This text-based course is a transcript of the webinar, “The As, Bs and Cs of Ethics in the Schools,” presented by Wren Newman, SLP.D., CCC-SLP.
What is an Ethical Dilemma?
>> Dr. Wren Newman: I am going to start by talking about what an ethical dilemma is. It is an interesting question because with a dilemma, there is a conflict and there seems to be two different perceptions. Those perceptions of the situation are in opposition of one another. That is what presents the dilemma. In solving that dilemma, we typically have to make a choice between those options. If this is a simple ethical dilemma, that is an easy one to do. However when there are multiple considerations, this is where the ethical situation becomes problematic.
One of the things that I say when I teach students in this area is that the problem is the gray. It is easy to make a decision if there is a clearly defined right and wrong. The difficulty comes when there is so much gray and you really can see the problem from two sides.
Ethical Conduct
If we look within our occupation as speech language pathologists or audiologists, our difficulty becomes what we are supposed to do and then what we actually do. If what we are supposed to do and then what we actually do seem to coincide, that is easy. If the problem is what I am supposed to do and if it is not clearly defined, then that presents issues for us in terms of our own behaviors and our own ethical conduct.
Difference between Morals and Ethics
It can be helpful to differentiate between morals and ethics. Morals may be more personal and how we as an individual look at things as right or wrong. Ethics seem to be more aligned with a particular group or organization, and we are then governed by a larger group when we talk about ethics.
