Collins and Miller, "Abbreviated Paramedic Method for Computer Professionals (new version)"
Notable for its mathematical notation, for considering interactions between many situational elements, for collecting the best features from various alternatives, and for including regression steps
SOURCE FOR THE PROCEDURE
Collins, W. Robert and Keith W. Miller. "Paramedic Ethics for Computer Professionals." Computer Ethics and Social Values. Eds. Deborah G. Johnson and Helen Nissenbaum. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1995: 39-56.
THE PROCEDURE ITSELF
Computer professional X faces ethical decision involving situation S.
- Gather data systematically about the parties.
- Determine the set of possible alternatives.
- Determine the set of all involved parties.
- For each pair (p, q) of involved parties (including X = p and X = q):
- Identify those obligations of p to q that are related to S.
- Identify those rights of p from q that are related to S.
- Analyze the data systematically for the alternatives.
- For each alternative a and each party p (including X = p):
- Determine the new opportunities for p that a introduces.
- Determine the new vulnerabilities for p that a introduces.
- For each alternative a, for each part p, and for each of p's obligations and rights:
- Determine how a affects p's obligation.
- Determine how a affects p's right.
- Try to negotiate a social contract agreement on a.
- Each party is represented at a negotiating session by X.
- X pulls the veil of ignorance over each of his or her identities.
- X tries to effect a consensus agreement a among all parties (X is careful about the party with greatest vulnerability)
- If X is successful and if the alternative a is new, then add a to the set of alternatives and redo Step 2 for a.
- Judge each of the alternatives according to ethical theories.
- For each alternative a:
- Select the best deontological alternative a.
- Weigh the relative importance of the rights and obligations.
- Compare a with X's standards.
- Select the best utilitarian alternative a with maximum score [(sum of opportunities) - (sum of vulnerabilities)]
- Select the best alternative
- If no one alternative stands out, then create an alternative from the best features of existing alternatives.
WALT'S CHECKLIST
The same checklist was applied to all procedures.
- This method is most useful when the DECISION-MAKER ...
- can tolerate ambiguity, complexity or conflict [step 4d]
- has a working knowledge of several ethical theories [step 4]
- has plenty of time for investigation and analysis
- is skilled in causal or consequential reasoning [step 4b]
- is skilled in conflict- or dilemma-resolution methods [step 4d]
- is skilled in the application of general ethical principles to specific cases [step 4]
- is willing to frame the issue in numerical or quasi-numerical terms [step 4b]
- uses a "bookkeeping" system that allows multiple alternatives to be tracked, scored, ranked and compared [step 2]
- This method is most useful in a SITUATION ...
- that will change little over time
- where an optimal decision is required
- This method is most useful when STAKEHOLDERS ...
- share ethical principles [step 4]
