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When Somebody Else’s Right-versus-Wrong Decision puts you in a Right-versus-Right Dilemma

Community service is a requirement at Western High School. To graduate, a student must complete at least 40 hours of volunteer service in the community during his or her senior year. Many local nonprofit organizations are delighted to have assistance from the students.

Lisa and Toni have both chosen to work as candy stripers at the town hospital. They are not close friends - in fact, they come from entirely different backgrounds - but they are assigned to the same unit at the same time every week. As candy stripers, Lisa and Toni get called upon to do a number of things, such as sorting laundered goods, putting away supplies, and reading to patients. Neither Lisa nor Toni has ever been part of such a large operation before. In fact, it's eye-opening to see how many supplies a hospital goes through in a very short period of time. Disposable gloves, tissues, water bottles, gowns - the list goes on and on.

One afternoon, Lisa sees Toni exiting the supply closet with a small pile of supplies. She sees Toni stuff these items into her backpack and walk out the door. Lisa knows tht Toni did not have permission to take the property home. She also knows Toni did not see her. Should she report what she observed or not?

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