Which statement best describes identifying an ethical dilemma?

• A. It can be solved by reviewing data alone
• B. It involves conflict between two moral imperatives
• C. It has no effect on clients
• D. It is solvable only by physicians

Answer: (B)

An ethical dilemma shows up when two or more moral obligations pull in opposite directions and there isn’t a single action that clearly satisfies all of them. That tension—more than just a factual question—signals a dilemma because choosing one course of action means compromising another important value.

This is why the statement describing conflict between two moral imperatives is the best. It captures the heart of ethical dilemmas: competing duties or values that make it hard to decide what to do. Facts and data inform what happened, but they don’t resolve the competing moral claims. And ethical decisions in healthcare impact clients, so saying it has no effect on clients isn’t accurate. Finally, ethics isn’t the province of physicians alone; teams and leaders across the organization weigh and guide these choices, often through policies and collaborative discussion rather than a single clinician’s judgment. When identifying an ethical dilemma, look for a situation where duties or values clash and no easy, one-size-fits-all solution exists.