What have been some of the "tough ethical decisions" you've had to make? What did you choose to do? How did you justify your choices?

This isn’t really the “tough” decision you requested, but it is something that I struggle with.

materials: $X
labour: $Y
dealing with bullshit: $Z

Well, you could.

My dad usually adjusts his fees for the incomes of his clients - lower-income clients pay a bit less, higher-income ones a bit more - but if he gets a client who is very rich and very obnoxious (as he often does these days, pre-nups being what they are), he jacks the fees up a bit extra, just for them.

[ November 29, 2002: Message edited by: Smith ]

Anyway, when I later moved back here, I was in the Wal-Mart I used to work at to talk to some friends that worked there, and my former manager saw me, and asked if I needed work. He said they were desparately short of 'good people'.

Well, I did need work, but told him that would never work for them again, and told him why. He wasn't surprized at what happened. At Wal-Mart you can be fired for bringing union literature into the store. Of course, that won't be the official reason - they will accuse of stealing. And it happens quite often.

Anyway, the union issue isn't the only reason I won't work there, - I also refuse to shop there - the support of Mexican maquilas, Asian sweatshop labour and safety issues also figure into it.
Not to mention the fact that Wal-Mart steals overtime pay from employees. (huge lawsuit in the states right now, Wal-Mart managers are instructed by head office to manipulate time sheets to meet payroll quotas)

A big problem: medicine.
Lots of bad shit with the drug companies! Even herbal remedies are highly suspect, unless one goes to a local herbalist who grows and makes her own - and the government has been trying to put them out of busieness. Right now, i'm lucky enough not to need more than the odd aspirin. But if/when i get sick, i'll have some very hard choices to make.

Had a problem not long ago with an arthritic dog. The vet suggested shark cartilege. Repugnant. On the other hand, one can't just watch a pet suffer and do nothing. I don't know the provenance of the medication we decided on; i know it helped. And i know that, every time we agree to a procedure or buy a drug, we benefit from research, which is, at best, unsavoury.

[ November 29, 2002: Message edited by: nonesuch ]

I was in love with a wonderful woman once, who ended up in the very uncomfortable position of having very strong feelings for another man as well. Actually, it was pretty uncomfortable for all three of us, but by far she had the worst of it. The other guy was a much better match for her, and I can't tell you how difficult it was to help her clarify that fact. I wanted so badly to persuade her to choose me, and that wouldn't have required dishonesty on my part as I do have a lot to offer. And I did always make clear how I felt, and that I desperately wanted her to choose me, but also that I wasn't really the best choice. Her best interests were more important, ultimately; and while I didn't simply withdraw from consideration, I never argued against choosing the other guy.

Unfortunately, I think this only increased her angst within the context of that decision; but I think she made the right decision. That was without any doubt the hardest battle I've ever fought with myself, and remains one of the most painful.

He was in really bad shape, lung cancer, and had started having trouble breathing. The doctor and nurse told me they figured he was going to die that day, only a matter of time, and asked me to put a DNR (do not resuscitate) order on his chart, should he stop breathing.

I had 3 choices. I could make the decision to put on the order and not tell him. I could ask him to make the decision himself. Or I could refuse to put the order on.

It was very difficult. Dad had some problems dealing with the terminal nature of the illness, and having had only 5 weeks since diagnosis of the cancer, he hadn't dealt with all the stages. Still had some denial. My mother was a basket case, no help at all.

In the end, I had them put on the order and I didn't tell him. I will regret it for the rest of my life. I sort of figured that he would slip into a coma and drift away... He didn't. He was wide awake and staring at me, holding my hands. I will always wonder if, among his last thoughts, he asked himself, "Why doesn't she do something? Why doesn't she help me?"

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It was his life, it should have been his call. We're arrogant when we're young, aren't we?

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