ETHICS ROAD MAP
(How to find your way when you are lost in the ethical woods)
0. Define and live your value system—both personally and professionally (i.e.
acculturate into your professional culture).
-1. Have a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY good reason for doing #0.
1. Activation of ethical radar.
2. STOP! Pause, ground yourself (five breaths) and do an IEC (internal ethical consult).
3. Identify key ethical questions about this dilemma.
4. Explain why you do not want to be ethical.
5. Explain why you want to be ethical.
6. Review the available information (e.g. diagnosis, presenting problem, literature,
cultural issues).
7. Identify possible options (give yourself permission to brainstorm like a two year
old).
8. Assess the foundational ethical issues (principles)—ethical ceiling.
9. Consult the relevant rules and guidelines—ethical floor (eg. APA Ethics Code, other
codes, institutional guidelines).
10. Identify legal concerns (statutes).
11. Consult with colleagues (human as well as written).
12. Reassess options and identify a plan.
13. Identify obstacles that might keep you from implementing the plan and find a
solution.
Obstacles
Solutions
14. Implement the plan.
15. Document the process (with your audience being your grandmother, the licensing
board, and two drunks in San Francisco).
16. Reflect on outcome of decision and decide if other actions might be needed.
17. Take care of yourself (i.e. are you sleeping well at night?).
18. Redo #17 (i.e. until you are sleeping well at night).
Find more resources at www.drmikemonroe.com