Duties and Consequences

This is definitely a moral dilemma. At this point, you have to separate being a parent and being a professional. Obviously, as a parent our first reaction would be to go to school and speak to principal about this, and voice your concerns. But as a professional, you are bonded by a signed contract and HIPAA Privacy Act. The dilemma would be handling this situation without any consequences. The truth of the matter is, she is being treated and this doesn’t prevent her from preforming as a teacher. In my opinion, I would just be more aware and visit more. If my child hasn’t come home with concerns and then she shouldn’t be exposed for something she is taking care of.  We have to give people the benefit of doubt, and allowing them to live normally, which is what the teacher seems to be doing.

A deontologist like Immanuel Kant believes that people should not act out of impulse, but use rationalization to handle situation.” It is not, he says, the consequences of an action that determine its moral character, but the principle on which the action is based.” (Sommers, 2013) Kant would probably agree with my approach to this situation.

A consequentialist like John Stuart Mill believes, you have to do what you need to, to be happy. So in a situation like this, if you feel better speaking upon this, without measuring the consequences; but it will make you feel better, then go to the school and inform the principle and take your child out. “Action are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.” (Sommers, 2013)

My moral decision in this situation, would be to obey the Privacy Act and just be more aware. I wouldn’t jeopardize the teachers job, because of my concerns. As long as she is doing a good job and my child isn’t in any direct danger, then I would allow it. The main point, is she is getting treatment for this condition, which shows me she also knows what would happen if her condition wasn’t treated.

References:

Sommers, C., & Sommers, F. (2013). Vice & virtue in everyday life: Introductory readings in ethics (9th ed). Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.