An ETHICAL DILEMMA is a complex situation, that often involves an apparent conflict between moral imperatives, in which to obey one would result in transgressing the other. Ethical Dilemma arises because Ethical Standards are not codified, and disagreements and dilemmas about proper behaviour often occur. An Ethical Dilemma arises in a situation when each alternative ‘choice’ or behaviour, is undesirable, because of potentially harmful consequences. Complex ethical dilemma is a problem in the decision-making process between two possible but unacceptable options from an ethical perspective.
Accordingly, Ethical Dilemmas do arise when a Public Servant –decision-maker has to choose between competing considerations of Ethical –values and Rules, in order to determine the right thing to do. These Dilemmas could broadly fall into three categories:-
- Personal Cost Ethical Dilemmas, arising from situations in which compliance with ethical conduct results in a significant personal cost(e.g jeopardising held position, injuring valued relationship) to the Public Servant, or the decision maker.
- Right –versus Right Ethical Dilemmas, arising from situations of two or more conflicting sets of bona fide ethical values( public servants responsibility of being open and accountable to Citizens versus that of adhering to oath / secrecy/confidentiality etc); and
- Conjoint Ethical Dilemmas, arising from situations in which a conscientious public servant –decision-maker is exposed to a combination of the already mentioned ethical dilemmas for the “right –thing –to-do”.
Frequently encountered Ethical Dilemmas tend to arise from three critical relationships-
- Civil Servants and Political Office holders;
- Civil Servants and Citizens; and
- Intra – Civil Service (Ministries, Departments and Agencies, that make up the Country’s or State’s Civil Service.
Classical cases arise from the management of the relationship between the Minister, the Political –Head, and senior Officials at the level of Secretary, Additional Secretary or Head of the Department. These sort of situations, lead the Officers to Ethical Dilemmas In such situations the Civil Servant , has to consider:-
• Striking a balance between his responsibilities as , his being a Senior Executive Officer , and that of the Minister , as the Ministry’s PoliticalHead, to avoid a unnecessary conflict;
• Uphold the rule –of- law, due process , firmness , fairness and tact in carrying out the responsibilities; and
• Uphold the highest administrative ,financial , ethical and moral standards in the Civil Service.( Give personal example)
• It needs to be appreciated, that the application of these optional principles by the officers, in practice, is not always easy for resolving the Ethical – Dilemmas that confront them. While the first option mentioned above, i.e. the option of striking a balance may be a euphemism for acquiescence , the other two options are squarely all about maintaining Integrity, and perhaps not caring for the consequences. However, very tactful officers do manage to get the Ministers to commit all their demands in writing in such a way that puts potential culpability on the Ministers. In this way, Ministers, with excessive tendencies for unethical actions are checked within the boundaries of the Law.
