilemmas. The first step involves identifying if the issue in hand is an ethical, legal, moral, professional, or personal perspective problem. The second step includes finding more information in sources already established to deal with the nature of problem. This comprises reviewing reliable information: related laws, guidelines, and codes of ethics to name a few. The third step considers reflection of the issue. During this step we stop and ponder the issue from all possible angles, taking into account our biases, cultural backgrounds, and personal beliefs among some. The fourth step takes in consideration consulting with a trustworthy colleague. We can benefit from using other mere experienced colleague perspective.Occasionally, our biases, values, and feelings could blur our objectivity. Others neutral point of view could ameliorate our …show more content…
Step six relates to brainstorming and enumerating alternative resolutions. On this step we should consider all possible alternatives, including those that might be expensive, perilous, and even unethical in nature. We should remember that during this stage we are just venting, not making any final decisions. Step seven involves enumerating and weighting the positive and negative consequences of the alternatives considered on step six. The final step (eight) involves making the decision. At this point, we should already feel heavily inclined over one action, (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008). I consider that this model of decision-making is a valuable tool since it reduces the chances of making decisions through the immediate reactions. Making ethical decisions through reactions can be detrimental to clients, third parties, and our professional