University of Phoenix Material

Ethical Worksheet Sample

Incident Review

|What is the ethical issue or problem? Identify the issue succinctly. |
|The moral agent is a criminal defense attorney. The attorney knows of another criminal defense attorney who is an alcoholic and |
|ignores his client obligations. What should the moral agent do? |
|What are the most important facts? Which facts have the most bearing on the ethical decision presented? Include any important |
|potential economic, social, or political pressures, and exclude inconsequential facts. |
|The attorney often appears in court intoxicated. He ignores his cases and does not file appropriate motions before deadlines |
|expire. His clients, who are court-appointed, usually end up with convictions and heavy sentences due to his incompetence. In |
|trial, he is unprepared and unprofessional. Defendants have complained. Defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges are aware of his|
|incompetence and have done nothing. The attorney’s disbarment would likely cause drastic economic consequences for the attorney. If|
|the moral agent is responsible for his disbarment, the moral agent may face the social stigma and pressure of being labeled a |
|snitch. With emphasis on stiffer penalties for defendants, there is political pressure to ignore the situation, as only alleged |
|criminals are affected by his incompetence. |
|Identify each claimant (key actor) who has an interest in the outcome of this ethical issue. From the perspective of the moral |
|agent—the individual contemplating an ethical course of