Appendix 3 – Checklist for reflecting on ethical dilemmas and ethically challenging situations
2015: Ethical dilemmas faced by professionals providing dementia care in care homes and hospitals
1. The situation in a nutshell. Please write a brief sentence summarising the situation as you see it.
2. Who is involved in/affected by the current dilemma?
- Who might be involved/affected?
- Who (if anyone) caused the situation?
- What is your relationship (role) vis-á-vis the main people involved?
- How are you affected by the situation?
- What responsibility do you carry for resolvingthe current dilemma?
- Who else needs to be involved to resolve the situation?
3. What is the context in which the situation occurs?
- Where is the dilemma occurring?
O day care centre
O residential care home
O hospital/clinic
O other
- When did the dilemma start or become apparent?
- Are there constraints/guidelines to consider?
O budgetary
O organisational
O a law/legal directive
O professional guidelines
O ethics policy
O other
4. How do you think the situation is experienced by everyone involved?
5. About the dialogue with everyone involved
- What have you learnt from talking to the people involved?
- In addition to the dialogue with the people involved, who else have you consulted?
O colleagues
O hierarchical superior
O ethics committee
O other
6. Which principles, values and related concepts seem to be at stake?
O acting with compassion
O acting with integrity (in accordance with your own beliefs)
O avoiding what might be harmful or hurt the people involved/affected
O balancing and respecting the family versus the personal interests of those involved/affected
O being able to exercise discernment (sensitive insight)
O being truthful and trustworthy
O exercising humility
O promoting the good and wellbeing of the people involved/affected
O respecting confidentiality, privacy and/or dignity (circle relevant responses)
O respecting the right for people to make decisions about their lives/what should happen to them
O respecting the uniqueness of everyone concerned
O taking into consideration potential vulnerability, dependency and/or power relations
O treating people fairly and equally
O understanding the life stories of the people involved/affected
O other
7. Taking possible action or reacting
- What are your main/realistic options?
- What do you think the major argument against your decision might be?
- How would you refute this argument?
- How do you feel about your decision?
8. (LATER) What did you learn with hindsight?
Last Updated: Thursday 26 November 2015