October 2026 - Ethical Considerations Study Guide

Core ideas to know

Learn the relationships, not a string of isolated definitions. These are the facts that let you reason through unfamiliar wording.

• An ethical issue exists when important values, duties, rights or likely harms pull a decision in different directions.
• Autonomy concerns a person’s informed choices; beneficence concerns promoting good; nonmaleficence concerns avoiding harm.
• Justice asks whether benefits, burdens and opportunities are distributed fairly.
• A conflict of interest exists when a secondary interest could distort a person’s primary duty or judgement.
• A strong evaluation names stakeholders, evidence, alternatives and consequences rather than relying on an emotional label.

A reliable way to answer

Use the same short process every time so the wording of the question does not decide your method for you.

1. Identify the decision and every person or group materially affected by it.
2. Name the values or duties in conflict using only facts the passage establishes.
3. Compare the proposed actions by likely benefit, harm, fairness and respect for informed choice.
4. Choose the conclusion that acknowledges the tradeoff and is proportional to the evidence.

Distinctions that earn marks

Terms to know

Stakeholder

A person or group affected by a decision.

Informed choice

A voluntary decision made with relevant information and understanding.

Justice

Fair treatment and fair distribution of benefits and burdens.

Key points

• Identify the competing values before judging the decision.
• Legal and ethical are related but not interchangeable categories.
• The best-supported answer recognises affected stakeholders and real tradeoffs.