Steps to Solving Ethical Dilemmas 1. Identify the problem or dilemma. Gather information that will shed light on the nature of the problem. This will help you decide whether the problem is mainly ethical, legal, professional, clinical, or moral. 2. Identify the potential issues. Evaluate the rights, responsibilities, and welfare of all those who are involved in the situation. 3. Look at the relevant ethics codes for general guidance on the matter. Consider whether your own values and ethics are consistent with or in conflict with the relevant guidelines. 4. Consider the applicable laws and regulations, and determine how they may have a bearing on an ethical dilemma. 5. Seek consultation from more than one source to obtain various perspectives on the dilemma, and document in the client's record the suggestions you received from this consultation. 6. Brainstorm various possible courses of action. Continue discussing options with other professionals. Include the client in this process of considering options for action. Again, document the nature of this discussion with your client. 7. Enumerate the consequences of various decisions, and reflect on the implications of each course of action for your client. 8. Decide on what appears to be the best possible course of action. Once the course of action has been implemented, follow up to evaluate the outcomes and to determine whether further action is necessary. Document the reasons for the actions you took as well as your evaluation measures.