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Case Publications
Key Decision, A
Steven M. Meltzer, John Melnyk
published: 2006 | Case Study | Business Ethics
Subject Area: Business Ethics
Key Issues: Stakeholder Positions; Conflicting Responsibilities; Moral Reasoning; Ethical Dilemma
Case Description: This case describes an ethical dilemma I experienced as president of my fraternity. Ted, a close friend and fraternity brother, suffered from bipolar disorder. He required medication to avoid alternating periods of extreme hyperactivity and severe depression. Shortly after I was elected president of our fraternity, his parents asked me to meet with them. They told me that Ted had stopped taking his medication, that his doctor felt that renewed treatment would only be effective if Ted sought it voluntarily and that he might have to hit "rock bottom" in order to realize he needed help. His mother asked me to take away Ted's fraternity house key so that he could not use the fraternity as an escape, thus potentially delaying his eventual recovery. I left the meeting agreeing to do what I had been asked, but upon reflection I was unsure of what I could or should do.
# Case Pages: 5
Case Number: 160044-22-2-2
Teaching Note: Yes
revised May 11/06
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