Dilemma

From WikiMD's medical encyclopedia

Dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable. It is a concept that is often encountered in various fields such as philosophy, psychology, and medicine.

Definition

A dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones. The term is derived from the Greek words "di", meaning two, and "lemma", meaning premise or assumption. It is often used to describe situations where there is no ideal solution, and any choice made will have some form of negative consequence.

Types of Dilemmas

There are several types of dilemmas, including:

  • Ethical Dilemmas: These are situations where there is a conflict between two or more moral imperatives, and choosing one would result in transgressing the other.
  • Moral Dilemmas: These are similar to ethical dilemmas, but they involve a decision that includes a moral component.
  • Practical Dilemmas: These are dilemmas where the choices are based on practical considerations, such as cost or feasibility.

Dilemmas in Medicine

In the field of medicine, dilemmas often arise in situations where there is a conflict between the best course of action for the patient and the ethical or moral guidelines that healthcare professionals are expected to follow. These dilemmas can be particularly challenging to navigate, as they often involve life and death decisions.

See Also

References


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