Ethical dilemmas

Read the ethical dilemma you were assigned. Spend time/discussion considering all sides of the situation. Use the internet to find factual information about the dilemma. Prepare a presentation to respond to this ethical dilemma detailing how you came to your conclusion. Be sure to outline the main points of the dilemma and how you went about making a decision. You may include the ethical principles discussed in class (feelings & opinions, greatest good & the golden rule). Use facts to support your opinion.

You must: 1) Determine the ethical issue

2) Identify the actions for handling the situation

3) Identify the people affected by the situation

4) Analyze how the situation affects the people involved

5) Decide which of the actions to take

Designer Babies

Doctors now have techniques available to them that allow them to screen embryos for a range of diseases and gender. Consider the restrictions, if any, that should be placed on these techniques as well as the moral implications.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/03/earlyshow/health/main4840346.shtml

http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html

Licensing Parents

Is there a “right” to parenthood? Should we support anyone who wants to be a parent? What makes a person “unfit” as a parent? Should people be required to secure a license before becoming parents in the attempt to help prevent abuse and mistreatment to children? Consider both sides of this proposal and form your own opinion.

http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=203

http://www.ethical-perspectives.be/page.php?LAN=E&FILE=ep_detail&ID=90&TID=354

The SAT and Gender

Does gender play a role in the scores that male and female students earn on their SAT exam? It has been proposed to remove certain SAT exam questions from the test. Consider what removing these questions implies and why or why not this should be done.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-08-25-SAT-scores_N.htm

http://www.publicagenda.org/charts/sat-scores-gender

Social Responsibilities of Star Athletes

Famous athletes are often asked to comment and get involved with causes of many institutions because of their celebrity stature. Tiger Woods commented, at one time, that he does not believe it is the duty of sports figures and celebrities to be the champion of all causes. Do celebrity athletes have certain social responsibility that goes with the turf? Where do you draw the line?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/521354-kobe-bryant-call-of-duty-and-social-responsibility-among-athletes

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/03/in_defense_of_celebrities.html

Addictive Substances

Should we consider addiction to alcohol, drugs, tobacco a “disease”? Should society pay to help the addicted? What if an addicted person relapses after receiving treatment? Should they be taken back into rehab?

http://www.drug-addiction-support.org/Drug-addiction-Choice.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90688&page=1

Rehabilitation of Criminals

What kids of efforts should we make to rehabilitate prisoners? Is there an obligation to differentiate between violent and nonviolent crimes? What rights should prisoners have? How many chances should a repeat offender be given?

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/354644/once_a_criminal_always_a_criminal_rehabilitation.html

http://www.freedommag.org/english/vol29i1/page30.htm

http://www.suite101.com/content/can-psychopaths-be-rehabilitated-a28604