With ethical dilemmas facing us every day, these dilemmas create more residual issues. Within ethics, no definite ‘correct’ answer exists; therefore, risk assessments are potential ethical dilemmas — any one person’s opinion or preference can sway or even dictate their outcomes.
The tricky part is knowing when this inherent subjectivity is creating a danger. With no “correct” answer, the question instead becomes, “What is the best of the available ethical options?” With this, perception from team members or the public resulting from this decision also lingers. Will the decision lead them to believe the decision maker has safety in mind or is more concerned with finances, efficiency or another factor(s)?