Ethical dilemma of the month
Each month we present a fictional ethical dilemma which you can use to 'workout' your ethics and explore ethical decision-making.
Learn more about ethical decision-making. If you have a real ethical dilemma, our free Ethics Counselling service, Ethi-Call, may be of assistance.
Current ethical dilemma:
The safety of your children vs the wellbeing of your neighbour
March 2009
Mrs Ethel Johnson is in her eightieth year – an increasingly frail widow whose husband passed away more than a decade ago. Most of her friends have either died or moved away.
So now she lives in a rambling and increasingly dilapidated family home – alone except for the company of her pet dog, Toby.
Toby has recently changed from being a quiet, dependable animal to one that snaps and snarls at strangers. Indeed, Toby has warned off most visitors – biting a postman and frightening the community nurse. The local council has warned Mrs Johnson that if she cannot control her dog, then it will be taken from her and put down.
Of late, Toby’s temper has been getting worse. Today, one of your teenage children has returned home distressed after a frightening encounter with Mrs Johnson’s dog.
You feel that the matter should be reported to the Council. However, you know that Toby is the one creature that Mrs Johnson can lavish affection on in this life.
Ethical questions:
- What are the issues?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What should you do?
- What would you do?
Discuss this ethical dilemma in our Ethics Forum.
Learn more about different ways you can try to resolve ethical dilemmas. You can also find out about Ethi-Call, our free Ethics Counselling service, which can assist you to make ethical decisions when faced with real life ethical dilemmas.
View other ethical dilemmas.