Final answer:
The first step in the ethical decision-making process is identifying the problem. This is a critical approach in medicine and research to ensure that all decisions are guided by ethical principles and consideration of individuals involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in the ethical decision-making process is b) Identifying the problem. This involves recognizing an issue that requires a moral solution. Ethical decision-making in fields such as medicine and research is crucial to ensure the dignity and safety of individuals involved. Principles such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice guide these decisions to be both ethical and legal. Furthermore, while examining ethical dilemmas, care ethics suggests understanding all parties' perspectives through compassion and responsibility, which informs the decision-making process and emphasizes the role of ethics in ensuring that actions are not only guided by established professional principles, but by a commitment to the humane treatment of patients, research subjects, and even animals involved in scientific studies.