How can I act equitably and balance legitimate interests?
In our case study, the interests of Sally, Julie, the Bare Naked Ladies, and Sally’s family all must be considered in making an ethical decision. Sally’s interests include her desire for privacy balanced against her health as she struggles with an eating disorder. Julie’s interests are to keep her friendship with Sally, but to also ensure Sally’s wellbeing. The Bare Naked Ladies, as an organization, have interest in keeping their members safe and caring for eachother, but also to respect members’ private lives. Julie’s parents have an interest in the safety and wellbeing of their daughter, but also in her education and ability to earn a college degree. One course of action would be for the Bare Naked Ladies and Julie to do nothing and respect Sally’s desire for privacy. Another would be for the Bare Naked Ladies to contact Sally’s parents and express their concerns to them over her mental and physical health. Lastly, Julie and the Bare Naked Ladies could confront Sally directly about their concerns.
Fairness
What achieves the best short- and long-term outcomes for me and all others?
The short- and long-term outcomes surround both Sally’s health, the friendship she has with Julie, as well as living up to the mission statement of the Bare Naked Ladies. For Sally’s health, the short-term outcomes of doing nothing may not have a large impact outside of how she feels. In the long term, a persistent eating disorder can have serious medical consequences including death. Intervening however, would have better outcomes in the long term but may cause a lot of strife and conflict short term. For Julie and Sally’s friendship, while doing nothing may avoid a conflict, in the long term Julie may experience guilt for the negative outcomes Sally faces, or even cause the girls to stop being friends. In the short term for the Bare Naked Ladies, they may feel helpless and guilty for doing nothing while one of their members suffers. Long term they may experience guilt for the negative outcomes Sally may face, or seek help in learning how to better deal with these situations in the future.
Outcomes
What duties and/or obligations apply?
Some responsibilities present in our case are the responsibility of Julie to her friend Sally. As her friend, Julie has an obligation to look out for Sally’s best interest as well keep her privacy. As her friend, Julie has a vested interest in Sally’s well being but does not want to lose her friendship by telling others about their private conversation. Although Julie is Sally’s friend and wants to protect her privacy, she must also tell someone if she feels that Sally is a danger to herself. Another group who have a responsibility in our case is the executive board of Bare Naked Ladies. Since they are privy to the information about Sally, they may feel an obligation to help her. They may feel the need to tell a counselor about Sally’s problem or pull her aside to talk about what steps she needs to take to get better. While some may feel these duties, others may not. Other members may feel an obligation to pull back and wait to see if Sally really needs help or feel obligated to not overstep their role in case their suspicions are wrong causing Sally to withdraw from the group.
Responsibilities
What action best reflects who I am and the person I want to become?
Julie knows she has an obligation to her friend Sally, to do what is best for her. Sally wants to be the best friend to Sally and respect her privacy and trust by not saying anything to anyone about what she is going through right now. But Julie also wants to be the best member she can be in the Bare Naked Ladies and report something like this to get Sally the help she needs to help protect her from getting hurt again with this disease. If Julie doesn’t say anything she builds a stronger relationship with Sally but if she does say something she protects Sally and continues being a trustworthy member in the Bare Naked Ladies.
Character
How does respect for freedom, personal autonomy, or consent apply?
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In our case Julie wants to respect Sally’s personal autonomy to do as she pleases but it has come to the extent where Sally may be harming herself again. Sally told Julie that she did not want anyone else to know what was going on, but Julie did not respect her wishes by going to the executive members of BNL and telling them Sally’s history, therefore infringing upon Sally’s autonomy. Julie did not get Sally’s consent to tell other people about her previous history with an eating disorder and once Sally finds out she may be very upset. When is it okay for them to confront Sally about her history with an eating disorder while still having respect for Sally’s freedom to do as she pleases. Julie could go up to Sally and explain to her that she did go against her wishes by telling the executive members her concern but she felt there was no other way. If Julie voices her concerns and why she went against her wishes it may help Sally understand. Then exec, Sally, and Julie can all work together to get Sally the help she may or may not need depending if Sally has relapsed.
Liberty
What would I do if I deeply cared about those involved?
Sally and Julie are both active members of Bare Naked Ladies which contributes to their long-standing friendship and close connections within the group and its executive board. The members of the executive board have the job to look out for the health and well-being of all other members within the group, including Sally. Outside of the group, the two girls are still close friends and that could be a large part as to why Sally choose to confide in Julie about the recent problems she has been experiencing. Julie cares deeply for her friend Sally, and that is one factor that is adding to why Julie is contemplating her course of action. Since Julie already cares about her friend, her initial response will be to look out for Sally’s best interest. Julie has the options to choose to protect her friends wishes about not telling anyone because she cares for her so deeply. Her other option would be for her to decide that since she cares for Sally so much, she needs to do what may be best for Sally’s well-being. The executive members have the option to not do anything to further Julie’s concern or they could approach the situation if they feel it’s as serious as Julie is anticipating.
Empathy
What do legitimate authorities (eg experts, law, my religion/god) expect of me?
The case questions the authority of all parties involved. It is hard to say if Julie has the authority to tell people what Sally shared with her or the authority to say Sally has a problem or not. Julie would not be considered an expert on the subject since she is not a doctor, however, Julie has taken classes on mental and physical health and understands the signs of various eating disorders. Along with Julie, the executive board’s authority is not concrete either. They have a legitimate authority when it comes to the club, Bare Naked Ladies, but whether or not they have authority over individuals is a question in our case. A legitimate authority in Sally’s life would be her parents so they would expect her to come forward if her problem has relapsed and may want her friends or other’s who know to step forward and help their daughter, if she has in fact relapsed.
Authority
What rights (eg innate, legal, social) apply?
Sally’s right to privacy plays a big role in this case as well as her right to health. Since these two rights are conflicting it is difficult to say which one is more important. Sally did disclose the information with Julie, making it less private, but Sally still has a right to expect Julie to keep the information to herself instead of sharing with others. Socially, the Bare Naked Ladies may feel that they have the right to confront Sally and get her help because they care about her wellbeing. Julie may also feel a right to share Sally’s story with others because she is her friend and is concerned about her. Sally also has a right to make sure she is healthy mentally and physically.