PRACTICE Employing Ethical Codes and Decision-Making Models: A Developmental Process EDWARD NEUKRUG CHRISTOPHER LOVELL RADHA J. PARKER Counselors often encounter seemingly intractable ethical dilemmas. Toassist counselors whoface difficult situations, thehelping professions have generated both ethical codes anddecision-making models. Because the process of decision making seems to be related to cognitive-moral development, this article details ethical codes and decision models and speculates on howcounselor level of development may influence use of such codes and models. John, a 55-year-old gay man, is seriously depressed and feels that he has no reason to continue living. Althoughhe has been seeing you, his counselor, for several months, his outlook on life has not changed, and he is determined to end what he considers to be an "empty existence" before death overtakes him. John's partner of 10 years, Jim, died of AIDS 2 years ago, having suffered prolonged pain and anguish. Although John himself has lived with HN for more than 5 years, he has recently been diagnosed with AIDS, and the reality of his own mortality has becomeapparent. John, whose parents died when he was 6, has no surviving relatives, nor any close friends. He and Jim had isolated themselves from others, and to safeguard their privacy, had severed all social ties years ago. As a self-employed writer who has chosen a solitary lifestyle, John has no support system and is not interested in trying to develop one now. He tells you that he has "lived long enough" and has accomplished most of what he wished to do in life. He is now "ready to die" and wants only to "get it over with as quickly and painlessly as possible." He asks you to help him decide on the most efficient means of achieving this goal. As his coun- selor, what should you do? With this case and others, professional helpers are confronted routinely by ethical dilemmas that are stressful (May & Sowa, 1992), ambiguous (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 1993), and complex (Welfel & Lipsitz, 1983).For guidance, Edward Neukrug is an associate professor and Christopher Lovell and Radha J. Parker are assistant professors, all in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling, College of Education, at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. Correspondence regarding this article should be sent to Edward Neukrug, Counseling Program, College of Education, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529. 98 Counseling and Values / January 1996 / Vol. 40