How to Pick and Defend a Solution

As the final step in the analysis of Mr. F’s case, Dr. Jones has asked that each team member take a position on the ethical issue at hand, and write an individual paper defending that position.

This step-by-step guide will help you prepare a persuasive paper to submit to the committee.

1. Pick a solution
   You now have a detailed analysis of this situation and a set of alternate solutions you might adopt. It’s time to review that analysis and take a position.

1. Review the deliverables you have created in each of the previous tasks. Make sure you understand:

   1. The problems the case presents and the ethical principles that apply.

   2. The resource material and the perspectives the articles introduced.

   3. The alternatives available, the parties potentially affected by each alternative, the consequences of each alternative, and how each addresses the ethical principles of the case, and any open questions that impact your position.
      
      
2. Develop a position
   Carefully consider all of the information you have, and decide what you believe both about Mr. F’s case. Remember that whatever you decide for Mr. F has policy implications for future patients.  So, while you are making a decision about Mr. F, you are really making a broader decision about how the hospital should handle patients on Methadone maintenance.
   
   Write your position clearly and concisely so it really says what you mean.  This is the position you will need to present and defend.

3. Defend your position
   Part of defending your position is applying what you believe to the current situation, considering the consequences, and explaining why those consequences are better than others are. You should be able to argue both sides of an issue. Look at each alternative and ask yourself what is the most powerful argument for and against that position, and why you agree or disagree with it? 
   
   For information about writing an argument, please review the Writing section of the General Skills Resources link on the left menu.

4. Before you start writing, make sure you can answer each of the following questions:

   • What is the issue at stake?

   • What are the key principles surrounding this issue?

   • What are the alternatives?

   • What are the consequences of each of those alternatives?

   • What is your position?

   • What are the consequences of your position, both good and bad?

   • Why is your solution the best one?
     

5. Write your Ethical Analysis report.
1. Download the Ethical Analysis Report Template from the email.
   
   
2. Using the notes you created in your previous tasks, write a persuasive report outlining and defending your chosen solution.

• The purpose of a persuasive paper is to sway the beliefs of the readers and get them to agree with your position. Again, for more information on constructing an effective argument, review the Writing section of the General Skills Resources link on the left menu.

6. Check your work. Before submitting your work, take a moment for detailed review.

• Did you develop a position?

• Did you outline the reasons why you believe your position is the correct one and how you think it is better than other possibilities?

• Did you use the Ethical Analysis Report template?

• Did you edit your paper, including running a spell and grammar check?

7. Submit your work to the mentor.
   Review the checklist on the Submit Your Work section of this task and submit the paper to your mentor.

What is Ethics? This short paper answers the question, "what is ethics?" and provides an overview of how it's used.

Gaining an Ethical Perspective: Gaining the proper perspective on a situation is the first step in solving in any ethical dilemma. This paper explains how to go about gaining that perspective.