Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Health and Social Care Through Reflection and Critical Thinking
- 2406-120460
- Jul 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 10, 2025
<Lorena Burlacu>
An ethical dilemma arises when you have to choose between two or more options, each with important moral implications. In the field of health and social care, such dilemmas are very common. Professionals in this field often face difficult decisions that involve patients’ rights, their safety and professional responsibilities.
An example of an ethical dilemma in health is when a seriously ill patient asks for help to end their life. This puts the doctor or social worker in a difficult situation, between respecting the patient’s wish to choose their own destiny and respecting the principle of “do no harm”, which says that we should not help someone end their life. Critical thinking is essential in this case, because we have to consider what is more important: respecting the patient’s choice or protecting their life (Kaddoura, M., 2018).
In social care, another ethical dilemma could arise when a social worker learns that a client wants to harm someone else. Here, they must decide whether to keep the information confidential or to reveal what they have learned to prevent a potential tragedy. It is a difficult choice, because protecting the client’s privacy is very important, but the safety of others must also be taken into account.( Papadopoulou, K. și Papadopoulos, I., 2022).
In these cases, critical thinking helps us weigh all the options and see which one is more correct, based on our values and principles. We must ask ourselves: What would each choice mean for the patient, for our colleagues, and for us? What would we do if we were in their place?
Another type of ethical dilemma arises in social media. Health misinformation is a very common example. A lot of misinformation circulates online, and people can be influenced to make bad decisions for their health. For example, advice about diets that are not supported by scientific research or treatments that are not safe can be dangerous. Critical thinking is very important here, because we need to analyze the sources of information and understand whether what we read is true or just a myth.
Another example is when a person who does not have professional training offers health advice on social media. Many influencers or social media users can give advice on how to improve your health or about products that are not verified, which can lead to serious health problems. Critical thinking helps us understand what information is reliable and what is just opinion.
In this context, solving the problems of misinformation or unqualified advice can start with educating people to verify the sources of information. It is important for people to understand that not all information found on the internet is correct and that it is essential to consult professionals for health advice.
Another important aspect of ethical dilemmas in health and social care is the importance of respecting patient confidentiality and trust. In many cases, professionals must balance between protecting the rights and privacy of the patient and respecting the law or the safety of others. For example, in cases of abuse or self-harm, professionals must make decisions quickly, sometimes in the face of an extremely emotional and sensitive situation.
Critical thinking plays a key role in these moments. Professionals must analyze the available information, weigh the risks and benefits of different actions, and apply the ethical principles of the profession to make the best decisions for the patient and the community. Critical thinking also helps them to be aware of their own values and biases, so as not to allow them to influence the decisions they make.
In social networks, ethical dilemmas related to unqualified advice or misinformation can have a significant impact on public health. Thus, educating users to recognize trusted sources of information and avoid following advice not supported by scientific evidence is essential. Health professionals can play an important role in combating misinformation and promoting public health online.
In conclusion, ethical dilemmas are common in health and social care, but critical thinking can help find the best solutions. Whether we're faced with a difficult choice at work or misinformation online, critical thinking helps us better understand situations and make informed and correct decisions.
References:
Kaddoura, M., 2018. Constructing critical thinking in health professional education. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 5, pp.1-9 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6002289/
Papadopoulou, K. și Papadopoulos, I., 2022. Social workers dealing with ethical dilemmas in the course of their practice. British Journal of Social Work, 52(8), pp.4795-4810 https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/52/8/4795/6583246?login=false
Wow, this post is great! This field comes with loads of dilemmas and thanks to your post I can now assess it better to deal with them. Thank you!
Amazing arguments, this really got me thinking about certain scenarios and what I could do better to handle them. Thank you so much for sharing your views on this topic!
This is such an important topic, and your post really highlights just how complex ethical dilemmas can be especially in health and social care. I completely agree that critical thinking is absolutely essential when facing these kinds of challenges.
The example you gave about a seriously ill patient asking for help to end their life really struck me. It’s one of those situations where there’s no easy answer just two deeply conflicting ethical values. It’s a powerful reminder that our personal values, professional duties, and empathy must all be balanced carefully. I also appreciated how you pointed out that asking, "What would this mean for everyone involved?" is a good starting point that question really encourages deeper reflection.
The part about…